making a spotlight

[Mrpaulyshore]

How would one do a spotlight, say during a cutscene there is dialouge going on and then the spot light reveals the person in question, would it be an overlay theme or a switch? Ive played around and can't get it right. I don;t know how to do overlays with lights and such and youtube is horrible for explanations on that. so let me know what direction I should take this in.

thanks!

 

[Shaz]

So you want it dark to start with, then gradually fade out? I'd just use a Show Picture command to show a completely black overlay, then when you want to reveal, do a Move Picture to change the opacity to 0 in however many seconds you want it to take (or frames). Remember to delete the picture at the end, because changing maps doesn't do it.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

overlays...

 

[Mrpaulyshore]

Ok dark as in just a black picture, then how do I fade out? I thought pictures were only still, would i have to throw up a bunch of pics in an animated fashion to get this to look right? and if there is a good overlay tutorial you guys know about Id like to see it or have it explained to me in simplest of terms. I would love to use them to light up my maps and give them more detail. such as spot lights at a club. but then again I could do the picture thing right? I appreciate both of your heklp and insight.

 

[Shaz]

... then when you want to reveal, do a Move Picture to change the opacity to 0 in however many seconds you want it to take (or frames).

 

[Kes]

To make this, you will need something like GIMP (free) or PhotoShop.  I think you might be able to do it in paint.NET, but I've never used it so can't be sure.  this explanation is how I would do it in GIMP

Take a screen shot of the map which includes the NPC in question and paste it into GIMP

Add new layer

Using the fill bucket, tint the new layer black

Alter the transparency to, say, 40-50% so that you can see the scene underneath at about the definition you want in-game.  You will have to play around to get it how you want.

Use erase to take out the black over where the NPC is

Use Gaussian blue to blur the edges of the cut out section.  Start at around 25% and adjust to your preference.

Delete the bottom layer with the screen shot

Save

Import as picture, use show picture.

EDIT

Here is a link to a very good lighting tutorial. http://forums.rpgmakerweb.com/index.php?/topic/1695-luchi-chans-lighting-tutorial/?hl=%2Bluchi+%2Blighting+%2Btutorial

 

[Mrpaulyshore]

I do have GIMP and thank you so much for the advice and tutorial. I love how fast and how informitive you guys all are that help me get better. I'll have to pay it forward when I finish my demo and help out as well.

 

[Mrpaulyshore]

I got the GIMP and photos ready for my spotlight, However when i teleport and make my character invisible, for a split second you see the stuff I am trying to hide and then it goes all black and runs the event and shows the spotlight.

How do I get the screen to stay black until I call my photos without showing everything for a split second. I tried a fade on the screen before and had it fade in the next screen but it still shows that blip for a second when the screen

teleports from one to the other screen. any suggestions?

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

If you do manual fading before transition, make sure the transition does not use a fade...

 

[Mrpaulyshore]

I don;t follow what your telling me shana. i am sorry I know your trying to help me but could you example it a little more clearer for me?

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

I mean if ur using Fade Out before using Transfer Player, make sure the transition itself doesn't use any fade (on the transfer player options)

 

[Kes]

Also make sure that the map you are transferring to has the show picture command as a parallel process followed by 'erase event' That way the command will be executed before anything else.