Have you ever wanted to bring your own drawings to life on your computer? With Scratch, you can do just that! Scratch is a fun and easy way to create your own animations and games. In this guide, we’ll learn how to turn your hand-drawn pictures into sprites that you can use in Scratch.
To start, you’ll need to upload your drawing to Scratch. You can use different types of image files like JPEG, PNG, or SVG. Just make sure your file is smaller than ten megabytes. Also, remember to use your own drawings or images that are not copyrighted. It’s important to follow the Community Guidelines and keep your personal information private.
Once your image is uploaded, you might want to edit it. For example, if you only need part of your drawing, you can use the Eraser tool to remove the parts you don’t want. The Select tool is also handy for choosing larger sections to delete.
Scratch has two modes for editing images: Bitmap and Vector. Bitmap mode lets you work with photos and paint using tiny dots called pixels. Vector mode, on the other hand, is great for creating and editing shapes. When you upload JPEG and PNG files, they go into Bitmap mode, while SVG files go into Vector mode. You can switch between these modes by clicking the button at the bottom of the screen that says “convert to bitmap” or “convert to vector.”
If your drawing has a transparent background, it can look even better in Scratch. PNG files with transparent backgrounds or SVG files work well for this. You can remove the background using Scratch’s paint editor tools after uploading, or you can do it before uploading using online tools or software.
Let’s say you drew a car and want the wheels to move. You can upload the wheels separately and add code to make them spin. For example, when you click the green flag in Scratch, you can make the wheels turn continuously. To make a second wheel, just right-click on the wheel sprite to duplicate it, then drag it to where you want it. Now your car is ready to roll!
With Scratch, the possibilities are endless. You can create anything you imagine by combining your drawings with Scratch’s coding features. What amazing project will you create next?
Draw a picture of your favorite animal on paper. Take a photo of it or scan it, and then upload it to Scratch. Follow the steps to turn your drawing into a sprite. Experiment with editing tools to make your sprite look just right!
Upload two different images to Scratch: one as a JPEG and another as an SVG. Switch between Bitmap and Vector modes to see how each image changes. Try editing both images and notice the differences in tools and effects available in each mode.
Choose a part of your drawing, like a tail or an arm, and upload it separately as a sprite. Use Scratch’s coding blocks to animate this part. For example, make a tail wag or an arm wave. Test your animation by clicking the green flag!
Create a drawing with a transparent background using online tools or software. Upload it to Scratch and see how it looks against different backdrops. Try adding a colorful background in Scratch to make your sprite stand out.
Use your uploaded drawings to create a simple game in Scratch. For example, make a game where your sprite has to catch falling objects. Use coding blocks to add movement and interaction. Share your game with classmates and see who can get the highest score!
Let’s explore creating a sprite in the Scratch editor using an uploaded original, hand-drawn image or photograph. For instance, I’m going to upload an image. You can use a JPEG, PNG, or SVG file. Please keep each of your files under ten megabytes. Do not upload materials under copyright, and ensure that your upload follows the Community Guidelines and does not reveal personal information.
Let’s say I only need part of this image. I can use tools such as the Eraser tool to carefully remove the parts I don’t want. I can then use the Select tool to select larger sections of the drawing that I want to delete.
There are two modes for drawing in Scratch. Bitmap mode allows you to edit photos and paint with pixels, while Vector mode allows you to create and edit shapes. JPEG and PNG files upload in bitmap mode, while SVG files upload in vector mode. You’ll know if you are in bitmap or vector mode because there is a button at the bottom of the screen that will say “convert to bitmap” or “convert to vector.”
If I have created a drawing of my own that I want to upload, it’s best if the images have a transparent background, such as a PNG with a transparent background or an SVG file. You can remove the background using the tools in the Scratch paint editor after uploading the file, or before uploading, using online tools or software.
I chose to draw the wheels separately. If I upload the wheels as a separate piece of the drawing, I can always add code to make them move. When the green flag is clicked, the wheels can turn continuously. Let’s make a second wheel. I can right-click on my wheel sprite to duplicate it, drag it to where I want, and now the movement is set. The possibilities are endless. What will you create?
Scratch – A programming language designed for beginners to create stories, games, and animations using blocks. – Example sentence: In computer class, we used Scratch to make a fun game with moving characters.
Drawing – Creating pictures or designs on the computer using special software tools. – Example sentence: We used a drawing program to create a colorful picture of a robot.
Image – A picture or visual representation that can be created or viewed on a computer. – Example sentence: I saved an image of a cute puppy from the internet to use as my desktop background.
Upload – To transfer a file or data from your computer to a website or online platform. – Example sentence: We had to upload our project files to the school website for our teacher to see.
Edit – To make changes or improvements to a document, image, or piece of code on the computer. – Example sentence: I edited the image to make it brighter and more colorful.
Bitmap – A type of image made up of tiny dots called pixels, often used for detailed pictures. – Example sentence: The bitmap image looked great, but it got blurry when we zoomed in too much.
Vector – A type of image made using lines and shapes that can be resized without losing quality. – Example sentence: We used vector graphics to design a logo that could be printed on a big poster.
Background – The part of a computer screen or image that is behind the main objects or text. – Example sentence: I chose a starry night background for my animation project in class.
Animate – To make images or objects move or change on the computer screen. – Example sentence: We learned how to animate a character to make it look like it was walking across the screen.
Code – A set of instructions written in a programming language that tells a computer what to do. – Example sentence: We wrote code in Scratch to make the cat sprite jump when we pressed the space bar.
