Graphics: The BW High Resolution Sprite Project / Gallery (Kanto)

[SassySnivy]

Old part of the post, because I don't want to have to manage a project anymore and just wanna make these for fun:

Spoiler:

I realize that high resolution Pokemon sprites are something that a lot of people don't do, and maybe the fact that people are unsure of how to go about making them makes them feel alienated from helping. Because I need help and I would love for other people to be familiar with the style, I'm thinking about tutoring about 3 people at a time. It'll be for DS-style hi res sprites and you'll need to have a decent grasp on pixel art basics, particularly line art. Recommended only if you know how to make pixel art from scratch, or if you at least know how to trace since that also requires some skill as you want to make sure the line art comes out clean. A big part of hi-res sprites is in the line art, and it's where most of the challenge is.

Would love to know what you guys think of this idea!




Hi all! I started a project on my own about 7 years ago called the High Resolution Pokemon Sprite Project. One day I thought it would be really cool to see what Pokemon sprites would look like when scaled up 200%, and I've gradually gotten better and better with them as the years have gone by; at first the sprites would be almost a direct 1-to-1 ratio. After a while, I realized something: when the art team goes to make the sprites for Pokemon, they sometimes have to sacrifice details for readability. Since Hi-Res sprites are upscaled, it means that you have much, much more room to fit in more details, and to make already-existing details much more intricate and precise. I've been working on it on and off for a few years now.

Here's what a direct 1-to-1 ratio looks like:

See...that's not what we want, here. It's important to fill in the blanks. Here's how it should look:

Much better!

I used to have a project thread open on Relic Castle forums, but due to how I had it organized, it got to be extremely tedious for me and I never actually had time to contribute my own sprites. I still had a lot of fun though, especially since I got to expose more people to the high resolution sprites I've been making for years now! But now that I'm more serious about getting it done, I need more help than ever!

So, what are we doing here?​

The aim of this project will be to make high resolution version of the Black and White sprites for EVERY. SINGLE. POKEMON. Front, and back. Sounds like a huge task, doesn't it? It does, and it is. When you consider all the alternate formes that some Pokemon have and due to the fact that you have to make front AND back sprites for every one of them, the number of sprites to make reaches the thousands! So I can use all the help I can get.

In this project, we'll be tasked with enlarging every sprite from the Black and White games and directly tracing over them (in order to get accurate proportions), basically remaking them in order to have them fit in any fangames that work at double the regular DS resolution. Or, of course, for people to make sprite edits of! Either way, this can be a very invaluable resource for people if we finish it.

Here's what they can look like when finished.

We will be working with Kanto Pokemon only, to start off! This also means no megas or alternate formes that were introduced post-generation 5; at least, not yet! We'll be working on those once we reach the generation in which they were introduced.

Okay, I'm in. How can I help?​

So, this sounds interesting, right? Does it sound like something you'd want to help out with? If so, then great! There are just a few considerations to keep in mind.

I'm looking for relatively skilled spriters who can do a really good job. This being said, contributors will be determined on an application basis only. If you want to help out, I will need you to PM me the following:

• A few of your best pixel art pieces that you're proud of. There is no maximum, but the minimum is about 3! This will give me a general idea of the skill level you have to offer.
• An attempt at a high resolution Pokemon sprite. Can be any Pokemon at all, as long as it's from any of the DS generations.

You may or may not think this system is unfair. That's fine, but I disagree. It prevents me from being overworked from moderating and having to do a lot of quality control for below-threshold entries, and makes the project easier to keep organized. It's really nothing personal.

People whose contributions are listed on the spreadsheet are considered honorary contributors and will be allowed in by default.

Oh man, sounds a little intimidating!​

I'll admit, I am a bit picky. This is a project aimed towards pixel artists with more skill and experience, so if you're new, this isn't the project for you. That being said, I don't bite and am very gentle, so there's nothing to fear or be intimidated about. The worst thing that can happen is just not making the cut, and even then you can always come back and try again when you've gained more experience. I can't give you an in-depth critique, but I can give you general pointers as to why you didn't make the cut and how you can do better next time.

It's certainly nothing against you, and it doesn't mean you're a poor artist, either. Like I said: I'm a little picky! I would say I'm about as picky as LeParagon is with his Smogon sprite projects, to give you an idea of what to expect.

Whether or not you're accepted to be a spriter for the project, one thing is for certain: I appreciate any and all applicants I get, because it obviously means that the project was enticing enough to make you want to help out! And that really, really means a lot to me personally. I hold this project very, very close to my heart, which is exactly why I want high-quality submissions.

Here's the overall quality I'm looking for.

High quality entries require some, but relatively minimal QC. These examples were all made by Phi-Bi.

Optimal quality entries require barely any quality control, assuming they need any at all. Examples provided by Phi-Bi.

So yeah, I definitely allow for a bigger margin of error than I may have led you to believe up to this point! High quality entries can have small errors that are very easy for the trained eye to notice, but are overall very well-made. They are much easier to QC!

We do have some "do"s and "don't"s, though.​

• Firstly, please refrain from submitting if you are not an official, approved spriter as designated by me. If you want to contribute, just PM me your application! I'll be very excited to get one from you.
  By extension, if there isn't a shiny version of a sprite that's finished yet, please do NOT just come here to submit one. To me it feels like a cheap way to attach your name to a big project like this one and just get quick recognition. All the contributors have worked hard to create these sprites, and to me, that feels very disrespectful to them. Recolors take a few seconds, anyway.
• Only reserve one evolution line at a time, even if it has been partially finished. This is just for simplicity's sake!
• Kanto BW sprites only. No megas, gigantamaxes, or regional variants right now, please!
• I prioritize front sprites more, but you're good to make the back sprite as long as there's a front for it! This is just for the sake of consistency. Either way we'll need to make both front and back, anyway.
• Fronts and backs only for now! Please no overworlds or icons.
• BW sprites only! Please refrain from submitting anything that isn't from BW.
• For some reason, the BW back sprites' proportions can be a little...janky. I highly, highly encourage you to use official 3D models as a reference for backsprites. Trust me, they will help you!
• Please don't come here just to request a sprite to be made.
• Please DO feel free to leave feedback! Anyone, spriters and viewers alike, can come by to give feedback. Constructive feedback is especially always appreciated!
• Please do make sure to include gender differences! Shinies are optional for now. They're only recolors, so they're very easy. Gender differences are usually a bit more than just a recolor. Also, I prefer alternate formes of the same Pokemon to be done by the same artist, so keep this in mind!
• Max canvas size is 192 x 192, and the max number of colors is 15.
• Try to stick as close to the shading style as you can. Don't add or change colors unless absolutely necessary.
• Please only use DeviantART, sta.sh, or imgur for uploads! They are some of the most reliable hosts.
• Any contributor to the project is free to QC (quality control) any submission!
• Like I said before: smaller sprites mean less room for details. this also extends out to proportions. Sometimes, such as in the case of Gardevoir and Lucario, the head has to actually be proportionally bigger than it actually is in order to successfully portray facial details. Let me show you this in action:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  In some cases, the legs are actually too short in the original sprite. As with Rapidash and Persian's cases, here:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Basically, if you've finished the lineart and the proportions seem...off, they probably are. Just make adjustments to the problem area until they look correct. When I originally made Lucario and Gardevoir, there, I was really confused as to why they looked like bobble-heads at first!
  
  And finally, I have a basic tutorial for the creation process of a high resolution sprite right here. It's old, but still gets right to the point. Do it however you're most comfortable, though.

How the system will work.​

First, we'll finish the front and back sprites for the Kanto Pokemon, excluding Gigantamax, regional variants, and megas. Then, we'll start the initial stage of quality control. Finally, I'll go over everything and make final tweaks and add shinies, and then we'll be done with all the Kanto sprites.

We all have real-life obligations. If you become inactive, there are no penalties that will be enacted against you as a result. You're encouraged to contribute as much as you can, but you aren't strictly obligated to. Do what you can! This being said, if you reserved a Pokemon and it's been a few weeks and we haven't heard anything from you, your reservation will be removed.

Terms of use.​

Anyone is allowed to use any high resolution sprites made for this project for any non-for-profit projects, games, etc. Just give credit to the PokeCommunity High Resolution Sprite Project.

Approved contributors and reservations!​

SassySnivy: Reserving Nidoran F, Nidorina, Nidoqueen back sprites.
Larryturbo:

Resources​

• I've made an extremely comprehensive tutorial on how to make these. It's way better than my first one, but it isn't meant to teach you pixel art. It's important to have firm grasp on that stuff beforehand.
• I also have a few unlisted Youtube videos that show my own process for these: Beheeyem, Archen, Absol, Emboar, Pignite, Trubbish, and Samurott.
• And last but not least, here's a link to the spreadsheet that has all of the finished sprites thus far!

If you have any questions or think you need a little extra in regards to crit and how you can do better (in the scenario that you're a contributor), I certainly don't mind!

This is now just a gallery for Hi-Res Pokemon sprites for me but heck if you've made some too, feel free to share them here!

 

[SassySnivy]

Oddly enough, my post had to be put in the moderation queue. Well now that that's taken care of, I'll go ahead and post my most recent new contributions from the past few days, in order to get this bumped just a little bit! c:

 

[aveontrainer]

I definitely love the high res look so much. and it gives you the ability to add more details. same with the tilesets. the thing that bugs me so much about the gen 3 and 4 games is not being able to add the amount of detail i want. but my love for the nostalgic feel of the gen 3 games is what has me making my game in that style.

 

[SassySnivy]

I definitely love the high res look so much. and it gives you the ability to add more details. same with the tilesets. the thing that bugs me so much about the gen 3 and 4 games is not being able to add the amount of detail i want. but my love for the nostalgic feel of the gen 3 games is what has me making my game in that style.

Hey, thanks so much for your kind words! I agree, I really love the classic-but-also-more-modern feeling the GBA graphics give. They remind me of much simpler, carefree times! Gen III is just my favorite generation in general.

I got a new contributor! Larryturbo from DeviantART has made Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan, and Tentacruel so far! I'll post his stuff here with links to the originals just for the sake of having something to update with. ^^

Spoiler:

I'll be working on Diglett and Dugtrio next, myself! c:

Edit: Diglett line is done. <3

Next up for me is the Abra line!

 

[oicangi shadow youtube]

I love how they look and the style of high resolution, the problem would be to make all the pokemon, but surely at the end you feel a great pride.
it's great! I wish I could put in some game

 

[SassySnivy]

I love how they look and the style of high resolution, the problem would be to make all the pokemon, but surely at the end you feel a great pride.
it's great! I wish I could put in some game

Hey, thank you so much! Yeah, that's definitely a huge problem. ; v ; But I'm going to do whatever I can. <3
Larryturbo has made a Drowzee:


And here's the Abra line from me!

Next up for me is going to be the Machop line.

 

[SassySnivy]

Finally got around to finishing the Machop line! Next for me is going to be the back sprites for the Pidgey line.

 

[SassySnivy]

Hey all! I finally got around to finishing those back sprites for the Pidgey line. Next from me will be back sprites from Rattata and Raticate!

 

[Fairy]

These look s I c k e n i n g ♡

 

[SassySnivy]

These look s I c k e n i n g ♡

Ayyy thanks chica! <3

Spearow line backs are next!

 

[SassySnivy]

Finished the Spearow line already. Wanting to really crank these out lol. back sprites for the Ekans line are next.

 

[SassySnivy]

Been kinda slow with these lately but I'm hoping things will get back to normal soon!

Gonna work on Sandshrew line backs next!

 

[Logiedan]

that pidgeot looks sick !!!!!!!

 

[SassySnivy]

that pidgeot looks sick !!!!!!!

Hey thanks so much! :D

Steadily working on these. Next is the Nidoran F line

 

[SassySnivy]

Nidoran M line back sprites are next from me.

Just updated the OP with a poll, btw. I realize that high resolution Pokemon sprites are something that a lot of people don't do, and maybe the fact that people are unsure of how to go about making them makes them feel alienated from helping. Because I need help and I would love for other people to be familiar with the style, I'm thinking about tutoring about 3 people at a time. It'll be for DS-style hi res sprites and you'll need to have a decent grasp on pixel art basics, particularly line art. Recommended only if you know how to make pixel art from scratch, or if you at least know how to trace since that also requires some skill as you want to make sure the line art comes out clean. A big part of hi-res sprites is in the line art, and it's where most of the challenge is.

Would love to know what you guys think of this idea! Poll voting is anonymous.

 

[SassySnivy]

Hey, again! No new sprites this time (except a Lugia you can see on my DA page). I just wanted to post to let everyone know that I've actually made a much more comprehensive tutorial than what I had previously.

High Resolution DS-Style Sprite Tutorial

 

[Orondhor]

I know this is outside the scope of the project but, if making the resolution future-proof is the issue...wouldn't at this point be better to just simply vectorize the sprites in the first place?

 

[eindolin!]

These sprites are GREAT! So much better especially on the detail. I've seen the spreadsheet, they are really amazing and I believe, you really put a big effort on this project. Amazing job!

 

[Nice-kun]

Wow your sprites are awesome!
What's you're DA account name? I want to see more of this😁

 

[SassySnivy]

Sorry this is so late akxnsksn

Wow your sprites are awesome!
What's you're DA account name? I want to see more of this😁

It's SassySnivy on deviantart as well! I post new ones there when I finish an evolution line

These sprites are GREAT! So much better especially on the detail. I've seen the spreadsheet, they are really amazing and I believe, you really put a big effort on this project. Amazing job!

Bskxjxdksj thank you so much! I really wish ADHD didn't make it so hard for me to stick with this over an extended period of time but hopefully I can at least finish a FEW full dexes before I grow old and develop dimentia LOL
Hahah yeah, the doubled size / makes it so that you can add more details / make details more refined and I really enjoy doing that! :D God I can't believe I've been working on these on and off since 2013. I always come back to this cause it's so soothing to me, and tends to help me once I've gone through a hurdle in life (which I unfortunately have recently, RIP)

I know this is outside the scope of the project but, if making the resolution future-proof is the issue...wouldn't at this point be better to just simply vectorize the sprites in the first place?

Honestly, I recently realized the reason why I can never stick to one project for long is because I've had undiagnosed ADHD up until now. God I do really wish I could stick with this more. But anyway basically I just realized that I'm not dependable with this kind of thing lol, but I make these because they're honestly just a huge passion project of mine that I've spent a LOT of time on. ❤️ I suppose vectors would be more practical, yes, but personally I prefer a pixel art aesthetic c:

I've finished a handful since last I posted here. The Geodude line is even as recent as just this past week, actually

I might stream these for a bit and here's why:

Spoiler:

I know this most likely isn't going to get to anyone here by the end of the night and that's okay, but I'm actually wanting to stream working on some of these but don't wanna waste my time doing it for literally no audience (my friends are all busy lmao) xD If anyone wants to watch a Picarto stream of me making hi res sprites then just DM me, my discord is SassySnivy#5325

I say discord because since it directly notifies me, I have an easier time responding to that as opposed to occasionally refreshing a page on a forum, hahah.

Anyway there is a catch! You MIGHT not want to have the audio on, but idk. I won't be speaking but I AM going to be playing a certain ambient album I recently discovered, if anyone is interested in experiencing it with me hahah. It's called "Everywhere at the End of Time" and it's supposed to slowly emulate how dimentia might feel (expressed via music / sound) over the course of 6.5 hours. Now I'm only going to listen to the first 2 or 3 parts of it but it's kinda been my hyperfixation lately and I'm just looking for someone else that might also be interested in it. It's kinda gut-wrenching in the sense it carries a lot of existential dread and may be draining to listen to once it gets towards around the middle. It's called "Everywhere at the End of Time" and while some people may not get the same emotional effect as others do, even then it's still kinda draining to listen to. If no one is interested I'll probably just play some Jamiroquai I've ALSO been looking for people to socialize with that like acid jazz too, lol. As you might tell I recently lost a person in my life that I could really relate to with this kind of stuff and it really has left an empty void

Wow sorry for spilling my guts out here lol, I just wanted to be direct and transparent for my main reasons for wanting to stream. I AM planning on streaming the entire album on Sunday if anyone wants to also experience it. I'll be working on the hi-res sprites of course lol, so it's all still relevant to this thread ;p I'm SassySnivy on Picarto, I'd feel really weird posting the link here tbh. ; v ;

Thanks for reading, this has been my TED Talk

Also how the heckin frick do I remove polls?

Oh by the way, I made a tutorial for these a little while back ago!

Edit: oh, I guess I should ask someone to move this to the art gallery subforum hahah