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Sprite Info Files & Aseprite Pipeline

LITIENGINE provides a powerful plain-text Sprite Info File format (.info or .sprite) that lets you declare frame dimensions, batch-import asset libraries, and fine-tune individual keyframe timing without writing Java code.

File Syntax & Structure

Each line in a .info file defines an individual spritesheet. Lines starting with # are treated as comments:

{FILENAME}.{EXTENSION},{FRAME_WIDTH},{FRAME_HEIGHT}(;{KEYFRAME_DURATIONS})

Parameter Breakdown

Field Required Description
{FILENAME}.{EXTENSION} Yes Spritesheet image filename (e.g. hero-attack-right.png).
{FRAME_WIDTH} Yes Individual animation frame width in pixels.
{FRAME_HEIGHT} Yes Individual animation frame height in pixels.
{KEYFRAME_DURATIONS} Optional Semicolon followed by comma-separated frame durations in milliseconds.

Custom Keyframe Timing for Combat Animations

In combat and action games, animations look far more impactful when keyframes have variable durations (e.g. holding an anticipation wind-up frame, executing an instant strike, and lingering on recovery):

sprites/hero.info
# ==============================================================================
# Player Character Spritesheets (.info format)
# ==============================================================================

# Idle animations: 4 frames at 150ms per frame
hero-idle-down.png,32,32;150,150,150,150
hero-idle-up.png,32,32;150,150,150,150
hero-idle-left.png,32,32;150,150,150,150
hero-idle-right.png,32,32;150,150,150,150

# Walk animations: 4 frames with rapid 100ms cycles
hero-walk-down.png,32,32;100,100,100,100
hero-walk-up.png,32,32;100,100,100,100
hero-walk-left.png,32,32;100,100,100,100
hero-walk-right.png,32,32;100,100,100,100

# Melee Sword Attack: Wind-up (120ms) -> Slash (40ms) -> Impact Hold (180ms) -> Recover (80ms)
hero-attack-down.png,48,48;120,40,180,80
hero-attack-up.png,48,48;120,40,180,80
hero-attack-left.png,48,48;120,40,180,80
hero-attack-right.png,48,48;120,40,180,80

Aseprite Export Pipeline

When creating pixel art in Aseprite, follow these conventions for seamless integration:

1. Naming Convention

Name your exported spritesheet PNGs following the standard pattern: 

[SPRITE_PREFIX]-[STATE]-[DIRECTION].png
* Examples: warrior-idle-down.png, warrior-walk-right.png, warrior-dead.png. * If horizontal mirroring is enabled in your AnimationController, you only need to export the right direction—LITIENGINE automatically generates flipped left sprites at runtime!

2. Aseprite Export Settings

  1. Go to File → Export Sprite Sheet (Ctrl + E).
  2. Set Layout to Horizontal Strip (or uniform Grid).
  3. Ensure Trim is disabled so all frames maintain consistent canvas origins.
  4. Save the PNG and add its entry into your .info file.

Batch Loading in Java

Load an entire directory of spritesheets declared in a .info file in a single call:

AssetLoader.java
package com.example.game;

import de.gurkenlabs.litiengine.graphics.Spritesheet;
import de.gurkenlabs.litiengine.resources.Resources;
import java.util.List;

public class AssetLoader {
  public static void loadAssets() {
    // Loads all spritesheets with custom durations declared in the info file
    List<Spritesheet> sprites = Resources.spritesheets().loadFrom("sprites/hero.info");
    System.out.println("Loaded " + sprites.size() + " animation spritesheets!");
  }
}

See Also