[Tutorial] Layer placement.

[EliteWarGuy]

Hi. I have problem with foregrounds.... i dont know how to make. i need short tutorial .... Help!
I'm new here.....

[DarkValentine]

If you mean you're trying to make something appear in the foreground, you have to make sure the other layer you're using, has a Z axis that has a negative number. (not sure what it's called, but that's as close as I can put it).



Taking a tip from the tutorials that are already there, you need to make sure your extra layer, is of another number. your main layer will always be 1. if you want to add another layer, use 10. the more images you add in that isn't going to be animated, the higher the number you'll be using if you plan on using multiple layers.

Example:
1 = main floor
10 = extra layer 1
20 = extra layer 2, etc.

If you plan on animating, then said layer needs consecutive numbers to fall into place.

Example:
10 = extra animated layer 1
11 = extra animated layer 2, etc.

if you have 5 images that make a background/foreground element move into animation, then you have to use 10, 11,12,13,14. If you want more layers with animated segments, then you use the next class of numbers, like 20,21, 22,etc. use as many for that class of layer as it's limit provides. With each segmented number class from 10 on up, can hold up to 10 animation frames ranging from 0 to 9, but your initial floor layer ALWAYS must remain 1. if you miss any one of those numbers, it appears broken. And chances are, will not work.

[LucasHB]

Hey, EliteWarGuy, welcome to the forums. But next time you have a problem, we have a topic for that:

http://www.bombergames.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2321

Or else, our very own moderator charco won´t be nice to you. He´ll follow you home and kill your dogs. Just kidding.

[Don Vecta]

Actually, by your renaming this thread and putting it as a tutorial of how to place layers properly wouldn't be bad. No point in locking and dump the thread if DV already posted an explanation.

[EliteWarGuy]

Thanks!! DarkValentine. the problem solved!

[DarkValentine]

No problem. If you need assistance on how to get your own stuff, then go here:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2593

[Don Vecta]

Now with my magical powas I renamed the first post and kept the thread as a small tutorial. I could extend further for other layers and stuff.

[CajNatalie]

This topic did not help me when I encountered this, lol...

Does anyone know how I could have worked out the X values, or was I really stuck with trial and error on this one?

[Don Vecta]

Can you put me the settings of all your layers, please? Or take a snapshot of all of them? Let's encyclopedia brown this bitch!

[CajNatalie]

Can you put me the settings of all your layers, please? Or take a snapshot of all of them? Let's encyclopedia brown this bitch!

Spoiler: show

FPG Edit...

The mid-background I'm embedded the boards in...

...don't ask where that g went. Hell if I know. It's there in the file.

One of the boards...

Mid-background in SoRMaker at Y 65, the X position it gives me is different depending on where I scroll the level to...

Left board in SoRMaker...

Right board in SoRMaker...

Both boards are Y 50, and have X positions that shift when I scroll the level left/right, like the mid ground.

The very fact that the X positions are different depending on where I've scrolled the level to, makes me feel like I really was stuck with trial and error for this... unless there's still something I don't know.
o.O

[Don Vecta]

Did you try this with the scroll tab in AUTO? Not usre if that could be the problem.

[CajNatalie]

Did you try this with the scroll tab in AUTO? Not usre if that could be the problem.

Having them set to auto had them scroll at different speeds. So I had to set all three layers to the same designated value.
I did some trial and error with one board testing scroll speeds until it scrolled in sync with the midground - the value for that was 0.8, so I set the midground and both boards to 0.8.

They scroll at the same speed. Their x-offset is the same for each camera position.
But they're positioned differently in the editor and the game.
The game puts them 222 to the left, so I have to add 222 to whatever their X position is when in the (seemingly) correct place, but must NOT scroll the screen while repositioning otherwise my X co-ordinates turn to junk.
Then, to take in to account the fact that the boards will lag behind the midground by a frame if you're paying attention, producing a 1 pixel gap, I have to move them one last pixel right.

The second board's X co-ordinate is 240 to the right of the first, again this must be positioned without scrolling.

...well, at least I can incorporate what I just typed in to a guide on how to make an animated Moon Beach midground.
But for anyone who really can't get it to work I'll also paste the boards in to a copy of the midground for a non-animated version. XD

[Don Vecta]

Hmmmmm weird, i never faced a problem like this, though. Most of the times if i put two layers of the same length and one animated then shouldn't be problem.

What I might suggest in order to pair out layers like those is that both have exactly the same dimensions or fit the screen (say your main layer it's 3000 x 240 size, then these two other layers should be also 3000 x240, with all the empty area in pure black) this way you won't miss it in positioning.

[CajNatalie]

Hmmmmm weird, i never faced a problem like this, though. Most of the times if i put two layers of the same length and one animated then shouldn't be problem.

What I might suggest in order to pair out layers like those is that both have exactly the same dimensions or fit the screen (say your main layer it's 3000 x 240 size, then these two other layers should be also 3000 x240, with all the empty area in pure black) this way you won't miss it in positioning.

The midground is 1600x130
If I'm gonna do that I may as well animate the whole massive chunk of it in one layer. But I was trying to be efficient and only animate the parts that animated. =(

Well, it would solve the positioning problem for sure, at least. Thank you for the idea.
I won't use it, and don't need to by now, but it's there for anyone else who has a mid-ground positioning issue that they don't want to trial-and-error through like I did.