Photoshop/Paint/Corel advice to make sword slashes and fireballs

[Jonjon]

I'm trying to make sprite sheets that have effects like this http://vxresource.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/slash_effect_002.png

And http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/346/b/8/megaman_x_hadouken__remake__by_dragonfaku-d5ntxg0.gif

Just simple tips/youtube videos for making them in photoshop. The energy glow/windy distorting effects (like in the spriter effects pack) are both what I'm looking to create.

Also do you have tips for editting Spriter sprite sheets in photoshop, and making sure that when I save them, I don't get problems with transparency? Like if I decide to have a sprite sheet of the guy punching, and I add some blur or whatever to each frame of the punch, then save it, and I see black/gray/white stuff where it should just be clear... how do I prevent that?

I used to get that problem a lot when I'd edit sprites in Little Fighter 2, trying to add energy beams and crap like that and then when I play the game, there's blackness around the energy beam >=[.

[ruberboy]

I'm trying to make sprite sheets that have effects like this http://vxresource.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/slash_effect_002.png

And http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/346/b/8/megaman_x_hadouken__remake__by_dragonfaku-d5ntxg0.gif

Just simple tips/youtube videos for making them in photoshop. The energy glow/windy distorting effects (like in the spriter effects pack) are both what I'm looking to create.

Also do you have tips for editting Spriter sprite sheets in photoshop, and making sure that when I save them, I don't get problems with transparency? Like if I decide to have a sprite sheet of the guy punching, and I add some blur or whatever to each frame of the punch, then save it, and I see black/gray/white stuff where it should just be clear... how do I prevent that?

I used to get that problem a lot when I'd edit sprites in Little Fighter 2, trying to add energy beams and crap like that and then when I play the game, there's blackness around the energy beam >=[.

 

Ok, so no one said nothing on this? how is that.

 

This is simple my friend. 

 

First thing, using filters in pshop or whatever is not bad, for effects.

 

If you want to have it perfect without transparency problems we will stick with Antialias (plenty of colors, no hard pixels, just default brush ok) if you want it with hard pixels (traditional pixel art) you must use something like alpha threshold and clean borders at all frames after finishing.

 

So, first thing you want a fireball ok? 

 

Make the colors, inside white, then yellow, and then red (you can use whaever colors), now copy that layer, and in the new copy apply a filter of BLUR or GAUSSIAN BLUR or alike, ok?

 

now change the mode of that layer to ADD. now duplicate that copy layer like 3 or 4 times and it will bring more "Shine" to it. 

 

This is the basis for all fire FX and shinings.

 

You can change the layer modes and experiment with different colors.

 

Hope it helps.