generate2dsprite

name

generate2dsprite

description

Generate and postprocess general 2D game assets and animation sheets: pixel-art sprites, clean HD map props, creatures, characters, NPCs, spells, projectiles, impacts, props, summons, and transparent GIF exports. Use when Codex should infer the asset plan from a natural-language request, match a reference or map art style, call built-in `image_gen` for solid-magenta raw sheets, and use the local processor only for chroma-key cleanup, frame extraction, alignment, QC, and transparent exports.

Generate2dsprite

Use this skill for self-contained 2D sprite or animation assets.

If the user wants a whole playable content pack, map, story, slideshow, or pack assembly, use generate2dgamepack.

Parameters

Infer these from the user request:

• asset_type: player | npc | creature | character | spell | projectile | impact | prop | summon | fx
• action: single | idle | cast | attack | hurt | combat | walk | run | hover | charge | projectile | impact | explode | death
• view: topdown | side | 3/4
• sheet: auto | 1x4 | 2x2 | 2x3 | 3x3 | 4x4
• frames: auto or explicit count
• bundle: single_asset | unit_bundle | spell_bundle | combat_bundle | line_bundle
• effect_policy: all | largest
• anchor: center | bottom | feet
• margin: tight | normal | safe
• art_style: pixel_art | clean_hd | pixel_inspired | retro_pixel | map_style | project-native
• reference: none | attached_image | generated_image | local_file
• prompt: the user's theme or visual direction
• role: only when the asset is clearly an NPC role
• name: optional output slug

Read references/modes.md when the request is ambiguous.

Agent Rules

• Decide the asset plan yourself. Do not force the user to spell out sheet size, frame count, or bundle structure when the request already implies them.
• Write the art prompt yourself. Do not default to the prompt-builder script.
• Use built-in image_gen for every raw image.
• When the user provides or implies a visual reference, use built-in image edit/reference semantics only after the reference image is visible in the conversation context. If the reference is a local file, call view_image first; do not rely on a filesystem path in the prompt as the visual reference.
• Do not force pixel art when the asset is a map prop for $generate2dmap or when the user/project requests a different style. Match the map or reference style first.
• Use the script only as a deterministic processor: magenta cleanup, frame splitting, component filtering, scaling, alignment, QC metadata, transparent sheet export, and GIF export.
• Do not use scripts to generate the creative image prompt. If a legacy prompt-builder command exists, treat it as historical compatibility only, not the normal skill workflow.
• Treat script flags as execution primitives chosen by the agent, not user-facing hardcoded workflow.
• If a generated sheet touches cell edges, drifts in scale, or breaks a projectile / impact loop, either reprocess with better primitive settings or regenerate the raw sheet.
• Keep the solid #FF00FF background rule unless the user explicitly wants a different processing workflow.

Workflow

1. Infer the asset plan

Pick the smallest useful output.

Examples:

• controllable hero with four directions -> player + player_sheet
• healer overworld NPC -> npc + single_asset or unit_bundle
• large boss idle loop -> creature + idle + 3x3
• wizard throwing a magic orb -> spell_bundle
  • caster cast sheet
  • projectile loop
  • impact burst
• monster line request -> line_bundle
  • plan 1-3 forms
  • per form, make the sheets the request actually needs

2. Write the prompt manually

Use references/prompt-rules.md.

Choose art_style before writing the prompt:

• Use pixel_art or retro_pixel for classic sprites, 16-bit RPG actors, and requests that explicitly ask for pixel art.
• Use clean_hd for map props or assets intended to match clean hand-painted HD maps.
• Use pixel_inspired only when the user wants a pixel-adjacent look without retro chunkiness.
• Use map_style or project-native when an existing map, game, or reference should define the style.

If a reference is involved:

• Make the reference visible first. For local paths, use view_image; for freshly generated references, rely on the image already shown in context.
• State the reference role explicitly: preserve identity/style, create an animation sheet for the same subject, create an evolution/variant, or derive a matching prop/FX.
• Preserve the stable identity markers from the reference: silhouette, palette, face/eye features, costume marks, major accessories, and material language.
• Let only the requested action or evolution change. Do not redesign the subject unless the user asks.
• Still require exact sheet shape, solid magenta background, frame containment, and same scale across frames.

Keep the strict parts:

• solid #FF00FF background
• exact sheet shape
• same character or asset identity across frames
• same bounding box and pixel scale across frames
• explicit containment: nothing may cross cell edges

3. Generate the raw image

Use built-in image_gen.

After generation:

• find the raw PNG under $CODEX_HOME/generated_images/...
• copy or reference it from the working output folder
• keep the original generated image in place

4. Postprocess locally

Run scripts/generate2dsprite.py process on the raw image.

The processor is intentionally low-level. The agent chooses:

• rows / cols
• fit_scale
• align
• shared_scale
• component_mode
• component_padding
• edge_touch rejection strategy

Use the processor to gather QC metadata, not to make aesthetic decisions for you.

5. QC the result

Check:

• did any frame touch the cell edge
• did any frame resize differently than intended
• did detached effects become noise
• does the sheet still read as one coherent animation

If not, rerun with different processor settings or regenerate the raw sheet.

6. Return the right bundle

For a single sheet, expect:

• raw-sheet.png
• raw-sheet-clean.png
• sheet-transparent.png
• frame PNGs
• animation.gif
• prompt-used.txt
• pipeline-meta.json

For player_sheet, expect:

• transparent 4x4 sheet
• 16 frame PNGs
• direction strips
• 4 direction GIFs

For spell_bundle or unit_bundle, create one folder per asset in the bundle.

Defaults

• idle
  • small or medium actor -> 2x2
  • large creature or boss -> 3x3
• cast -> prefer 2x3
• projectile -> prefer 1x4
• impact / explode -> prefer 2x2
• walk
  • topdown actor -> 4x4 for four-direction walk
  • side-view asset -> 2x2
• use shared_scale by default for any multi-frame asset where frame-to-frame consistency matters
• use largest component mode when detached sparkles or edge debris make the main body unstable

Resources

• references/modes.md: asset, action, bundle, and sheet selection
• references/prompt-rules.md: manual prompt patterns and containment rules
• scripts/generate2dsprite.py: postprocess primitive for cleanup, extraction, alignment, QC, and GIF export