Top Down Sprite Maker (demo)

For those of you that have been following Top Down Sprite Maker but have yet to buy the program, I have released demo builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions. The demo includes all the program’s features except the ability to export sprite sheets.

You can test multiple sprite styles, customize characters, and experiment with the TDSM interfaces and features as much as you want.

If you would like to export your customized character sprite sheets, you can buy the full version of the program on Steam or itch.io.

Top Down Sprite Maker v1.3.0

Changelog

• Review code changes: v1.2.0...v1.3.0
• Blog post

Core

Added:

• Reset sprite customization functionality
• Preview sprite sheet button and behaviour on configuration screen
• No choice tooltip now includes randomization probability
• Close button to color selection panel to dismiss active color selection

Changed:

• Adjusted sprite preview position to always be centered on blueprint backdrop
• Moved Generate a random sprite in this style button to preview panel
• Changed default sprite style to limited version of Pixel Citizen style
• Redesigned loading screen sprites in the Pixel Citizen style
• Improved script error reporting
• Improved DeltaScript interpreter error handling
• Changed user settings file to /data/.settings.json in program user data directory
• Last used export folder now persists across program sessions

Fixed:

• #64 - macOS app icon is default Java icon
• #79 - Switching sprite styles can sometimes cause the program to crash
• #80 - Asset choice buttons can still be clicked when partially beyond scroll box
• #82 - App crashes or shows unhelpful error screen when loading JSON metadata

Scripting API

Added:

• Documentation for scripting API, live at GitHub repo jbunke/tdsm-api
• script type
  • Constructor: $Init::script
• asset_choice properties and functions
  • Property id
  • asset_choice::get_col_sels
  • asset_choice::randomize
• layer functions
  • layer::get_asset_choice
  • layer::get_asset_choice_at
• style functions
  • style::reset_custom

Fixed:

• #75 - col_sel::randomize invocation throws compile error
• #78 - col_sel::set_from_swatch invocation leads to runtime error

Top Down Sprite Maker v1.2.0

Changelog

• Review code changes: v1.1.0...v1.2.0
• Blog post

Core

Added:

• Added scripting API
• Sprite styles are now stored in archives; can be uploaded and distributed
• Added JSON data for style ID, customization layers, and configuration data
• Load a sprite into TDSM by uploading a JSON file
• Added hidden program settings
• Added startup messages that highlight new features if the program is opened for the first time since an update that introduced them
• Added help menus with guides and additional resources

Removed:

• Removed "Hokkaido" sprite style; now available as free download
• Removed "Kyushu" sprite style; now available as free download

Scripting API

Added:

• Added scripting API; not yet documented

Top Down Sprite Maker v1.1.0

Changelog

• Review code changes: v1.0.0...v1.1.0
• Blog post

Core

Added:

• Style-specific settings
• Color replacement menu

Changed:

• New build and distribution pipeline produces dedicated Windows, macOS, and Linux builds that are significantly smaller than the old Windows installer
• Optimized sprite assembly pipeline

Hokkaido

Added:

• Added animations: Run, Surf, Swim
• Added settings:
  • Quantize to GBA colors
  • Warn if sprite contains more than 15 non-transparent colors
• Added customization options

Changed:

• Renamed "Pokemon Trainer [Gen 4]" style to "Hokkaido"
• Separated "Headwear" and "Hairstyle" options onto multiple layers

Kyushu

Added:

• Added "Kyushu" sprite style

Top Down Sprite Maker v1.0.0

Initial release of Top Down Sprite Maker.

Actually released on February 21, 2025