I created a tgf app. that actually helps me create explosions. This is how: first you create a circle about 32X32, make the center bright yellow and then the colors should turn darker and eventually to red on the outer edge of the circle; set the object's ink effect to "and"; then make an event to create one of these wherever your mouse is located every second or so. Finally you should run the game and create a frame of your explosion then print screen to copy the image. Do this with each frame you want and then add the frames together.
Pete, take a look at Yeah Guys! 3 Beta explosions (If you havnt already) Instead of having one animation for the whole explosion, I have one exposion in the middle and then I shoot smoke all around it, and shoot shrapnel in random directions with smoke trails. All this makes it so its never the same, graphic, and is far easier then making one animation for the whole explosion. Check it out, it may give you some ideas.
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I usually do retro-style 'expanding circles' dont worry theese are good ones! That get bigger then open up from the inside, then puffs of smoke appear and rise up (for a side-on platform game)
If you want, I'll send u a example, it looks real good