How to turn a photo into a sprite

[Hotenshu Shogun]

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/3729/tutorialrs5.png
1. Find a photo, BUT MAKE SURE IT'S SMALL ENOUGH! Do NOT make massively huge sprites; they're like those humongus action figures, you can't really use them for anything other than decoration. We'll use a picture of Prince Zuko's blue spirit mask for this.

2. Fill in the area you need in 8-bit style, don't go "but I need in such and such style!" Trying to make it in advanced bittage now makes this more difficult than need be.

3. Get rid of what you don't need, it just isn't nessecery to have this crap.

4. Increase bittage to desired amount, then it's in such in such style.

And HUYAH! You've got your very own photo-sprite. Have fun with it.

[DARKNESSMANexe]

But isn't that a form of sprite theft??

[Aen]

And it's still quite difficult.
Edit: Lord Aen... I like the sound of that. XD

[Hotenshu Shogun]

But isn't that a form of sprite theft??
Not that I'm aware of.

[turpinator]

Waitaminute, isn't that base photo the mask of the Blue Bandit from Avatar? From when it gets thrown into the lake and slowly sinks to the bottom?

[Hotenshu Shogun]

Waitaminute, isn't that base photo the mask of the Blue Bandit from Avatar? From when it gets thrown into the lake and slowly sinks to the bottom?
It's called the blue spirit, not bandit; but yeah.

[turpinator]

Sorry, couldn't remember the second word. >_> Anyways cool, your sprite version looks pretty darn accurate. *Thumbs up*

[Zero James Magnion]

Yes. this guide definatley makes it easier. And no it wouldn't be considered sprite theft cuz ur turning a non-sprite pic into a sprite.

[SpeedReemix]

Really good guide, this is what I've done with it.
Just 16 color ( 15 colors + 1 background color ).

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7430/theoneihavedonelq0.gif

[Boilman]

I used that technique too. If you wanna see how it worked out... Look at my avatar.

[Xterra]

I've also used that technique in the past to make many things like it.

Mostly doing Museum artifacts (from the real world) to go into Zx museums.

It's a very handy style, but I always go way over the color limit with detail.

I guess I should try and cut back on all the many hues and shades I do.

[Hotenshu Shogun]

Really good guide, this is what I've done with it.
Just 16 color ( 15 colors + 1 background color ).

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7430/theoneihavedonelq0.gif
Ooo, that's good! Well, that one would fit with my sprites though. They're pretty cartoony, and of course, I'm not really too good of a spriter.

I used that technique too. If you wanna see how it worked out... Look at my avatar.

I always wondered where you got it, I assumed it was scratch.
I've also used that technique in the past to make many things like it.

Mostly doing Museum artifacts (from the real world) to go into Zx museums.

It's a very handy style, but I always go way over the color limit with detail.

I guess I should try and cut back on all the many hues and shades I do.

All up to you bro.