256 Colour Tutorial Part 1: Difference between revisions

Note that when I make a background I just save a sprite image ''as a different name'' (so it has all the sprite colours properly set), ''change its size'' to the background size I need, ''clear'' it, and then start adding colours from ''the end'' of the palette, as they're supposed to be "'''room dependent'''", so you can paint your backgrounds with these slots and make them different in different backgrounds if necessary. Note also that the first half of the palette matches that of the sprites so I can still use these fixed colours in my backgrounds if necessary (just don't change their colours as you may have drawn some of the sprites with these slots already).

Now you may try importing it as a room background. My test game used 320x240 as its default resolution, so the background is of this dimension. Before actually importing any background into a room, go to "'''File --> Preferences...'''" and make sure that "'''Remap palette of room backgrounds into allocated background palette slots (8-bit only)'''" checkbox under the '''8-bit background import''' section is ''un''checked'', like this:

This is to ensure that the backgrounds will be imported in an unaltered stage, without the colours of it being rudely moved around by the editor (similar to the sprites). 'This is very important!'  

If you had examined the image, you may have noted that I used also colour slot #0 in it, which was set to pink by me, I just use it for some reasons and it's not important here, and always remember after import it will ''always'' become black.

Next, I think it may be a good idea to add a door to the disco room, so I want to draw a sprite for it, but I want it to blend with the background perfectly, and since that sprite will only be used in one room, it doesn't seem like a good idea to waste "'''fixed'''" sprite colour slots by copying some of the colours from the background. What should I do? I just draw [[media:8bittut_door.bmp|this]], which uses the "'''background'''" colour slots directly. You may have asked, "aren't these slots available '''ONLY''' for backgrounds?" The answer is, "Yes, and No. These slots can be used for backgrounds, but you ''can'' actually use them in sprites too, provided that each of these sprite is ''only'' used in ''one particular'' room or other rooms ''using similar colour settings'', otherwise it may look funny."

To import this door sprite, go to "'''Sprites'''" and open up the import dialog, make sure you have ''un''checked "'''Remap colours to game palette'''" and select "'''Palette index 0'''" as the transparent colour, ''AND'' '''check''' the "'''Lock to room background palette''" box. You can then import the sprite like before.

If you place the sprite as an object in the room you'll find out whether it's imported properly (if you try putting it in the "dizzy" room, you may find it looking funny, since the two room backgrounds use different colours; note also that currently it seems that the sprite's colour may be messed up when you first place it onto the room in the editor, but if you test 5the game or restart the editor the problem seems to have gone):

Note that I also place [[Roger]] in the room for comparison, and he looks ''real'' funny, like a zombie, that's because I changed the colours of slots #17 through #41 when I first set up the palette, so if you want to keep CJ's original roger and GUI, etc. sprites intact you shouldn't change them.