How to Make PNGTuber Sprites
The trick is simple: one character, transparent PNGs, and you only change the mouth and eyes between frames.
In StreamSprite your character is a set of PNG images. Each image is one state: mouth closed, mouth open, blinking, and so on. The app swaps between them in real time as you talk. Getting a great result is less about art skill and more about following a few rules so the frames line up perfectly.
The three rules for every frame
- Transparent background. Export each frame as a PNG with a transparent (alpha) background, never white.
- Same canvas, same position. Every frame must be the exact same pixel size with the character in the exact same spot. Duplicate one file and edit it, do not redraw from scratch.
- Change only what moves. For talking frames, change just the mouth. For blinks, change just the eyes. Everything else stays put.
That last rule is the whole secret. Because only the mouth changes between frames, when the app flips from closed to open it reads as the character speaking, not flickering between two different drawings.
No art skills? No problem.
StreamSprite ships with three ready-made characters, and only two frames are required to start. $20 once, macOS.
The only two frames you truly need
StreamSprite needs just two images to run: a Closed Mouth and an Open Mouth. That alone gives you a reactive character. Everything beyond that is optional and only makes it look more alive.
The recommended mouth set
For natural talking, add the in-between mouth shapes. The microphone maps your voice onto four openness levels, so giving it all four lets the mouth move smoothly instead of snapping fully open and shut.
- 1Closed Mouth (required).
- 2Small Mouth Open.
- 3Medium Mouth Open.
- 4Wide Mouth Open.
- 5Blink (change only the eyes).
Optional frames for extra personality
StreamSprite supports a much bigger set of states you can add whenever you like. Anything you skip falls back gracefully to the nearest frame you did include, so you never have to draw them all.
- Eyes: Blink, Half Blink.
- Expressions: Happy, Sad, Angry, Surprised, Confused, Smile, Frown.
- States you bind to a hotkey: Laughing, Shouting, Thinking, Sleepy, BRB / Away, Muted.
- Look directions: Look Left, Right, Up, Down and the diagonals.
- Advanced lip sync (visemes): O, Teeth, F/V, L, M/B/P mouth shapes for specific sounds.
Skip the rigging. Be live in 5 minutes.
StreamSprite turns a few PNGs into a mic-reactive avatar for OBS. One-time $20, Mac & Windows.
A simple workflow that always works
- 1Draw or choose your character on a transparent canvas.
- 2Save that as your Closed Mouth frame.
- 3Duplicate the file, change only the mouth to open wide, save as Open Mouth.
- 4Repeat for Small and Medium mouth openings.
- 5Duplicate again, close the eyes, save as Blink.
- 6Export every frame as a transparent PNG at the same size.
- 7In StreamSprite, open the Editor, drag each PNG into its labelled slot, and press start.
Tips for the best results
- Keep resolution sensible: around 512 to 1024px on the longest side is plenty. Huge files only slow things down.
- Use consistent padding: leave the same margin around the character in every frame so nothing shifts.
- Name files by state (closedMouth.png, openMouth.png, blink.png) to drop them into the right slots faster.
- Use the built-in Test Talking button to preview before you go live.
Keep reading: How to Make a VTuber Avatar, How Do I Get a VTuber Model?
Frequently asked questions
How many images do I need for a sprite?+
Just two to start: a closed mouth and an open mouth. Add small, medium and wide mouths plus a blink for smoother, more lifelike talking.
Does the background have to be transparent?+
Yes. Export each frame as a PNG with a transparent background so only your character appears on the overlay, with your game or scene showing through behind it.
Do I have to redraw the character for each frame?+
No, and you should not. Duplicate one frame and change only the mouth, or the eyes for a blink. Keeping everything else identical is exactly what makes the animation look clean instead of jittery.
What size should the PNGs be?+
The same size for every frame, roughly 512 to 1024px on the longest edge. Consistent dimensions and positioning matter far more than raw resolution.
Ready to bring a character to life?
StreamSprite turns a few PNGs into a mic-reactive avatar you can drop into OBS in minutes. No rigging, no subscription.