Spriting Tutorials

Recoloring Tutorial

So you want to learn how to recolor? Well, there are two ways to do this: simple and complex. First, I'll show you the simple way.

Simple recoloring can only be done with Adobe Photoshop, so if you don't have it download GIMP (a free program like Photoshop) and figure out how to do it there, or skip to the next part of the tutorial. Now, I'll use simple recoloring to make a red Wailord. First, get a sprite.

Now, on Photoshop, click Enhance > Adjust Color > Hue/Saturation. That should open up this window:

Now, make sure Preview is on, and move the Hue bar until you see the colors you want. Note that there are two bars with every color below. The top one displays the colors before the change, and the bottom one displays what the color directly above it will change to. You can see that Wailord's dark blue color on the top bar is matched up with the targeted red color on the bottom bar. Click OK and your sprite should be recolored:

However, grayscale colors (black white, and everything in between) will not be changed. Enjoy your quickly-done recolor!

Photoshop recolors are nice, but what if you want something more... specific? That's where complex recolors come in. For this one, Paint is best (I think you can do it in Photoshop, but Paint is quicker). Also, you must choose a Pokemon to recolor your sprite with. I want a green Wailord, so I will use Grovyle for the colors. First, place both sprites side by side:

Before recoloring, use the eyedropper tool and left click on the lightest color of the Pokemon being recolored (for example, Wailord's lightest blue) and right click on the lightest color of the Pokemon whose colors are being used (Grovyle's lightest green). Next to the color bar you should see this:

Notice that Wailord's lightest blue is on top, and Grovyle's lightest green is on the bottom. Now, click the eraser tool and hold the right mouse button while you rub the eraser all over the sprite. The color on top should have changed to the bottom color. Keep doing this, going from the next lightest colors and so on, until the Pokemon's color has completely changed:

You can see that all blue on the Wailord has now changed to green. But why stop there? Most Pokemon have a second set of colors, and Wailord is no exception. Now I will do the same thing, changing Wailord's belly color to Grovyle's red.

Now it looks good. Look back at the glory of your finished sprite!

Hawaiian Pokemon