Exporting a sprite sheet in Aseprite is a straightforward process that allows you to combine multiple frames and layers into a single image, optimized for game development or other uses.
The primary method to export a sprite sheet is to use the File > Export Sprite Sheet option.
Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting Your Sprite Sheet
Follow these simple steps within Aseprite to export your work as a sprite sheet:
- Open Your Project: Ensure the Aseprite file you want to export is open.
- Access the Export Menu: Navigate to the main menu and click on
File. - Select Sprite Sheet Export: From the dropdown menu, choose
Export Sprite Sheet. - Configure Export Settings: A new dialog window will appear, offering various options to customize your export. This is where you define how your sprite sheet will look and what it will contain.
Key Export Options
Within the Export Sprite Sheet dialog, you have several crucial settings:
- Source: This determines which parts of your animation are included. As mentioned in the reference, you can select all visible layers or a certain layer, and you can also select the frames based on tags.
- All Visible Layers: Includes all layers marked as visible in your project.
- Current Layer: Exports only the currently selected layer.
- Tags: Allows you to specify a frame tag, exporting only the frames within that tagged range.
- Layout: Controls how the frames are arranged on the sprite sheet image. Common layouts include:
- Horizontal strip: Frames arranged in a single row.
- Vertical strip: Frames arranged in a single column.
- Rows by: Arranges frames into a specified number of rows.
- Columns by: Arranges frames into a specified number of columns.
- Packed: Aseprite attempts to arrange frames efficiently to minimize wasted space.
- Output File: Choose the destination folder and file name for your sprite sheet image (
.pngis common) and the data file (often.jsonor.xml) that describes the layout of the frames within the image. - Settings: Adjust padding between frames, border thickness, inner padding, and specify whether to include empty frames.
- Data: Select the format for the data file (e.g., JSON Array, JSON Hash) which is essential for game engines or software to correctly interpret the sprite sheet.
Practical Tips for Exporting
- Use Tags: Organize your animation with frame tags (e.g., "idle", "run", "attack") to easily export specific animations as separate sprite sheets.
- Choose the Right Layout: Consider how your target software or game engine prefers sprite sheets to be laid out. Packed layouts are space-efficient but might require specific parsing.
- Include Data File: Always export the accompanying data file. It contains crucial information about each frame's position and size on the sheet, saving you manual configuration time.
- Preview: Use the "Preview" button in the export dialog to see how your sprite sheet will look before finalizing the export.
Common Export Settings Table
| Setting | Description | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Which layers and frames to include | Exporting full animation or specific sequences |
| Layout | Arrangement of frames (Horizontal, Packed, Rows, etc.) | Matching engine requirements, optimizing space |
| Output File | Destination for image (.png) and data (.json/.xml) | Saving to project folder |
| Padding | Space between frames, borders | Preventing texture bleeding, easier parsing |
| Data Format | Structure of the data file (JSON, XML) | Compatibility with game engines (Unity, Godot, etc.) |
By following these steps and understanding the various options available in the Export Sprite Sheet dialog, you can efficiently generate ready-to-use sprite sheets from your Aseprite animations.
