Palette swap
Encyclopedia
A palette swap is a practice used in video games, whereby a graphic
that is already used for one element is given a different palette
, so it can be reused as other elements. The different palette gives the new graphic a unique set of colors, which make it recognizably distinct from the original. Palette swaps are commonly used to distinguish between first and second players, for creating visual hierarchies, and for making visually distinct areas for levels
in games.
One reason palette swaps are used is to save memory. In early computer gaming, when cartridges were the main storage medium and memory capacity was both scarce and expensive, a single sprite could be reused by changing its palette. As such, many new objects could be created without the need to produce new graphics from scratch, which saved both production costs and development time. Early games in the Mortal Kombat series frequently used palette swapping to introduce new ninja characters. More generally, palette swaps are common in sports game
s, in which the color scheme of opposing players is used to differentiate between teams.
In certain cases, such as console role-playing games, palette swaps are used to signify a character's status. Prominent examples of this are seen in Final Fantasy
, in which a player character
afflicted with the "Poison" Status effect
will appear purple. By contrast, the main characters of Breath of Fire II
occasionally swap their palette colors to indicate an increase in their respective statistics
. In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
, areas affected by "Twilight" have the colors of their environmental graphics altered to appear less colorful and more yellow, and their normal color is restored once player has completed a certain objective.
Computer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
that is already used for one element is given a different palette
Palette (computing)
In computer graphics, a palette is either a given, finite set of colors for the management of digital images , or a small on-screen graphical element for choosing from a limited set of choices, not necessarily colors .Depending on the context In computer graphics, a palette is either a given,...
, so it can be reused as other elements. The different palette gives the new graphic a unique set of colors, which make it recognizably distinct from the original. Palette swaps are commonly used to distinguish between first and second players, for creating visual hierarchies, and for making visually distinct areas for levels
Level (computer and video games)
A level, map, area, or world in a video game is the total space available to the player during the course of completing a discrete objective...
in games.
One reason palette swaps are used is to save memory. In early computer gaming, when cartridges were the main storage medium and memory capacity was both scarce and expensive, a single sprite could be reused by changing its palette. As such, many new objects could be created without the need to produce new graphics from scratch, which saved both production costs and development time. Early games in the Mortal Kombat series frequently used palette swapping to introduce new ninja characters. More generally, palette swaps are common in sports game
Sports game
A sports game is a computer or video game that simulates the practice of traditional sports. Most sports have been recreated with a game, including team sports, athletics and extreme sports. Some games emphasize actually playing the sport , whilst others emphasize strategy and organization...
s, in which the color scheme of opposing players is used to differentiate between teams.
In certain cases, such as console role-playing games, palette swaps are used to signify a character's status. Prominent examples of this are seen in Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
, in which a player character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
afflicted with the "Poison" Status effect
Status effect
In role-playing games, a status effect is a temporary modification to a game character’s original set of stats that usually comes into play when special powers and abilities are used, often during combat. It appears in numerous computer and video games of many genres, most commonly in role-playing...
will appear purple. By contrast, the main characters of Breath of Fire II
Breath of Fire II
Breath of Fire II, originally released in Japan as , is a console role-playing game developed and published by Capcom. First released in 1994, the game was licensed to Laguna for European release in 1996. It is the second entry in the Breath of Fire series. It was later ported to Game Boy Advance...
occasionally swap their palette colors to indicate an increase in their respective statistics
Statistic (role-playing games)
A statistic in role-playing games is a piece of data which represents a particular aspect of a fictional character. That piece of data is usually a integer or, in some cases, a set of dice....
. In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube and Wii video game consoles. It is the thirteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series...
, areas affected by "Twilight" have the colors of their environmental graphics altered to appear less colorful and more yellow, and their normal color is restored once player has completed a certain objective.
External links
- Palette Swapping: 17 Games that Did it Right, GameProGameProGamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, January 13, 2009