Last updated on Dec 18, 2024

How can you use DragonBones animation software in Game Development?

If you are a game developer who wants to create stunning animations for your characters, environments, and effects, you might want to check out DragonBones. DragonBones is a free and open source animation software that allows you to design, rig, and animate 2D sprites in a skeletal and mesh-based way. You can also export your animations to various game engines and platforms, such as Unity, Cocos, Egret, Phaser, and more. In this article, you will learn how to use DragonBones animation software in game development, from creating your assets to integrating them into your projects.

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1 What is DragonBones?

DragonBones is a software that lets you create 2D animations using bones and meshes. Bones are like the skeleton of your sprite, defining its structure and movement. Meshes are like the skin of your sprite, defining its shape and texture. By combining bones and meshes, you can create realistic and flexible animations for your 2D characters and objects. You can also use DragonBones to create special effects, such as particles, trails, and deformations.

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Davi Roque

Audiovisual at SESC SP Serviço Social do Comércio
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O DragonBones é uma ferramenta excelente para criar animações 2D baseadas em esqueletos, o que facilita gerar movimentos fluidos e leves para personagens e objetos no jogo.

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2 How to create assets in DragonBones?

To create assets in DragonBones, you need to import your images or vector graphics into the software. You can use any image editing or drawing software to create your assets, such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or GIMP. Once you have your images ready, you can drag and drop them into the DragonBones interface, and organize them into folders and layers. Then, you can use the bone tool to create the skeleton of your sprite, and the mesh tool to create the skin of your sprite. You can also adjust the properties of your bones and meshes, such as rotation, scale, color, and blend mode.

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Davi Roque

Audiovisual at SESC SP Serviço Social do Comércio
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Para criar ativos no DragonBones, você começa criando os designs gráficos das partes do personagem ou objeto. Depois, importa as imagens para o DragonBones, cria um esqueleto vinculando as imagens aos ossos e, em seguida, anima as partes manipulando os ossos na linha do tempo. Após ajustar as animações, exporte os ativos em formatos como JSON ou XML para integrá-los ao seu jogo, por exemplo, no Phaser, utilizando o plugin DragonBones Phaser para controle em tempo real.

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3 How to animate assets in DragonBones?

To animate assets in DragonBones, you need to use the timeline and the animation panel. The timeline allows you to create and edit keyframes, which are the points where your sprite changes its pose or appearance. You can use the animation panel to create and manage different animations for your sprite, such as idle, walk, jump, or attack. You can also use the curve editor to modify the easing and interpolation of your animations, making them smoother and more natural. You can preview and test your animations in the preview window, and export them as JSON, XML, or binary files.

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Davi Roque

Audiovisual at SESC SP Serviço Social do Comércio
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Para animar ativos no DragonBones, comece criando um esqueleto e vinculando as imagens às partes correspondentes. Na linha do tempo, defina quadros chave movendo, rotacionando ou redimensionando os ossos, e ajuste a interpolação para suavizar os movimentos. A animação pode ser testada e ajustada em tempo real. Você pode integrar a ideia do Kinect para controlar essas animações em tempo real, utilizando os dados de movimento do jogador para manipular o esqueleto no DragonBones. Assim, movimentos reais podem ser convertidos em animações dinâmicas no jogo. Após finalizar, exporte a animação em formatos como JSON ou XML para integrar ao seu motor de jogo, como o Phaser.

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4 How to export assets from DragonBones?

To export assets from DragonBones, you need to use the publish settings. The publish settings allow you to choose the format and the target platform of your assets. You can export your assets as images, textures, or spritesheets, depending on your needs and preferences. You can also export your assets for different game engines and frameworks, such as Unity, Cocos, Egret, Phaser, Pixi, Laya, and more. You can customize the export options, such as the size, quality, compression, and resolution of your assets.

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5 How to import assets into game engines?

To import assets into game engines, you need to use the DragonBones runtime or plugin. The DragonBones runtime or plugin is a library or a tool that allows you to load and play your DragonBones animations in your game engine. You can download the runtime or plugin from the DragonBones website, or from the asset store of your game engine. You can also find tutorials and examples on how to use the runtime or plugin in your game engine. For example, if you are using Unity, you can use the DragonBones Unity plugin to import your assets into your project, and use the DragonBones script to control your animations in your code.

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6 What are the benefits of using DragonBones?

DragonBones animation software has many advantages when used in game development. It is free and open source, making it accessible without any cost or license restrictions. Additionally, it is easy and intuitive, allowing you to quickly create and edit animations with a simple and user-friendly interface. Furthermore, DragonBones is powerful and versatile, enabling you to create and export animations for various game engines and platforms, and customize them to your specifications. Lastly, it is efficient and lightweight, meaning you can create and optimize animations that run smoothly while consuming minimal memory and resources.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you use DragonBones animation software in Game Development?

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1 What is DragonBones?

2 How to create assets in DragonBones?

3 How to animate assets in DragonBones?

4 How to export assets from DragonBones?

5 How to import assets into game engines?

6 What are the benefits of using DragonBones?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

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How can you use DragonBones animation software in Game Development?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 What is DragonBones?

2 How to create assets in DragonBones?

3 How to animate assets in DragonBones?

4 How to export assets from DragonBones?

5 How to import assets into game engines?

6 What are the benefits of using DragonBones?

7 Here’s what else to consider

Game Development

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