In less than 5 minutes learn and make something like this:
It does look better when watching though.
Ok, you need two things.
1) A legal copy of BlitzMax ;)
2) An image editor, something that does .png :)
Ok, before we start with the code, let us make a nifty spark. Go ahead and create a 16x16 spark (mine is just a white line with black backround, you do whatever you want, but I recommend shades of gray for color manipulation)
When you are done with your file, save it as "spark.png" and make sure it will exist in the same directory(folder) as your newly awaiting .bmx file.
Ok, now lets start with Initialization section
Alright, that's simple enough. Now since we're doing this in BlitzMax I'm going to do this the OOP way.
So first we want to create a Type, I'll call it TSpark because it's good practice to put a T before anything that is a type.
Alright, the X and Y are going to be it's position, the r,g,b are going to be color settings which you can modify later if you want. The scale is also the scale of the image, this way you can modify the size of each particle respectivly. The life is how many "refreshes" a particle will last.
Ok, lets jump to the mainloop so we have an idea what is going on. Then we'll program the type. I'm doing it this way to help show you how this is going to work, but I programmed the type first because I already had in mind what I was going to do.
Alright, so the code should be commented enough for you to get it, if not, just ask and you shall receive ;)
Now, lets scroll back up to the top of the program and modify this type. You should already notice we'll need a create function and an updateall function, so lets get to it!
New Type Code:
Ok, you can see in the UpdateAll function that the spark's y velocity increase at a random float (that's subtle) and it's x velocity is stable. The red and green colord go down only by 1 but the blue goes down by two. So the spark will turn a yellowish color as it fades away. The spark will destroy itself if its life goes down too low, and its scale is modifiable as well.
Ok Scott Shaver THIS IS HOW you make a tutorial!! :P Matt 1, Scott 0, Scott its your turn ;) (I'm messing with you Scott dont get mad, but ehm I am trying to tempt you into making a better one than this too) C'mon and "I dont have the time" is a copout!! hah, just kidding :)
On a final note: I hope you guys find this useful, and if you have any questions I'll try to answer as best as possible.
It does look better when watching though.
Ok, you need two things.
1) A legal copy of BlitzMax ;)
2) An image editor, something that does .png :)
Ok, before we start with the code, let us make a nifty spark. Go ahead and create a 16x16 spark (mine is just a white line with black backround, you do whatever you want, but I recommend shades of gray for color manipulation)
When you are done with your file, save it as "spark.png" and make sure it will exist in the same directory(folder) as your newly awaiting .bmx file.
Ok, now lets start with Initialization section
Strict Graphics 800,600 Global SparkList:TList = CreateList() AutoMidHandle(True) Global iSpark:TImage = LoadImage ("spark.png",MIPMAPPEDIMAGE|FILTEREDIMAGE) SetBlend LIGHTBLEND
Alright, that's simple enough. Now since we're doing this in BlitzMax I'm going to do this the OOP way.
So first we want to create a Type, I'll call it TSpark because it's good practice to put a T before anything that is a type.
Type TSpark Field x#,y#,r,g,b,xv#,yv#,scale#,life End Type
Alright, the X and Y are going to be it's position, the r,g,b are going to be color settings which you can modify later if you want. The scale is also the scale of the image, this way you can modify the size of each particle respectivly. The life is how many "refreshes" a particle will last.
Ok, lets jump to the mainloop so we have an idea what is going on. Then we'll program the type. I'm doing it this way to help show you how this is going to work, but I programmed the type first because I already had in mind what I was going to do.
Repeat 'Function Create(x,y,xv,yv,scale,life) Cls 'When you hold the mouse down the emitter will be enabled. 'This means you'll see some kewl particle effects on your 'screen where your mouse cursor is. If MouseDown(1) 'Ok, the yv, is the y velocity, this is going to be at '1, so y will update by 1 every refresh by default Local yv# = 1 'ok I call this lx because its a local variable, 'it is actually modifying the X velocity vector 'of the particle so that we can see where this particle 'will go. For Local lx# = 0.1 To 1 Step .1 'Randomize the y velocity a bit to make it look neat yv#:-RndFloat() 'Ok, so we go from .1 to 1 by .1 a step and create 'two particles at a time. the -lx in the latter 'create function is so that it is mirrored. TSpark.Create (MouseX(),MouseY()-5,lx#,yv#,.2,660) TSpark.Create (MouseX(),MouseY()-5,-lx#,yv#,.2,660) Next End If TSpark.UpdateAll Flip Until KeyHit(KEY_ESCAPE)
Alright, so the code should be commented enough for you to get it, if not, just ask and you shall receive ;)
Now, lets scroll back up to the top of the program and modify this type. You should already notice we'll need a create function and an updateall function, so lets get to it!
New Type Code:
Type TSpark Field x#,y#,r,g,b,xv#,yv#,scale#,life Function Create(x,y,xv#,yv#,scale#,life) Local Spark:TSpark = New TSpark Spark.x = x Spark.y = y Spark.xv# = xv# Spark.yv# = yv# spark.r = 255 spark.g = 255 spark.b = 255 spark.scale# = scale# spark.life = life SparkList.AddLast(Spark) End Function Method Destroy() SparkList.Remove(Self) End Method Function UpdateAll() For Local Spark:TSpark = EachIn SparkList spark.yv#:+RndFloat() Spark.x#:+Spark.xv# Spark.y#:+Spark.yv# spark.r:-1 spark.b:-2 spark.g:-1 SetColor spark.r,spark.g,spark.b SetScale spark.scale,spark.scale DrawImage (iSpark,spark.x,spark.y) SetColor 255,255,255 SetScale 1,1 spark.life:-1 If spark.life < 1 Then spark.Destroy() Next End Function End Type
Ok, you can see in the UpdateAll function that the spark's y velocity increase at a random float (that's subtle) and it's x velocity is stable. The red and green colord go down only by 1 but the blue goes down by two. So the spark will turn a yellowish color as it fades away. The spark will destroy itself if its life goes down too low, and its scale is modifiable as well.
Ok Scott Shaver THIS IS HOW you make a tutorial!! :P Matt 1, Scott 0, Scott its your turn ;) (I'm messing with you Scott dont get mad, but ehm I am trying to tempt you into making a better one than this too) C'mon and "I dont have the time" is a copout!! hah, just kidding :)
On a final note: I hope you guys find this useful, and if you have any questions I'll try to answer as best as possible.