Welcome to the magical world of ScratchJr, where your creativity knows no bounds! Today, we’re diving into two super fun features that make Scratch Junior so amazing: Sprites and Backgrounds!
In Scratch Jr, sprites and backdrops are essential components of the platform, allowing children to create engaging and interactive projects.
Here, we’ll explore how to add, customize and create your own dream sprites for your project. We’ll also learn how to switch and design backgrounds to set the perfect scene for your story. By the end of today, you’ll be able to create your own little Scratch Jr world, complete with characters and a stunning backdrop. Let’s get started and unleash our creativity!
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Sprites:
Sprites are the characters or objects in your project. They are the ones you program to move, talk, interact, and bring your stories, animations, or games to life.
Think of sprites as the actors on the stage. You can choose pre-designed sprites, customize them, or even draw your own!
Working with Sprites
Adding Sprites in Scratch Jr.
- Tap the blue plus (+) button present at the left of the stage area to open the Sprite Library.
- Scratch Jr offers a Built-in Library of sprites, such as animals, vehicles, and people.
- Choose a sprite from the library.
- Double tap on the sprite you want to use, and it will appear on your stage.
- Drag the sprite to where you want it to appear on the stage.
Creating Your Own Sprite in Scratch Jr
Sometimes, you might want a custom sprite that isn’t in the library. ScratchJr allows you to create and personalize your sprites using the paint editor.
Step 1 : Open the Paint Editor
Tap the blue plus (+) button present at the left of the Stage area to open the Sprite Library.
Instead of selecting a pre-made sprite, tap the paintbrush icon at the top of the library.
Step 2 : Design Your Sprite
The paint editor interface will open, This editor allows you to create custom sprites or backgrounds with flexibility.
1. Left Toolbar (Drawing Tools)
- Curved Line Tool:
- Use this to draw freehand lines and shapes with a smooth, natural curve.
- Shape Tools:
- Circle Tool: Draw perfect circles or ovals by dragging.
- Rectangle Tool: Draw squares or rectangles.
- Triangle Tool: Draw equilateral triangles or resize them.
- Line Thickness Selector:
- It allows users to choose the thickness of lines or shapes they draw. The circled option indicates the currently selected thickness level.
2. Bottom Color Palette
- A wide range of colors is displayed at the bottom for your drawing.
- Choose a color by tapping on a circle, and the selected color is applied to the currently active tool.
3. Right Toolbar (Advanced Options)
- Undo and Redo Buttons (Top Left):
- Undo: Revert the last action.
- Redo: Restore the previously undone action.
- Move Tool:
- Move and position any part of your drawing on stage.
- Rotate Tool:
- Rotate selected parts of your drawing to adjust orientation.
- Stamp Tool:
- Duplicate or copy parts of your drawing.
- Select an area to replicate and place it elsewhere.
- Scissors Tool:
- Use this to cut or delete parts of your drawing.
- Camera Tool:
- Allows you to take a picture and incorporate it into your sprite or background.
- Paint Bucket Tool:
- Allows you to fill the parts of your drawing with the selected color.
4. Grid and Stage Area
- The grid is for precision, helping you align your drawings and shapes.
- The white stage is your working area to draw and create your sprite.
5. Top Toolbar
- The name “Character” at the top indicates that this drawing will represent your sprite. You can rename it for your project.
Step 3 : Save Your Sprite
Once you’ve finished designing your sprite, tap the checkmark (✔) at the top-right corner.
Your custom sprite will now appear on the stage, just like the pre-made ones.
Working with Backdrops:
Adding a Backdrop:
Step 1 : Open Backdrop Library:
- When you tap this icon, the Backdrop Library will appear.
- You can browse and select pre-made backdrops, such as forests, cities, underwater scenes, or blank ones for customization.
Step 2 : Add or Edit Backdrops:
- You can add a new backdrop or replace the current backdrop from the library.
- Use the paint editor interface to customize an existing backdrop or create a completely new one(just like creating your own sprite). Once done, tap the ✔ button to save your backdrop and return to the project stage.
Step 3 : Manage Multiple Backdrops:
- The panel on the right side of the screen displays your project’s active backdrops.
1. Thumbnail View:
- The top thumbnail shows the currently active backdrop.
- Additional thumbnails represent other backdrops you’ve added to your project.
2. Add More Backdrops:
- Tap the plus (+) icon below the thumbnail list to add a new backdrop.
Programming Backdrops
To make your project more dynamic, you can program backdrop changes:
1. Backdrop Change Block :
- The red Backdrop Block is visible in the Blocks Palette of the End block. It is used to switch between backdrops.
- For example, you can switch from one scene to another when a sprite completes an action.
2. To program new backdrop transitions:
Step 1 : Drag a Red Backdrop Block:
Select the desired backdrop specified with a number and add it to your code.
Step 2 : Attach the Block to an Event:
Use triggers like:
- Green Flag: To start with a backdrop.
- Message Block: To change the backdrop after receiving a signal.
- Wait Block: To change backdrops after a delay.
How They Work Together
- Sprites are placed on top of backdrops, allowing them to interact within the context of the scene.
- By changing backdrops and programming sprites, you can create stories, animations, or games.