Lab #1 - Photoshop

The purpose of this assignment is to develop some facility with using Photoshop to develop the graphic elements you will use on your video games. This is an individual assignment. Overall, the goal of the two lab assignments in CS 80K is to give everyone on the class the ability to create a video game using Game Maker. This involves being able to create graphics for the game (hence this Photoshop assignment), and being able to use Game Maker (lab #2).

The assignment is pretty simple: create two distinct sprite images, one at appx. 16x16 pixels, and the other at appx. 32x32 pixels. These need to be two different pictures. There is nothing magic about these numbers, though they are fairly typical sprite dimensions. Plus or minus 5-10 pixels is fine on these images, in either dimension. The goal is for you to get used to working with the limited expressive capabilities of such small images.

So, for your assignment, please turn in a sheet of paper with:

• your name (this is an individual assignment)
• a 16x16 pixel sprite, shown in two images, one at 16x16 pixels, the other blown up to about 1.5 inchesx1.5 inches, so it is easier to see
• a 32x32 pixel sprite, shown in two images, one at 32x32pixels, the other blown up to about 1.5"x.15"
• color is preferred, but black and white is OK
• save, but do not turn in, your .psd (Photoshop native) file

Note that you might want to make two different sprites that might see use in your Game Maker game project.

While we recognize that there are many drawing programs available, the assignment specifically requests the use of Photoshop, since it is an industry-standard tool. No other 2D drawing tool seems to be in prevalent use within the video games industry at present.

Last modified: 2/9/2006