This guide covers importing AutoSprite PNG sprite sheets into Unreal Engine 5, extracting a uniform frame grid, creating Paper 2D Flipbooks, and switching animations from Blueprint or C++. Need to generate the asset first? Start with the [Unreal Engine sprite sheet generator](/unreal-sprite-sheet-generator), then return here for Paper 2D import and playback setup. ## What You Need - An AutoSprite PNG sprite sheet for each animation you want to use - The exported frame width, frame height, columns, and frame count - Unreal Engine 5 with the **Paper 2D** plugin enabled AutoSprite's JSON is useful as a frame-size reference, but Unreal does not automatically turn that JSON into Paper 2D assets. The native workflow starts with the PNG texture. ## Quick Start In Unreal Editor, open **Edit → Plugins**, search for **Paper 2D**, enable it, and restart the editor if prompted. Create a folder such as `Content/Sprites/Player/Run`, click **Import** in the Content Browser, and select the AutoSprite PNG. Unreal imports the PNG as a Texture asset. Right-click the imported Texture and choose **Sprite Actions → Apply Paper 2D Import Settings**. This applies sprite-friendly defaults, including nearest filtering and no mipmaps, which helps keep pixel art crisp. Right-click the Texture and choose **Sprite Actions → Extract Sprites**. Set **Sprite Extract Mode** to **Grid**, then enter the frame dimensions from the AutoSprite export: - **Cell Width:** exported frame width - **Cell Height:** exported frame height - **Num Cells X:** number of columns, or `0` for no limit - **Num Cells Y:** number of rows, or `0` for no limit - **Margin X / Y:** `0` for a standard AutoSprite sheet - **Spacing X / Y:** `0` unless your exported sheet includes spacing Use a zero-padded naming template such as `Player_Run_{0}` so alphabetical order matches playback order. Select the extracted Sprite assets in frame order, right-click the selection, and choose **Create Flipbook**. Rename it using an Unreal-style asset name such as `FB_Player_Run`. Open the Flipbook and set **Frames Per Second** to the playback speed you want. Enable looping for idle, walk, and run; disable it for one-shot actions such as attack, hit, or death. Create a **PaperCharacter** Blueprint or add a **Paper Flipbook Component** to an Actor. Assign the Flipbook, then use **Set Flipbook** when gameplay state changes. ## Recommended Asset Layout Keep one AutoSprite animation per Unreal folder and one Flipbook per gameplay state: ```text Content/Sprites/Player/ ├── Idle/ │ ├── T_Player_Idle │ ├── SPR_Player_Idle_00 ... │ └── FB_Player_Idle ├── Run/ │ ├── T_Player_Run │ ├── SPR_Player_Run_00 ... │ └── FB_Player_Run └── Attack/ ├── T_Player_Attack ├── SPR_Player_Attack_00 ... └── FB_Player_Attack ``` | AutoSprite output | Unreal asset | Recommended use | |---|---|---| | PNG sprite sheet | Texture | Source grid for extraction | | Extracted cells | Paper Sprite assets | Individual animation frames | | Ordered frame sequence | Paper Flipbook | Idle, run, attack, and other clips | | JSON metadata | Import reference | Cell size, columns, rows, and frame count | ## Grid Extraction Details Use **Grid** extraction for AutoSprite sheets. **Auto** extraction finds islands of non-transparent pixels and may create different bounds for each pose, which can make the character shift or change size during playback. If the sheet contains unused cells at the end of the grid, extract the full grid and remove those extra Sprite assets before creating the Flipbook. Do not leave blank frames at the end of the animation. Unreal reads the grid from the top-left, moving left to right before continuing on the next row. This matches AutoSprite's standard frame order. ## Creating Flipbooks Reliably When you select multiple Sprites and choose **Create Flipbook**, Unreal adds them in alphabetical order. Zero-pad frame numbers so `..._09` sorts before `..._10`: ```text SPR_Player_Run_00 SPR_Player_Run_01 SPR_Player_Run_02 ... SPR_Player_Run_10 ``` Inside the Flipbook Editor: - Set **Frames Per Second** to control playback speed - Reorder any frame that was extracted incorrectly - Set repeated frame durations when a pose should hold longer - Preview the complete loop before wiring it into gameplay ## Blueprint Playback For a `PaperCharacter` Blueprint: 1. Select the inherited **Sprite** component. 2. Assign `FB_Player_Idle` as the default Flipbook. 3. Read horizontal velocity in the Event Graph. 4. If speed is greater than zero, call **Set Flipbook** with `FB_Player_Run`. 5. Otherwise call **Set Flipbook** with `FB_Player_Idle`. 6. For an attack, temporarily switch to `FB_Player_Attack`, disable looping, and return to idle when it finishes. Do not call **Set Flipbook** every frame with the same asset if it restarts your animation. Compare the current Flipbook with the desired Flipbook and only switch when the gameplay state changes. If **Set Flipbook** does not work at runtime, verify that the Flipbook Component's **Mobility** is set to **Movable**. ## C++ Playback For a class derived from `APaperCharacter`, keep the animation change behind a small helper: ```cpp #include "PaperFlipbook.h" #include "PaperFlipbookComponent.h" void APlayerPaperCharacter::PlayFlipbook(UPaperFlipbook* NextFlipbook) { UPaperFlipbookComponent* SpriteComponent = GetSprite(); if (!NextFlipbook || !SpriteComponent) return; if (SpriteComponent->GetFlipbook() == NextFlipbook) return; SpriteComponent->SetFlipbook(NextFlipbook); SpriteComponent->PlayFromStart(); } ``` Use the helper when velocity, input, combat state, or an animation event changes rather than calling it unconditionally every tick. ## Pixel Art and Texture Quality For pixel art, start with **Sprite Actions → Apply Paper 2D Import Settings**. That preset removes mipmaps and uses nearest filtering. Also check: | Setting | Recommended starting point | |---|---| | Filter | Nearest | | Mip Gen Settings | NoMipmaps | | Texture Group | 2D Pixels for retro pixel art; UI for smooth modern 2D art | | Compression | Preserve alpha and inspect edge quality | | Pixels Per Unreal Unit | Keep consistent across every character and animation | | Pivot | Bottom-center for grounded characters, or a shared custom pivot | For illustrated or high-resolution sprites, nearest filtering may look too harsh. Use the filtering mode that matches the art style, but keep every animation in the character set consistent. ## Directional Animations Create a separate Flipbook for each direction and motion, for example: ```text FB_Player_Idle_Down FB_Player_Idle_Up FB_Player_Run_Left FB_Player_Run_Right ``` Choose the Flipbook from movement direction in Blueprint or C++. For a symmetrical side view, you can reuse one horizontal Flipbook and flip the Sprite Component instead of storing separate left and right art. ## Common Issues **Sprite Actions are missing:** Enable the Paper 2D plugin and restart Unreal Editor. **The character shifts between frames:** The sheet was extracted with **Auto** instead of a uniform **Grid**, or the frame pivots differ. Re-extract with the exact cell size and apply one pivot convention to every frame. **Frames play in the wrong order:** Rename extracted Sprites with zero-padded numbers, then recreate or manually reorder the Flipbook. **Pixel art looks blurry:** Apply Paper 2D Import Settings and verify nearest filtering, no mipmaps, and integer-friendly scaling. **The animation resets constantly:** Only call **Set Flipbook** when the requested Flipbook differs from the current one. **Set Flipbook does nothing:** Make sure the component is **Movable** and the target Flipbook is valid. **The last pose flashes or holds:** Remove unused grid cells and transparent tail frames from the Flipbook. **The character floats or sinks:** Give every extracted Sprite the same pivot and keep Pixels Per Unreal Unit consistent. ## Official Unreal References - [Paper 2D overview](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/unreal-engine/paper-2d-overview-in-unreal-engine) - [Import and extract Paper 2D Sprites](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/how-to-import-and-use-paper-2d-sprites-in-unreal-engine) - [Create and edit Paper 2D Flipbooks](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/unreal-engine/paper-2d-flipbooks-in-unreal-engine) - [Use Flipbook Components](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/flipbook-components-in-unreal-engine) ## Need Help? Join Discord Share your sheet dimensions, extracted Sprite names, and a screenshot of the Flipbook timeline, and we'll help verify the import.

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