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    Gamecave Effects Engine 3.X: Table of Contents (Click To View Chapter)

    Uploaded by

    Leon Verachter
    This document provides a tutorial on using alpha mapping in GameCave Effects Engine 3.X. It begins with an introductory section on what alpha mapping is and how it can be used. It then provides an example using a grass sprite and radial gradient alpha mask. The functions for applying alpha masks to sprites and backgrounds are explained. Finally, it describes how to create alpha masks using Adobe Photoshop.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Gamecave Effects Engine 3.X: Table of Contents (Click To View Chapter)

    Uploaded by

    Leon Verachter
    49 views9 pages
    This document provides a tutorial on using alpha mapping in GameCave Effects Engine 3.X. It begins with an introductory section on what alpha mapping is and how it can be used. It then provides an example using a grass sprite and radial gradient alpha mask. The functions for applying alpha masks to sprites and backgrounds are explained. Finally, it describes how to create alpha masks using Adobe Photoshop.

    Original Title

    GCET_alphamapping

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    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

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    This document provides a tutorial on using alpha mapping in GameCave Effects Engine 3.X. It begins with an introductory section on what alpha mapping is and how it can be used. It then provides an example using a grass sprite and radial gradient alpha mask. The functions for applying alpha masks to sprites and backgrounds are explained. Finally, it describes how to create alpha masks using Adobe Photoshop.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    49 views9 pages

    Gamecave Effects Engine 3.X: Table of Contents (Click To View Chapter)

    Uploaded by

    Leon Verachter
    This document provides a tutorial on using alpha mapping in GameCave Effects Engine 3.X. It begins with an introductory section on what alpha mapping is and how it can be used. It then provides an example using a grass sprite and radial gradient alpha mask. The functions for applying alpha masks to sprites and backgrounds are explained. Finally, it describes how to create alpha masks using Adobe Photoshop.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 9

    GAMECAVE EFFECTS ENGINE 3.

    X
    Alpha Mapping tutorial
    Written by Rhys Andrews

    TABLE OF CONTENTS (CLICK TO view chapter)


    Introductory ................................................................................................................. 2
    An Example................................................................................................................. 3
    The Functions ............................................................................................................. 4
    Sprite Alpha Masking .............................................................................................. 4
    Background Alpha Masking .................................................................................... 4
    Alpha Masking with Adobe Photoshop........................................................................ 5
    Final Revision.............................................................................................................. 9
    Introductory
    Alpha Mapping is a method of applying alpha masks to sprites; giving them
    accurately defined soft-edges (for instance), and is commonly used in all commercial
    software. This tutorial, though short, will teach you the 2 important functions needed
    to apply “alpha masks” to sprites and backgrounds, and how to make / understand
    alpha masks.
    An Example
    The best way to explain what Alpha Mapping actually is, is providing an example.
    Here, we have the sprite, and the alpha mask:

    The sprite is a simple 256X256 image of grass. The alpha mask is a “radial
    gradient”. Now, let’s see what happens when we set the alpha mask for the sprite to
    this alpha mask on the right:

    Quite interestingly, all the white in the alpha mask has become textured with the
    grass. Or, more literally, the transparency of each pixel of the sprite has been
    determined by the brightness of the same pixel in the alpha mask. Like the
    GameMaker Manual states, “The alpha (transparency) values in the sprite uses the
    hue values in the alpha mask”.
    The Functions
    So, now that you understand how alpha mapping works, lets understand the
    functions you need to use to set alpha masks to sprites.

    Sprite Alpha Masking


    sprite_set_alpha_from_sprite(ind,spr);

    This function sets a sprite to an alpha mask. Alpha masks are also sprites, so we’re
    setting a “sprite to a sprite”. The sprite is known as ind (argument0), and the
    alpha mask is known as spr (argument1).

    Open up your copy of GameMaker 6.1 (registered), and draw a 100X100 sprite
    (whatever you like, just make it 100X100). Then, create another sprite at 100X100,
    and draw something else, this time only using greyscale values (black, greys, white).
    Finally, add a new object, set its sprite to the first sprite you created, and in it’s create
    event, input this code:

    sprite_set_alpha_from_sprite(sprite0,sprite1);

    Stick the object in a blank room, and play the game. There. You’ve set the alpha
    mask of sprite0 to the hue values in sprite1. Let’s lay out a few rules for this function.
    The function only needs to be used once, and until the end of the game, that sprite
    uses the determined alpha mask. So make sure that you do not stick the function in a
    place where it’s going to be executed over and over. And also make sure that the
    sprite you’re setting the alpha mask for, is only ever used when it needs that alpha
    mask. For instance, you might want that grass to have an alpha mask in one level,
    but be pure opaque (fully visible) in another. In such a case, you’ll need two copies of
    the sprite. Saying that, remember that an alpha mask can be used for many sprites.

    Secondly, it’s a good idea to name your alpha masks like this:

    Sprite name: sprBoy


    Alpha mask name: sprBoy_alpha

    This means, you know that the alpha mask for sprBoy is sprBoy_alpha. If, however,
    you have many sprites that all use one alpha mask, you could name the alpha mask
    a category that fits all the sprites using it… for instance:

    Sprite name 1: sprGrass


    Sprite name 2: sprSand
    Sprite name 3: sprSnow
    Alpha mask name: sprTerrain_alpha

    Background Alpha Masking


    background_set_alpha_from_background(ind,back);

    This function works just like the previous function (including all rules and arguments),
    however, the function is looking for backgrounds, not sprites. In other words, you
    need to have an alpha-mask as a background, and a background to apply the alpha
    mask to.
    Alpha Masking with Adobe Photoshop
    Adobe Photoshop is a great tool, if not the greatest, for graphic design and sprite-
    work. Fortunately, with Photoshop, there’s a very easy method for creating an alpha
    mask for your photo-shop document. This chapter is based on teaching you how to
    create an alpha mask for your work with Adobe Photoshop 7.0 or CS2.

    Firstly, when you start your new sprite (file > new); make sure you set your
    background contents to Transparent.

    This is to ensure that all the empty space around the sprite is “black” in the alpha
    mask, meaning, invisible. If you’ve already created your work without checking
    Transparent for your background contents, you can, alternatively, double click on the
    background layer, which converts it to an unlocked layer. Then, simply delete the
    layer (right-click on the highlighted layer on the layer list, then click ‘delete layer’), or
    if it’s the only layer in the layer-list (meaning, you cannot delete it), click the “eye”
    next to the layer to make it invisible. You can then delete it later.

    Now you have a transparent canvas. If you were to create an alpha mask of this
    transparent canvas, it would simply be pure black. So now, you can start working on
    your artwork. It is according to the transparency of each pixel in your artwork that the
    alpha mask will be generated to.
    When you have finished your work, save the project as a PSD (photoshop document)
    to prevent data loss. Before we mask the sprite, let me show you how my work is
    going to turn out as an alpha mask:

    To do this, we need to first “rasterize” all the text-layers. This means you won’t be
    able to edit those text-layers again as text; so make sure all the text is right. Then,
    right click on the layer, and select “Rasterize Type”, or “Raterize Layer”. Now, go
    “Image > Calculations…” If Calculations is blocked out, it’s clear that you have not
    rasterized all layers, or possibly your background is not transparent. When you finally
    get into the calculations window, pick each option as follows:

    (Source 1)
    Layer: Merged
    Channel: Transparency

    (Source 2)
    Layer: Merged
    Channel: Transparency

    Blending: Normal
    Result: New Document
    And click “Ok”. A new document will open, with your alpha mask. Select all (ctrl a)
    and copy (ctrl c). Then, paste in your GameMaker Sprite Editor window, and enjoy!

    As a final tip, sometimes it’s good to restore a background colour to your original
    work after the alpha mask is created. Because GameMaker takes transparency from
    a PNG or GIF as white (and if you save your original sprite as a JPG, photoshop
    replaces transparent pixels with white anyway), and so, you may end up with
    something such as this in GameMaker:
    As you can see, this has a bit of white in the half-faded-out areas of the text’s
    shadow and the gradient edges of the circle. Where as, if you placed in a red
    background into your document after the alpha mask was created, you would get
    this:
    Final Revision
    By the end of this tutorial, you should have hopefully learnt how alpha masks work,
    and, if you’re a mad Photoshop user like myself, learnt how to create alpha masks
    with your Photoshop art-works; for GameMaker or otherwise. Though this can be a
    fun and easy feature to play around with in GameMaker, it can sometimes have
    some complicated thoughts needed to be put into it, in order to make some sprites
    look right with their alpha masks. So go ahead and practice; Alpha masks are great
    for

    • Soft Edges on Text and Images


    • Putting Gradients on Sprites
    • Blending two types of terrains (such as snow and grass) together (or tiles?)
    • Much more.

    Enjoy!
    - Rhys Andrews

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