ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Scratch Team How to Make a Character Designer in Scratch | Tutorial
Hello, everyone! I’m Zoë from the Scratch team, and today I’m excited to show you how to create a character designer in Scratch. This is a fun project where you can let players design their own characters, just like in games where you can create your own cupcake or fox. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to make your own game like this. Let’s dive in!
First, think about what kind of game you want to make. Do you want players to design their own cat, dragon, or maybe an outfit? It can be anything you like! For this example, I’m going to make a “create your own dog” game, but you can choose any theme you want.
We’ll start by drawing one version of the character. If you’re not used to drawing in Scratch, don’t worry! I’ll show you an easy way to draw that doesn’t need any special skills. To draw a character, hover over “Choose a Sprite” and click “Paint.”
Using simple shapes like circles can make drawing easy. Since I’m making a dog, I’ll use the circle tool to draw an oval for the head. Then, I’ll change the color to black and draw small circles for the eyes. After drawing one eye, I can copy and paste it to make the second eye.
Even though I could make a purple dog, I think I’ll choose brown for the fur. To change the color, I’ll select the circle and adjust the color settings. I’ll pick a shade from the orange section of the rainbow and make it a bit darker for a nice brown.
Next, I want to give the dog fluffy ears. To make shapes that aren’t circles, I can start with a circle and use the point editing tool to change the shape. I’ll adjust the points to create floppy ears. After drawing one ear, I can copy and paste it to make the second ear and flip it horizontally.
Now, I’ll draw a nose and a body for the dog. I’ll use the eyedropper tool to match the colors and create a tail too. Remember, you can make different parts for your character using simple shapes.
To make this a character designer game, we’ll separate each part into its own Sprite, like one for the ears and one for the tail. This way, players can mix and match them. I’ll start by selecting the tail, copying it, and creating a new Sprite for it. I’ll name this Sprite “tail.”
Next, I’ll do the same for the ears, eyes, nose, and body. I’ll also choose a background for the game. Now that I have all the parts as individual Sprites, I’ll hide the base character.
To make sure all the pieces start in the same place, I’ll set each Sprite to go to the same spot when the green flag is clicked. For any Sprite that needs to be in front, I’ll use the “go to front layer” code, and for the tail, I’ll set it to “go to back layer.”
Now comes the fun part! I’ll draw different options for the player to choose from. For the ears, I’ll add a new costume and create pointy ears. I can also add different color options by duplicating the costume and changing the colors.
To let the player switch between the ears, I’ll use the “next costume” block and set it to activate when the ears are clicked. You can use this method for all the different pieces.
If you don’t feel like drawing, you can always choose a base Sprite from the library. For example, I could pick a penguin and add clothing items from the fashion category. You can make these items change costume when clicked, allowing for customization without drawing.
There’s also a link to a starter project I created, which you can remix and modify for your own project.
That’s all I wanted to share today! I hope you have fun creating character designer projects. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. See you next time, and happy Scratching!
Create Your Own Character: Use paper and crayons to draw your own character, just like you did in Scratch. Think about what kind of character you want to create. Is it a magical creature, a superhero, or maybe a funny animal? Draw different parts like the head, body, and legs separately. Then, cut them out and mix and match to create different versions of your character. Share your creations with your friends or family and explain why you chose those designs.
Color Mix and Match: Gather some colored paper or fabric scraps. Try to match the colors you used in your Scratch project. Can you find a color that matches the brown you used for the dog? What about the colors for the eyes or ears? Create a collage using these colors to see how they look together. Discuss with a friend or family member why you chose those colors and how they make your character look unique.
Observe and Design: Go on a short walk or look around your home to find inspiration for your next character design. Maybe you see a bird with bright feathers or a cat with fluffy fur. Take notes or draw quick sketches of what you observe. When you return, use these observations to create a new character in Scratch. Think about how you can use different shapes and colors to represent what you saw.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Hi everyone! It’s Zoë from the Scratch team, also known as Zinnea. Today, I wanted to show you how to create a character designer in Scratch. This project allows players to customize their own characters, similar to games where you can design your own cupcake or create your own fox. By the end of this video, you’ll be able to make your own game like this. Let’s get started!
First, decide on the theme of your project. Do you want to create a game where players design their own cat, dragon, or outfit? It can be anything you like. For this example, I’ll be making a “create your own dog” game, but this video will work for any theme you choose.
We’ll start by drawing one version of the character. If you haven’t drawn much in Scratch or don’t enjoy drawing, don’t worry! I’ll show you a simple drawing style that doesn’t require any drawing experience. To draw a character, hover over “Choose a Sprite” and click “Paint.”
I find it easy to create characters using simple circles. Since I’m making a dog, I’ll use the circle tool to create an oval for the head. Then, I’ll change the color to black and draw small circles for the eyes. After drawing the first eye, I can copy and paste it to create the second eye.
I could make a purple dog, but I think I want the dog’s fur to be brown. To change the color, I’ll select the circle and adjust the color settings. I’ll choose a shade in the orange section of the rainbow and adjust the brightness for a darker brown.
Next, I want to give the dog fluffy ears. To create shapes that aren’t circles, I can start with a circle and use the point editing tool to mold the shape. I’ll adjust the points to create floppy ears. After drawing one ear, I can copy and paste it to create the second ear and flip it horizontally.
Now, I’ll draw a nose and a body for the dog. I’ll use the eyedropper tool to match the colors and create a tail as well. Remember, you can create different parts for your character using simple shapes.
To make this a character designer game, we’ll separate each part into its own Sprite, like one for the ears and one for the tail. This way, players can mix and match them. I’ll start by selecting the tail, copying it, and creating a new Sprite for it. I’ll name this Sprite “tail.”
Next, I’ll do the same for the ears, eyes, nose, and body. I’ll also choose a background for the game. Now that I have all the parts as individual Sprites, I’ll hide the base character.
To ensure all the pieces start in the same position, I’ll set each Sprite to go to the same coordinates when the green flag is clicked. For any Sprite that needs to be in front, I’ll use the “go to front layer” code, and for the tail, I’ll set it to “go to back layer.”
Now comes the fun part! I’ll draw different options for the player to choose from. For the ears, I’ll add a new costume and create pointy ears. I can also add different color options by duplicating the costume and changing the colors.
To allow the player to switch between the ears, I’ll use the “next costume” block and set it to activate when the ears are clicked. You can apply this method to all the different pieces.
If you don’t feel like drawing, you can always choose a base Sprite from the library. For example, I could pick a penguin and add clothing items from the fashion category. You can make these items change costume when clicked, allowing for customization without drawing.
There’s also a link to a starter project I created in the video description, which you can remix and modify for your own project.
That’s what I wanted to share today! I hope you have fun creating character designer projects. I can’t wait to see what you come up with. See you next time, and happy Scratching!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
