Avatar Kit Help
The Official Kit Help Topic.

Hello, and welcome to the Avatar Kit Help topic.

Bit of info before we start: Pictures Topic in Q&A, so no questions referring to hosting and such don't go here

To get started, let's introduce a good friend and family member of Pixel Artists and Kits: MSPaint. This simple program is the basis to Avatar Kits alike. First, you know those nasty pictures that you could never put together with a background? Forget 'em. Use this:

Step 1: Click 'Image' and drag your mouse down to "Draw Opaque" (Example)
Step 2: Click "Draw Opaque" and make sure its unchecked (Example)That's better, huh? Now, let's go grab us a kit. This shows you how to open files. You can browse (hopefully, you know how to do that) for your file. Because of a shortage of height and width of the pictures, I chose to use RZ's Chibi Kit. Before we start, use the Eyedropper tool (Color Select) and right-click on the Blue Background. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

First thing you do is zoom up to the image. zoomed-up image. Now, using the Cut tool (looks like a dotted-line box, top right corner of the edge bar). For this help tutorial, we'll use a Hau. Now, click on 'Edit' and go down to "Copy" and click it. (Example). Congratulations, you now have a copied image. Now, when you copy an image, the next step is to paste it. Simple, huh? (Example)

Now, using the Eyedropper (Color Select) tool you use on the Blue, left-click on the brighter red of the Hau. (Example). Then, using the tool again, right-click on a Yellow (or any other color, but for this tutorial, we're using Yellow.. why not?) (Example). Your color palette should look like this (minus the blank buttons.... those are very special programs of mine, and I'm very picky about privacy )
The next step now that you have the colors is to put your skills to the test. Using the eraser tool, right-click on the red areas and drag it on there. (Example) This should work... if you get a big yellow streak, remember which way is left and which way is right... then use the Right button on your mouse (unless you're left handed, THEN you may use the left button). Now, using that Eyedropper (Color Select), repeat the color copying with the darker shade of red and yellow, then copy the Erasing part (Example). The final product should look like this: BEHOLD THE MASK

Now that you know how to copy and paste, recoloring and what MSPaint is, you're ready to try and place the pieces together. Stay tuned for images on those later. But for now, you know how to use a kit in basics... oh wait, you want to do the stuff me, Rayg, RZ, Razor and many others do with Kits? Well, then I wish you luck... that will take practice, but I have hopes you all can do it.For now, you can all relax... this explains the same things us Kit Users do. Good Luck .

This topic is now considered "Post in here and ask away" as well. Avatar Kits can bring up many questions, so I requested that we need an official topic that can't be revived illegally so ask away!



This post has been edited by Swert109 Mastra: Jul 8 2004, 10:27 AM

Hey, everybody, RZ here!

I'll be helping with this topic, specifically basics and advanced tricks for my RZ's Mega kit. There are lots of other great avatar kits here, and most tricks that I show using my kit can be used in others with great and creative results.

Thank you very much I can't wait for those topics

well, we got the RZ Lessons 1 and 2 ready...
Lesson 1
Open the kit in a MS Paint window

Open a second window, and cut out and copy a piece of the blue background and paste it in the other window

Use the Eyedropper and right-click the blue area

Then go to the Image menu, and un-check "Draw Opaque"

Use the fill can to make the white become the blue

this concludes Lesson 1. You can now work on the kit itself.

Lesson 2: Matoran-making and coloring (if with my kit)
Copy a Matoran Olda body, arms, legs and head into the next window

make sure to get the right arms in the right places

We're gonna make my favorite, and easiest, Matoran: Huni.

Be sure to grab my Color palette (big box under all the colors) and bring it over too, including the black lines. those will be explained later

now, to put the pieces together, match the lines up! The Matoran head's bottom points have to match with the first line of the body. The arms go into the sides, lines matching up in both the side and the bottom, and the legs go on the bottom. Don't take one leg and then the other, bring them both up. Guaranteed they fit on just like that

Coloring The feet: left-click color 1,1 and right-click 1,5. Now use the eraser. YES, THE ERASER! Right-Click over the feet, and don't hit anything else. Now, see? Notice the other red lines? left-click 1,2 and right-click 1,6. Go over the feet this time. That should take care of Huni's legs.

Select the Red Hau, and place it on his face, so that the eyes align with the mask holes for eyes. THAT'S MY HUNI! If you get confused by this lesson, PM or IM me for more.

edit: if with the Mega Kit:
Copy a Matoran Olda body, arms, legs and head into the next window

make sure to get the right arms in the right places

We're gonna make my favorite, and easiest, Matoran: Huni.

now, to put the pieces together, match the lines up! The Matoran head's bottom points have to match with the first line of the body. The arms go into the sides, lines matching up in both the side and the bottom, and the legs go on the bottom. Don't take one leg and then the other, bring them both up. Guaranteed they fit on just like that

Coloring The feet: left-click the First Red and right-click the first Yellow one. Now use the eraser. YES, THE ERASER! Right-Click over the feet, and don't hit anything else. Now, see? Notice the other red lines? left-click the second Red one and right-click second Yellow. Go over the feet this time. That should take care of Huni's legs.

Select the Red Hau, and place it on his face, so that the eyes align with the mask holes for eyes. THAT'S MY HUNI! If you get confused by this lesson, PM or IM me for more.

This post has been edited by Swert109_Nuva: May 7 2003, 08:34 PM

saddening... a DP... oh well
More instructions:

ToMon in my kit and from Timbo's kit:
1. use the Lesson 1 plan from the RZ version, and then skip to Step 2:
2. Copy over the Toa's body, the arms you want, the legs you want, the weapons... and the mask you want. Oh, and if it's a Pohatu style, flip the body over
3. place the pieces together! simple, eh? If it is a Nuva, get the right armor plate, and if it is an Olda, get the right mask

sounds simple, eh? Now for the Mini Matoran from my kit and from Razor's kit:
1. same lesson 1 plan
2. get the right Sprite body (i.e. standing, walking, jumping, and arm out), the mask (color box is a good idea, too.), and the head.
3. as ToMon, put the pieces together! simpler, huh? All Matoran, so change the color to whatever you want it is

this is simpler and simpler, eh? Chao Toa:
1. as usual, Lesson 1
2. copy the ToMon mask, the weapon and the body over
3. put it together (simple, eh?)

Now, that's not so hard, huh? here we go, RZ advanced:
1. Lesson 1
2.a grab the famous Exo-Toa RZ Style from either kit
2.b assemble it like so (as quoted from RZ's post in his Mega Kit topic)

QUOTE (Rahu Zaku @ The Mega Kit Topic)

You can probably tell which piece is the torso. First, attach the legs to it (They go straight to the side of where they are positioned in the kit, no higher, no lower), then attach the back sections of the shoulders. These are the things to either side of the EXO's waist. They fit onto the sides of the EXO the same way that they do on the toy, look at the fully-built EXO for guidance. Next, attach the foot pads, either in the up or down position. They attach at the small gray square near the top of the leg, again, look at the finished version for an example. Next, if you want to put a Toa in (you will probably need to use the side-view legs to make theri feet fit on the pads, I'll fix this later...), position them so that the hole through their pelvis is on the orange square on the EXO's torso, just like you do with the toy. If not, put the head on. Next, you can put on the fronts of the shoulders (they fit right over the backs of the shoulders), then the arms (they attach to the orange hip-joints on the fronts of the shoulders), and then the front cover. It all fits together easily enough if you know where everything goes.

Thank you, RZ

#3 revolves around Toa Mastra making in my kit
3.a grab the famous Toa Body, the armor of the Toa you want to make (recolor it if you wish) and the weapon of that Toa's

QUOTE (S109n @ The Toa Mastra topic)

Tahu Mastra weilds the Double Flaming Axe Gali Mastra has 4 hooks and 2 drill bit on her hands Lewa Mastra has a Bow and Arrow set (arrows in the making) Onua Mastra has a Drill Staff Pohatu Mastra has a New hammer staff and Kopaka Nuva has a Hook staff (like the Grim Reaper)

3.b Building the Toa Mastra:
same as kits above, put pieces together now, for the Kanohi, choose CAREFULLY which one you want to use... these can be tricky to use. Now, to put the Kanohi on, match the eye holes (note from S109n: I made the Kanohi so that you COULD put them on RZ heads) to the head. That's bout it.

#4 refers to the Backs of Matoran
4.a grab the Matoran body, the legs, and the arms of your choice. Also, choose a Kanohi (note: if either Akaku or Mastra, flip them ) and both heads in the kit.
4.b assemble body, legs and arms like regular, but not the head. The head is important, yes, but not now.
4.c The Head: Put the head with no eyes on the Kanohi (modified if Mastra or Akaku) and then put the second one on top of the first head. When done, the head will be on the mask as if he were wearing it in real life congrats, you just made the Matoran... in about face.

#5 refers to the WindBreathers (simple)
5.a grab the WindBreather Arms (either Silver or Non), body (s/n), head and legs (silver). Grab a Silver Kanohi (all silver, or grab one not silver) and then assemble like normal Matoran.

That's it for now... will update regularly

Yeah but how do you paste the actual shape? All I can do is just do squaresand I can't get a proper shape of a mask I can only get a mask and a square around it Please help?

QUOTE (the name's Nuva,Onua Nuva @ May 10 2003, 06:28 AM)

Yeah but how do you paste the actual shape? All I can do is just do squaresand I can't get a proper shape of a mask I can only get a mask and a square around it Please help?

first off, no problems with the DPing, stuff happens

and to answer that... if it is my kit, select the blue background, if it is RZ's, select the white one... now, go to the menu labeled Image, and uncheck the "Draw Opaque" option... that is the best way to do it

Sorry, but this isn't helping to much.. Although I already know how to make things out of kits, some people do not and so I think you should start adding pictures (using print screen) I'm sure you will do that in the future.

Shard

P.S. Where is the tomon kit??? I used to have one before the MEga Kit came out but I deleted it. And now I want it back!!!!!

QUOTE (Shard @ May 10 2003, 07:07 AM)

Sorry, but this isn't helping to much.. Although I already know how to make things out of kits, some people do not and so I think you should start adding pictures (using print screen) I'm sure you will do that in the future. Shard P.S. Where is the tomon kit??? I used to have one before the MEga Kit came out but I deleted it. And now I want it back!!!!!

quite true... oh, and if you check my kit (should be on page 2 or 3 by now) it has ToMon now

pics comin soon, gonna ask Timbo if I can use his for this

i've got tom'oms and my computer opens it on(all the pices of it) on my pic trues! how do you open it properly!

simply put... either copy the image from either my topic, RZ's topic, Timbo's (if it exists somewhere still ) or any other kit. Another way is to save the image and then open it like any other file. Hope that helps

excuse me Swert109 Nuva but I've pasted ThisMega kit.but i can't copy the Matoran or anything!could you post or Pm me the instructions?

hmm this is very helpful, if this tip hasn't bin covered here:the blue backround is very helpful in one way, the shining armor and stuff is used with normal white, so what you do is take the eyedropper and then click the blue, then right click the square that shows that shade of blue, then when you cut paste over you keep the shining and at the end you hand edit it of(the blue of corse) also when you click the select tools to copy past make sure that the two options you get of the way you cut paste is the bottem one!!!!
-Hottoco

QUOTE (Dark Toa of infected masks @ May 16 2003, 10:14 PM)

excuse me Swert109 Nuva but I've pasted ThisMega kit.but i can't copy the Matoran or anything!could you post or Pm me the instructions?

*walks in* ok, here's how this works:

if using it with a blue background (RZ's kit is defaulted blue as well as mine) right-click with the eyedropper the blue and then go to the cutter option (in the top right corner of the tools part) and then when that thing under the tools menu comes up, select the one belore the selected one... if this doesn't make sense, post back in here, I'll try to get images...

This is pretty helpful Swert, but I need some help with your kit. I don't see any workspace where we can make stuff. Please clear this up.

Good and detailed instructions!
These would realy make a good guide for newbie's!
10/10 instructions (are you an instructer?)

QUOTE (Takanuva Voriki @ May 23 2003, 05:06 PM)

This is pretty helpful Swert, but I need some help with your kit. I don't see any workspace where we can make stuff. Please clear this up.

use a second window that's what I do...

and KOoL... sorta, I know how to use 'em because I have to evaluate what all goes into my kit

ok, to put it simply:

to make the newest stuff in my kit:

Takanuva: I have recolored the armor band to White so that's ok now... just make a Kopaka with Gali Nuva arms, no axes, then get the Gold armor... yea, simple, eh?

Takuma, Toa of Wind: same as Takanuva, but recolor the body to the colors (remember my color box from the first few lessons on my kit?) either 1,2 or 3 - 9 for the armor, 123 - 10 (2 lines) for the deeper one... for body, use 456 - 9 and 456 - 10 for the deeper...

now, for any of the ToA stuff:

Whakairo: Make a simple Toa, color scheme is:
Body is 1 - 5 and 1 - 6, arms/legs are 5 - 1 and 5 - 2... Nuva armor is same as any other
now, use any of the Nuva hands, but make sure you get ahold of the Pen Staff, the Kopaka-looking one . Attach to Right hand, and you've got a Whakairo.

Turaga (staff coming soon):
just a simple Onewa one, but use a MoV Huna for the mask, and color yellow.

Matoran:
make any Matoran, same color scheme as the Toa, and mask can be anything, but for his use the Komau (Tan one in my kit)

for the Bohrok/Kal, same body as a Bohrok/Kal, but recolor with provided color, and use the appropriate Handsheld. Rahkshi, same thing, but use the right Staff tip.

These are the Wha-Koro, Takuma, and Takanuva info. Now, to make anything else, it's up to you

now a newer update, as both RZ and myself have (FINALLY!) backwards Toa... to assemble a Back View Toa:

1) select either one gear, 2 gears, Pohatu body or Onua body.
2) if in my kit, get a colored head (they're all there ). If RZ, color the eye piece.
now remember: I have a slimmer eye design on mine, whereas RZ has his going all the way. Our bodies match evenly (they all do, cept the heads)
3) get the special KANOHI! Color it a bit first... then place a Toa head on it (a normal one) without the top eye piece... color it out. Now, Place the back head over it, and add limbs and such as normal.

That's it

Thanks for the help Swert109_Nuva! I just learned how to use it This topic is great!

How do you upload the avater on bzpower if you used the RZ mega kit?

well, you must use Brickshelf.com or Village Photos.... or become Premier...

I have a question. I am new here, and I want to make a matoran avatar... I dunno what kit you are talking about...

QUOTE (Takacu @ Jun 22 2003, 08:22 PM)

I have a question. I am new here, and I want to make a matoran avatar... I dunno what kit you are talking about...

which kit do you have?

It depends on what kit you even have.And what kind of motaran you want to make.

when i turn my image to .jpg it gos blury can some one help me
tn2.0

i have that same problem i need to know how to fix the blur please help asap

Also,how do you upload the avatar on bzpower if you used rollerblader697s chibi toa kit?

you up load it to hasting site like brickshelf.com
tn2.0
edit:with this post im a toa

This post has been edited by taka nuva2.0: Jun 23 2003, 09:35 PM

How do you go to your avatar kit, Swert109 Nuva?

well, I took the link out of the sig... I'll PM you a link

whenever I try to get a kit on to my paints program it will say that its invailed Bitmap.HHHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!!!

This post has been edited by garuda: Jun 29 2003, 11:12 PM

thank you for posting this. before this i had not the slightest clue on how to use an arvatar kit. now im designing my arvatar so look for it.

um something i dont understand like wat kind of window do i open? and wher do i paste the background on to?

QUOTE (garuda @ Jun 29 2003, 09:09 PM)

whenever I try to get a kit on to my paints program it will say that  its invailed Bitmap.HHHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!!!!!

I will be looking for people who will like to convert all the kits to BMP... who knows, I know somebody who might do it...

Nuva Guru: A paint window. and as for pasting the background, please specify.

This post has been edited by Swert109_Nuva: Jun 30 2003, 05:40 PM

Hey Swert, I have been searching everywhere but I can't find the latest version of razor's sprite kit. Not the one in your mata-nuian builder, but the one with the krahkan. I also need a sprite sheet.

QUOTE (devilman57 @ Jun 30 2003, 04:44 PM)

Hey Swert, I have been searching everywhere but I can't find the latest version of razor's sprite kit. Not the one in your mata-nuian builder, but the one with the krahkan. I also need a sprite sheet.

you can check in razor's sig for state-of-the-art sprites

Thanks alot man. Just one question, how long does it usually take to make your kit?

QUOTE (devilman57 @ Jun 30 2003, 05:17 PM)

Thanks alot man. Just one question, how long does it usually take to make your kit?

ages... trust me, it's not an easy process...

off-topic: check my sig, I AM HAPPY!

How do you make your own Advatar???