Sprite Sheet Generator

A plugin that simplifies the process of converting 3D animations into sprite sheets for 2D game development.

version: 2.0.0

compatibility: Blender 3.6 and newer

tested version: Blender 3.6.3 - 4.0.2 - 5.1.1

License: GPL-3.0

Features

🎮 Multi-Animation Support Process all your character animations at once - idle, run, jump, attack, fall, and more. The add-on automatically detects all actions in your armature and generates a unified sprite sheet.

🔄 Armature Rotation Mode Unlike other tools that rotate the camera, Sprite Sheet Generator rotates the armature itself. This ensures:

• Consistent lighting from a single direction
• No shadow inconsistencies between angles
• Cleaner, more professional results

📏 Dynamic Sprite Sizing Different animations need different sprite sizes. The add-on automatically:

• Analyzes bounding boxes for each animation
• Increases sprite size for animations like jump that need extra space
• Keeps normal animations at base size to avoid wasted texture space
• Adds configurable padding around sprites

🎯 Smart Frame Interpolation Reduce any animation to your target frame count:

• 20-frame run cycle → 10 frames with smooth interpolation
• 60-frame attack → 8 key frames automatically selected
• Maintains animation timing and flow

⚙️ Customizable Output

• Base/Max sprite sizes - Set minimum and maximum dimensions
• Padding percentage - Control space around sprites
• Columns - Define grid width
• Y-axis flip - Correct inverted renders
• View angles - Choose front, right, back, left (or any combination)
• Camera tracking - Camera follows object origin for consistent framing

📄 Metadata Export Automatic JSON metadata file with:

• Sprite dimensions for each animation
• Frame counts and row positions
• Grid layout information
• Ready for Unity, Godot, GameMaker, or custom engines

Usage

Quick Start

1. Select your armature in the 3D Viewport (The origin point should be at the center of the model. This will give you more accurate results.)
2. Find the "Sprite Sheet" tab in the right sidebar (press N if hidden)
3. Click Detect to scan all actions
4. Choose your view angles (Front, Right, Back, Left)
5. Click Generate Sprite Sheet

Detailed Workflow

1. Prepare Your Scene

• Set up your camera facing the character from the front
• Ensure transparent background is enabled (Film > Transparent)
• Position lights for consistent front lighting

2. Configure Output

• Output Folder: Where to save the sprite sheet
• Filename: Base name for the PNG and JSON files

3. Set Sprite Dimensions

• Base Width/Height: Normal size for idle/run animations (e.g., 64x64)
• Dynamic Sizing: Enable for automatic size adjustment
• Max Width/Height: Maximum allowed size (e.g., 128x128)
• Padding %: Extra space around sprites (10% recommended)

4. Choose View Angles

Select which directions to render:

• Front (0°): Default view
• Right (90°): Side view
• Back (180°): Behind view
• Left (270°): Other side view

5. Manage Animations

• Detect: Auto-scan all actions
• +: Add animation manually
• Trash: Clear list
• Checkbox: Enable/disable individual animations
• Frames column: Set target frame count per animation
• Analyze: Preview animation dimensions

6. Generate

Click Generate Sprite Sheet and wait for the render to complete.

Output Structure

output_folder/ ├── sprite_sheet.png # Combined sprite sheet └── sprite_sheet_metadata.json # Animation data

Sprite Sheet Layout

Each row represents one animation + angle combination:

Requirements

• Blender 3.6 or newer
• An armature with actions
• A camera in the scene
• Transparent film enabled (recommended)

Tips for Best Results Lighting Use a single key light from the front Avoid harsh shadows Consistent lighting = better sprite sheets

Camera Setup: Position camera at the same height as the character's center Use orthographic camera for consistent sizing Frame the character in the viewfinder before generating

Animation Prep: Name your actions clearly (idle, run, jump, etc.) It should not contain special characters. Test with small frame counts first

Performance: Start with lower target frame counts for testing Use the Preview button to check animations before full render Large sprite sizes increase render time

Troubleshooting: "No camera in scene" → Add a camera and make it active

"Action not found" → Ensure the action is assigned to your armature

"Armature required" → Select an armature, not a mesh object

Render errors → Check write permissions in output folder → Ensure temp folder is accessible

Sprites appear cut off → Enable Dynamic Sizing → Increase Max Width/Height → Increase Padding %

License This project is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later. See the LICENSE file for details.

Contributions are welcome!

Report Issues

https://github.com/GameSomeStudio/sprite-sheet-generator

Metadata Format

{
  "sprite_sheet": "sprite_sheet.png",
  "columns": 10,
  "rows": 12,
  "max_sprite_width": 64,
  "max_sprite_height": 64,
  "animations": [
    {
      "name": "idle_front",
      "row": 0,
      "frame_count": 5,
      "sprite_width": 64,
      "sprite_height": 64
    }
  ]
}