Overlay Redux Version 4.0 Alpha 1

[vortex2]

Hey everyone (long title I know). Anyway I have been working hard on developing an updated Overlay object and here is what I have so far.

This version uses properties, supports ink effects, loading multiple file types, and alpha channels!

Bugs I have fixed:

A) Overlay no longer disappears if slightly off frame

Currently there are a few issues:

A) Save file only saves bitmaps becuase I need to design a function to save using different filters based on the extension.

B) It seems that when stretching is on and you load a file the alpha channel is lost.

Please test this extension hard and try to make it crash. This is just a preliminary version while I work on fixing the remaining issues and adding text drawing . Please post suggestions for things that I can add to this object.

[Anders]

Nice work so far.
Thing I noticed:

The overlay seems to constantly scroll with the frame. There is no way to keep it in place.
Can you add an option to make it appear on the active layer? (just like the Alpha Channel object can)

Played a bit around with the substractive INK effect and my shadow engine:
http://andos.stiaxies.net/stuff/ShadowRedux.mfa

Notice that the shadows suddenly disappears when the sun moves past position 960,720. I have no idea why it does that, is it something that overlay messes up?

[joewski]

Nice example Andos, Very impressive.

Hey great update to the Overlay Redux.

[Joshtek]

Nice update. I'm glad the extensions are finally starting to take advantage of MMF2's functionality.

The object doesn't seem to be compatible with Active Overlay (which was a bit buggy anyway in later builds of MMF2). Would we need a new Active Overlay?

[vortex2]

The overlay object scrolls with the frame becuase it is in the background layer. I am not sure if everyone wants the overlay object to be on the active layer or not, but it would require changing some of the code.

I am not sure why your shadows disappear or if it is a problem with the overlay object. I will take a look later today once I get the other problems resolved.

[Joshtek]

The overlay object scrolls with the frame becuase it is in the background layer. I am not sure if everyone wants the overlay object to be on the active layer or not, but it would require changing some of the code.

I am not sure why your shadows disappear or if it is a problem with the overlay object. I will take a look later today once I get the other problems resolved.

I don't think Overlay needs to be an active so long as it works with the Active Overlay object or that object's successor.

[Anders]

The overlay object scrolls with the frame becuase it is in the background layer.

All other background objects doesn't scroll with the background like the overlay object does.

I don't think Overlay needs to be an active so long as it works with the Active Overlay object or that object's successor.

If making it an active object is as simple as setting a few flags in the source code and then use it by checking a checkbox then I think it should be done that way. I only made Active Overlay to fill in where the Overlay Object lacked in functionality.

[Joshtek]

Would it be possible for the Overlay to use another Overlay as its collision mask?

BTW: Cool example, Andos.

EDIT: Just tested out scrolling and it is pretty weird.

[vortex2]

I fixed the scrolling, it now works just like you would expect it to.

[vortex2]

Ok I fixed the problem with the alpha channel being lost when stretching.

I have a question for you guys. Currently the overlay object resizes to the frame when stretching is on, but when I envision stretching I think that a loaded image should resize to the overlay, with the overlay remaining the same. Do you think that overlay should resize to fit the frame if stretching is on?