Let’s have some fun by changing and creating new characters in Scratch! Scratch is a program where you can make your own stories, games, and animations. Today, we’re going to learn how to remix and reimagine characters, also known as sprites, to make them look different and exciting.
In Scratch, there are two ways to draw and edit sprites: Bitmap mode and Vector mode. Bitmap mode lets you paint with tiny dots called pixels, while Vector mode allows you to create and change shapes easily. The sprite library in Scratch has both bitmap and vector sprites, but today, we’ll focus on vector sprites because they are great for making changes.
Let’s start by changing a sprite called Giga. First, we’ll remove the parts of Giga’s costume we don’t want. Then, we’ll go to the Costume library to find an octopus. We only want the octopus legs, so we’ll use the Select tool to choose all the legs, copy them, and then go back to Giga. We’ll paste the legs onto Giga and make sure they are behind Giga’s head so it looks just right.
Now, Giga looks cute with octopus legs! But we want Giga’s hair to match the legs. When we select Giga’s head, we see it has many colors. To change just the red hair, we can use the Reshape tool to select the red part and change its color. We can pick a color by hand or use the Eyedropper tool to match the orange color of the octopus legs.
We also notice that Giga has a black outline. We might want to select all the octopus legs and adjust their outline to match Giga’s style. Now, we have a cool and unique Giga using parts from different Scratch sprites!
If we want to make more changes, we can use the Reshape tool to adjust the size of Giga’s mouth, change the curve of the hair, switch colors, or modify outlines. There are so many possibilities! What kind of amazing sprite will you create?
Create Your Own Character: Using paper and colored pencils, draw your own character by mixing parts from different animals or objects. For example, you could give a cat butterfly wings or a dog with a fish tail. Think about what colors and patterns you want to use. Once you’re done, share your character with a friend or family member and explain why you chose those parts.
Color Matching Game: Find objects around your home that match the colors of your favorite Scratch sprite. For example, if your sprite has blue and yellow, look for items that are blue and yellow. Arrange them together and take a picture. Discuss with your family why colors are important in making characters look interesting and unique.
Story Time with Sprites: Imagine a short story where your remixed sprite is the main character. What adventure will they go on? Write a few sentences or draw a comic strip showing their journey. Share your story with your class or family and ask them what they think might happen next.
Let’s explore remixing and reimagining characters to create fun new sprites. There are two modes for drawing in Scratch: Bitmap mode, which allows you to edit photos and paint with pixels, and Vector mode, which enables you to create and edit shapes. The sprite library contains a mix of bitmap and vector sprites. You can remix and reimagine either type of sprite, but for this exercise, we will focus on vector sprites.
I will select the pieces of the Giga costume that I don’t want and delete them. Next, I will go to the Choose a Costume library and look for the octopus. I only want the octopus legs, so I will use my Select tool to select all the legs, copy them, go back to Giga, paste them, and then change the order by sending these to the very back, ensuring that Giga’s head is on top.
That looks really cute! However, I want to make sure that Giga’s hair matches the octopus legs. When I select Giga’s head, I notice that the fill shows multiple colors because Giga’s head is a group with different colors inside it. If I only want to select the red hair, I can use my Reshape tool to select just the piece that is red and change the color. I can find the color by hand or use my Eyedropper tool to select the orange that I want.
I also notice that Giga has a black outline, so I might select all of the legs and adjust the outline. Now, I have created a very cool and different Giga using pieces of the Scratch sprites that were already there. If I want to further manipulate the sprite, I can always use the Reshape tool to change the size of the mouth, adjust the curve of the hair, change colors, and modify outlines.
The possibilities are endless. What will you create?
