Second Switch: Looks Better
Quick References for all Looks blocks
say (text) for (number) seconds: This block makes a sprite say a sentence. It will appear in a speech bubble for a specified number of seconds.
say (text): The sprite will say a sentence, but the speech bubble will remain until another speech or thought bubble replaces it.
think (text) for (number) seconds: Similar to the 'say' block, this one makes the sprite "think" something. The thought will appear in a thought bubble for a specified number of seconds.
think (text): The sprite will think a specified thought indefinitely, or until another speech or thought bubble replaces it.
switch costume to (costume): This block changes the sprite's appearance by switching its costume to another costume. Costumes can be used to create animation or change the appearance of sprites.
next costume: This block changes the sprite's costume to the next one in the list of costumes. It's often used to create an animation effect.
switch backdrop to (backdrop): This block changes the stage background to another backdrop. The backdrop sets the scene for the project.
next (backdrop): This block changes the stage's backdrop to the next one in the list of backdrops.
change size by (number): This block changes the sprite size by a specified percentage.
set size to (number) %: This block sets the sprite size to a specific percentage of its original size.
change [ ] effect by (number): This block changes the effect of a sprite by a specified amount. For example, adding to the color effect can create a rainbow or color shift effect.
set [ ] effect to (number): This block sets the effect of the sprite to a specific value, which determines the intensity of the effect.
clear graphic effects: This block removes all graphic effects applied to a sprite, returning it to its original appearance.
show: This block makes the sprite visible on the stage.
hide: This block makes the sprite invisible on the stage. It's still present and can run scripts but it cannot be seen.
go to [front/back] layer: This block brings the sprite to the front or back layer, bringing it in front of or behind all other sprites on the stage.
go [forward/backward] (number) layers: This block moves the sprite forward/backward by a specified number of layers in the stack of sprites, affecting its position relative to other sprites.
costume [name/number]: This reporter block reports the name/number of the current costume of the sprite. It's often used in scripts to make decisions or create loops based on costume number.
backdrop [name/number]: Similar to the 'costume number' block, this reports the name/number of the current backdrop of the stage.
size: This reporter block reports the current sprite size as a percentage of the original size.
say/think(text) for (number) seconds
say/think (text)
Create a bubble with the text content on top of the sprite. Using for (number) seconds, the bubble will disappear after a certain time, without, it will not disappear until the next bubble appears. If the next bubble appears immediately, you might not be able to see the first one appears. Round bubble is for say, cloud bubble is for think.
Example:
say (Hello!) for (2) seconds
think (Hmm...)
Bad Example button code
Click the green flag to start: the cat will say "Hello!" for 2 seconds then think "Hmm..." for 2 seconds
Click the cat to make it say "Hello!", it will wait 2 seconds then think "Hmm..."
Click the Bad Example button, it should say "Hello!" then think "Hmm..", but it is almost impossible to see "Hello!", because the think bubble appears immediately after.
Costumes
Some sprites in the Sprite bank come with many costumes, like this bear. Click the Costumes button on top to access all the costumes of a sprite, you can also modify costumes or draw your costume here. Costumes are important when you try to do animations like the bear walking example we will see next. *Costumes will not reset automatically.
Check out beginner guide slides 11-13 for more detailed tutorials about creating sprites' costumes.
Backdrops
Backdrops can be view as special sprites that cannot move. They can also be programmed with code and change costumes like all other sprites. We will call the costumes for backdrops still as backdrops.
switch costume/backdrop to (name/number)
next costume/backdrop
Make the sprite change to a certain costume with the name or costume number.
The next costume will change to the next costume. If it is the last costume, the next one will be the first one.
Example:
switch costumes to (bear-walk-a)
next backdrop
Backdrops code
Click the green flag to start/reset: the bear will be ready to walk in costume a, and the backdrop will be Wetland.
Click the bear to change to the next costume. Continue clicking it fast to make it change costume fast and see the animation of a bear walking.
Click the backdrop to change to the next backdrop. This program only has 2 backdrops.
costume (number/name)
backdrop (number/name)
costume/backdrop (number/name) bubbles store the current number or name of the costume. You can use these bubbles in any oval shape blank as a number/text. You can also check the box next to them to show these values on the screen.
Example:
Click the green flag to start/reset: the bear will be ready to walk in costume a, and the backdrop will be Wetland.
Click the bear to change to the next costume. It will say the name of the current costume for 2 seconds and say "Hello!" for 1 second in the Wetland backdrop, and 2 seconds in the Forest backdrop.
Click the backdrop to change to the next backdrop. This program only has 2 backdrops.
set size to (number)%
change size by (number)
Set the sprite size to a certain percentage of the original size.
Change the sprite size by a certain percentage of the original size.
Example:
set size to (100)%
change size by (-10)
Click the green flag to start/reset: both cats will be set to their original size (100)%.
Click the cat to change their size by 10. One will increase the size, one will decrease the size.
set [name] effect to (number)
change [name] effect by (number)
clear graphic effects
Set the sprite effect to a certain number (range 0 -100).
Change the sprite effect by a certain number (range 0 -100).
Clear all effects. Without this block, effects will not be automatically cleared after running.
Example:
set [ghost] to (50) -> 50% transparent
change [color] effect by (25) -> increase 25 in color selector
Click the green flag to start/reset.
Click the buttons to change their effect by 25. The effect choices are as their labels on the button.
The Brightness and the Ghost button will be set to 50 rather than constantly changing when being clicked more than once.
show
hide
Control whether a sprite is visible.
When something disappears in a game, usually we do not delete it. We hide it and let it appear or disappear at the right moment.
Click the green flag to show the Earth.
Press the space key to hide the Earth
go to [front/back] layer
go [forward or backward] (number) layers
Control which sprite is on top of the other.
When we have many sprites overlapping, we need to decide the order in which they overlap. Default order is the order as in the sprite panel (usually the one you add later will be on top).
Example:
go to [back] layer
go [forward] (1) layers
Click the green flag to show the Earth and set it at the back of everything.
Click the Earth to send it forward 1 layer.
size
size bubbles store the current size of the sprite. You can use this bubble in any oval shape blank as a number. You can also check the box next to it to show the value on the screen.
Example:
