Levelwick guide
How to turn your own drawings and images into game assets for an AI game maker
Prepare drawings and photos as game assets: single subjects, transparent PNGs, consistent size and style, and the rights you need before uploading.
Steps
- Check you have the rights. Use your own drawings, images you have permission to use, or assets under a licence that allows use in games.
- Draw or pick one subject per image. Each image should show one character, item or tile, clearly separated from the background.
- Remove the background. Export as PNG with a transparent background, or draw on plain white or a flat colour you can remove.
- Keep size and style consistent. Use the same canvas size, line weight and lighting for related assets, and crop tightly.
- Name files clearly. Use names like player.png, coin.png, enemy-slime.png so your prompt can refer to them.
- Tell the AI how to use each image. In your prompt, say which file is which object, the size it should appear at, and that hitboxes stay separate from images.
Why your own art changes everything
Many AI game makers, and some chat assistants, let you upload images to use in a game. A child's drawing as the hero, your logo as a collectible or your photos as puzzle pieces make a game personal. A little preparation makes the difference between art that looks great and art that looks pasted on.
First, the rights
Only upload images you're allowed to use. That generally means:
- Drawings and photos you made yourself.
- Images where the creator has given you permission.
- Assets under a licence that allows use in games, and commercial use if you plan to sell or monetise.
Avoid characters, logos and artwork from existing games, films or brands. Also check your game tool's terms about uploaded content and what rights you grant the service. If photos show people, get their permission, especially for children.
One subject per image
An AI game maker works best with images that show one thing: one character, one coin, one tree. Group shots or full scenes are hard to turn into separate game objects. If you draw on paper, draw each item separately with space around it.
Transparent backgrounds
A PNG with a transparent background lets the object sit naturally on any game background. If your drawing is on paper:
- Photograph it in even daylight, straight on, without shadows.
- Increase contrast so the paper becomes pure white.
- Remove the white background with an image editor's background removal or magic eraser tool.
- Export as PNG.
If you can't remove the background, tell the AI the background is plain white so it can try to treat white as transparent, though results vary.
Consistent size and style
Assets that belong together should look together. Use the same canvas size for similar objects (for example, 256 x 256 px for characters and items), similar line thickness and similar lighting. Crop tightly so there isn't a lot of empty space, which can make objects appear smaller than expected or misalign with hitboxes.
Tell the AI exactly how to use them
Name files clearly and describe each one in your prompt:
Use player.png for the player (draw it 48 px tall), coin.png for coins (24 px), and slime.png for enemies (40 px). Keep collision boxes as rectangles slightly smaller than the images. If an image fails to load, draw a coloured rectangle instead.
The fallback rectangle keeps the game playable while you test.
Animation tips
For simple animation, upload two or three frames of the same character with small differences (legs apart, legs together) at identical canvas sizes, and ask the game to switch between them while moving. Consistent canvas sizes stop the character from jumping around between frames.
FAQ
What file format should I use?
PNG with a transparent background is the safest choice for characters and items. JPG is fine for full backgrounds.
Can I use images I found online?
Only if the licence allows use in games, including commercial use if you plan to earn money. When in doubt, use your own work.
How big should my images be?
Large enough to look sharp at the size shown in the game; a few hundred pixels per side is usually plenty for characters and items.
Why does my character look blurry or stretched?
The image may be scaled up or the aspect ratio changed. Upload a larger image and tell the AI to keep its aspect ratio.
Can I upload photos of my friends or kids?
Get permission from everyone shown, and from parents for children, and check what the tool does with uploads before you share.