Let’s Make: 2D Isometric Sprites from a 3D Model | Blender 2.7 Tutorial

To begin this tutorial, you will need three things
1. GIMP (https://www.gimp.org/)
2. Sprite Sheet/Animation Tiles Plugin (http://registry.gimp.org/node/20943)
3. Tank Blend File (https://drive.google.com/file/d/12Jg9bIginOnDOUPhAsb0mFfNiptM5jpX/view)
Model Set-up
Rename Cube.002 to “body”
Rename Cube.001 to “left-track”
Rename Cube to “right-track”
Open the Numeric Panel (N) and put a check in the box beside “Lock Camera to View”
Close the Numeric Panel (N)
Move the Cursor to the Center (Shift + S)
Select the “body” and in the Tools Panel under Set Origin choose “Origin to Geometry”
Repeat this process for both tracks
Camera Set-up
In order to have a true isometric view we need to change the camera settings
Choose the camera and change the following settings
Camera Data Tab
Lens: Orthographic
Object Tab
X: 60
Y: 0
Z: 45
Select everything (except the camera and lamp)
Go into Camera View (0) and move and scale the tank until it fits within the camera view
Under the Render Tab make sure “Transparent” is checked under the Film section
Under the Render Tab, select the folder where you want the output files to be stored under the Output section
Images
Make sure you have your keyframe at 1 on the timeline
Insert a “Location, Rotation, Scale” keyframe (I)
Move to frame 2 and rotate the tank around the Z-Axis 45o and insert another “Location, Rotation, Scale” keyframe
Repeat this process through frame 8
Rendering Images
Under the Render Tab set the End Frame to 8 under the Dimensions section
Under the Output Section make sure you have PNG and RGBA selected
Click on the Animation button
Sprite Sheet
Open up GIMP
Open the files images (File > Open as Layers)
Make the sprite sheet with the plugin (Filters > Sprite Sheet > Create from Layer)
Export the file (File > Export [PNG])
