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

Jen S Abbott
Sep 7, 2018 · 2 min read

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])

Jen S Abbott

Written by

Jennifer S. Abbott is a freelance 3D artist, illustrator, and hand-letterer http://oldetinkererstudio.com/

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