How to rotate sprites in Scratch?

You can rotate sprites in Scratch by adjusting their direction in the Sprite pane or by using various motion blocks in your code. This allows for both static positioning and dynamic animation, bringing your projects to life.

Understanding Sprite Rotation in Scratch

In Scratch, a sprite's "direction" determines how it is rotated. When you add a new sprite, it typically points to the right, which corresponds to a direction of 90 degrees. Changing this direction visually rotates the sprite on the stage.

Methods for Rotating Sprites

There are several ways to control a sprite's rotation in Scratch, ranging from manual adjustments to programmatic control using code blocks.

1. Manual Rotation Using the Sprite Pane

The simplest way to set a sprite's initial orientation is directly through the Sprite pane, located below the stage.

Locate the Direction Field: In the Sprite pane, find the "Direction" field for your selected sprite. It usually shows a number like "90".
Adjust the Direction:
- Click on the direction number to reveal a circular dial with an arrow. You can then move the arrow around the dial to visually set the sprite's direction.
- Alternatively, you can type a specific number into the direction field. Common directions include:
  - 90: Right (default)
  - -90: Left
  - 0: Up
  - 180: Down

This method is ideal for setting a sprite's starting position or for minor, static adjustments.

2. Programmatic Rotation Using Motion Blocks

For dynamic rotation during a project, Scratch provides dedicated blocks in the Motion category.

Turning by a Relative Amount

These blocks rotate the sprite relative to its current direction.

turn 15 degrees (clockwise): Rotates the sprite clockwise by the specified number of degrees.
- Example: forever turn 5 degrees will make the sprite spin continuously.
turn 15 degrees (counter-clockwise): Rotates the sprite counter-clockwise by the specified number of degrees.
- Example: Use this for backward spins or counter-movements.

Setting an Absolute Direction

This block sets the sprite's direction to a specific, absolute angle.

point in direction 90: Instantly changes the sprite's direction to the specified angle.
- Common Angles:
  - 0: Up
  - 90: Right
  - 180: Down
  - -90: Left (or 270)
- Example: when [right arrow] key pressed point in direction 90 ensures the sprite faces right.

Pointing Towards Another Object

This block makes the sprite face another object or the mouse pointer.

point towards [mouse-pointer]: The sprite will instantly turn to face the current position of the mouse pointer.
point towards [another sprite]: The sprite will turn to face the center of another chosen sprite.
- Example: forever point towards [mouse-pointer] makes a character's head or a spaceship follow your cursor.

3. Controlling Rotation Style

The set rotation style block, also found in the Motion category, determines how a sprite visually rotates when its direction changes. This is crucial for character animation.

set rotation style [all around]: This is the default. The sprite's costume fully rotates to face the new direction, allowing it to point in any angle.
- Use Case: Spaceships, spinning wheels, or objects that should visually rotate completely.
set rotation style [left-right]: The sprite only flips horizontally (left or right) to face the new direction. It will only point right (90 degrees) or left (-90 degrees), even if its internal direction value is something else. This prevents characters from appearing upside down.
- Use Case: Humanoid characters walking left and right.
set rotation style [don't rotate]: The sprite's costume remains fixed, regardless of its internal direction value. Only its x and y position or internal direction value changes, but its visual appearance does not rotate.
- Use Case: Objects like a car from a top-down view where you only want the car to move, not visually rotate, or for sprites that serve as static backgrounds.

Practical Examples and Use Cases

Here are some common scenarios where you'll use sprite rotation:

Making a Character Turn:
```
when [right arrow] key pressed
point in direction (90)
move (10) steps

when [left arrow] key pressed
point in direction (-90)
move (10) steps
```
- Pro Tip: For character sprites, always use set rotation style [left-right] to prevent them from flipping upside down when facing left.

Creating a Spinning Propeller:

when green flag clicked
forever
    turn (10) degrees

A Turret Aiming at the Mouse:

when green flag clicked
forever
    point towards [mouse-pointer]

Summary of Rotation Methods

Method	Description	Ideal Use Case
Sprite Pane (Manual)	Directly click the direction number, then move the arrow or type a value (e.g., 90, 0, -90).	Setting a sprite's initial or static orientation.
`turn () degrees`	Rotates the sprite by a specified amount relative to its current facing direction (clockwise/anti-clockwise).	Continuous spinning, gradual turns, incremental changes.
`point in direction ()`	Sets the sprite's absolute direction to a specific angle (e.g., 0 for up, 90 for right).	Precise orientation, setting exact facing directions.
`point towards ()`	Makes the sprite instantly face the mouse pointer or another selected sprite.	Creating following behaviors, aiming mechanics.
`set rotation style ()`	Controls how the sprite's costume visually responds to changes in its direction (All Around, Left-Right, Don't Rotate).	Customizing character movement, managing visual effects.

By understanding and utilizing these rotation methods and styles, you can create intricate movements and interactive behaviors for your sprites in Scratch projects.