OcRam - Layers plugin (for MV)

[OcRam]

Hello everybody!

This is the BIGGEST update that I've done so far to any of my plugins.

I recommend re-install of this plugin if any previous versions was in use (remove layers plugin >> OK >> Add new layers plugin >> Check parameters >> OK) - I have tried to keep this update as much backward compatible as I could.

Also a tutorial video for OcRam_Layers v2.00 -plugin is coming in near future (in few weeks)!

Latest version - v2.00 (released 2019/11/20) - WALL OF CHANGES!

• New feature: Layer templates
  Templates allow you to save most used layers! (example: *Plugin command* layer my_template)
  And together with "set_layer" plugin command you may fine tune parameters afterwards (without actually changing the whole layer!)
  
  
• New plugin parameters: Custom Z-index for each layer!
  Possible values: Behind parallax, Behind tileset, Behind characters, Above characters, Behind weather or Top most
  
  
• Sprites and layers will persist through save and load!
  
  
• New feature: Animated layers AND sprites! (Credits to: @Liandra Aura , @Brellelasouls )
  Example: layer 1 fog 1 1 1 true 1 loop:0,0 anim:3,500
  anim:3,500 = rotates fog01, fog02 and fog03 images between 500 ms (17ms = gives ~60fps animation)
  All images are loaded to layer when layer is initialized - this will make even 160fps animations possible!
  
  
• New feature: Scroll every x frame(s) (Credits to: @Nekohime1989 )
  Use decimals in scroll x/y values
  • example 0.5 updates every second frame
  • and 0.1 updates every 10th frame
  • and 0.06 updates every 60th frame
    
• Obsoleted layer param: "repeat"
  (Credits to: @Elsa , @RitualTeeth for pointing out issues with repeat parameter messing up "fix to map" parameter)
  use screen sized image and set loop and scroll x/y to 0 to prevent tiling
  
  
• New layer parameter loop x/y
  Give x and y number in pixels to shift layer when player is moving on x/y directions
  
  
• Smart battle layers!
  Detects if scroll and loop x/y is 0 and layer size is at least screen size + is fixed to map. If layer is detected as parallax map its automatically hidden in battle even if all "Battle layers" are True/On
  
  
• Dynamic layer image names (Credits to: @Peter_Snayde for the idea!)
  Based on variable, map id or tileset id. Example: layer map[mapId] 0 0 1 true 256 loop:0,0 anim:0,0
  Map/tileset ids will be always 3 digits - Example: map[mapId] = map001
  
  
• Totally new way to add sprites (compatibility++)
  (Credits to: Leon Artman for reporting compatibility issues)
  
  
• New plugin command: clear_sprites
  To clear all sprites with id 1 use: clear_sprites 1
  
  
• New plugin command: set_layer (to modify existing layer)
  Example to modify scroll and loop values: set_layer 1 scrollX=4 scrollY=0 loopX=0 loopY=0
  Note: If you modify imgName parameter animation parameter is also reseted!
  
  
• Layer fade parameter 0 == Your default fade time
  
  
• + several bugs are found and fixed
• + even more performance optimizations
  Got rid of 3 if clauses in scroll event with a nice 'hack'! and few other optimizations
  
  
• And thank you to all who has messaged me or this thread!

Happy RPG Making!

 

[OcRam]

I have now added tutorial video to the 1st page of this thread!

But here is a shortcut if you don't want to navigate to 1st page

Spoiler: Tutorial video

 

[harvvvvv]

Firstly - Amazing plugin. Thank you so much for putting this together for the community!

Could you explain a bit more about the loop function please? I'm having trouble getting it to do anything, but perhaps I'm just using it wrong or misunderstanding it's intended use. I have a parallax background set in the map editor of an office. The window of the office is transparent. I have a plugin command of - layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 false 255 loop:1,0 - with 'office-window' being a cityscape that sits behind the parallax background. I figured the loop function would mean the cityscape would scroll as the player walked left and right, but it doesn't move at all. Is this effect possible with the loop function?

 

[ShadowDragon]

@harvvvvv I think (while I dont have my system atm or this plugin) that is the plugin command is aournd like this:
Layer [z] [file] [x] [y] [?] [true/false] [opacity?] loop:?,?

while I cant confirm it fully, I think the 0 0 1 has the be a number like 2 2 1 so it shift 2 pixels left/right, up and down.

Ocram can confirm when I got it wrong or not

 

[harvvvvv]

Hey ShadowDragon, thanks for the reply!

From what I've read the command is Layer [z] [file] [x] [y] [opacity] [true/false] [fade time] loop:x,y
From my experimenting, the first two numbers (x,y) in the command make the image scroll automatically, so if I input '1 0' it will automatically scroll the image to the right indefinitely. I only want the image to move when my player moves.

 

[OcRam]

@harvvvvv I think (while I dont have my system atm or this plugin) that is the plugin command is aournd like this:
Layer [z] [file] [x] [y] [?] [true/false] [opacity?] loop:?,?

while I cant confirm it fully, I think the 0 0 1 has the be a number like 2 2 1 so it shift 2 pixels left/right, up and down.

Ocram can confirm when I got it wrong or not

Hey ShadowDragon, thanks for the reply!

From what I've read the command is Layer [z] [file] [x] [y] [opacity] [true/false] [fade time] loop:x,y
From my experimenting, the first two numbers (x,y) in the command make the image scroll automatically, so if I input '1 0' it will automatically scroll the image to the right indefinitely. I only want the image to move when my player moves.

Hi and thank you for messages!

If I understand this correctly, right command would be: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 true 255 loop:1,0

Original command was: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 false 255 loop:1,0

And it was almost as it should have been, but instead of binding layer to screen you need to bind it to "map".

 

[harvvvvv]

Hi and thank you for messages!

If I understand this correctly, right command would be: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 true 255 loop:1,0

Original command was: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 false 255 loop:1,0

And it was almost as it should have been, but instead of binding layer to screen you need to bind it to "map".

Thanks for getting back to me! I've set up a fresh project to test this and you are correct. Setting the binding to map using 'false' does work. However, in my original project it wasn't working as I had set my screen size to 1920x1080 via Yanfly's Core. If I revert the screen size to default, it does work as intended!

Is there anyway to get this working with a larger screen size?

 

[OcRam]

Thanks for getting back to me! I've set up a fresh project to test this and you are correct. Setting the binding to map using 'false' does work. However, in my original project it wasn't working as I had set my screen size to 1920x1080 via Yanfly's Core. If I revert the screen size to default, it does work as intended!

Is there anyway to get this working with a larger screen size?

I actually ment that false was only parameter you got wrong in original post and it should be true to bind layer to map. And screen resolution doesn't matter. I'm also using Yanfly Core to set screen resolution larger.

So correct syntax should be: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 true 255 loop:1,0

Edit: Of course map size must be larger than screen size for loop parameter to work. Other wise it's same as static.

 

[harvvvvv]

I actually ment that false was only parameter you got wrong in original post and it should be true to bind layer to map. And screen resolution doesn't matter. I'm also using Yanfly Core to set screen resolution larger.

So correct syntax should be: layer 0 office-window 0 0 1 true 255 loop:1,0

Edit: Of course map size must be larger than screen size for loop parameter to work. Other wise it's same as static.

Sorry, that was on a typo on my part - I meant 'true'!
Map size is my issue then, as my map size is the same as my screen size. Is there no way for this effect to work when the map size is the same as screen size? Is there any way to link a layered image to player movement (the player being a parent object of sorts)? Even through events. Though I'm not sure how to call the image that is drawn (aka, 'office-window').

 

[OcRam]

Sorry, that was on a typo on my part - I meant 'true'!
Map size is my issue then, as my map size is the same as my screen size. Is there no way for this effect to work when the map size is the same as screen size? Is there any way to link a layered image to player movement (the player being a parent object of sorts)? Even through events. Though I'm not sure how to call the image that is drawn (aka, 'office-window').

It's now working same kind as RMMV core parallax does so looping will stop when player hits edge of the map. It kind of looks weird if background keeps scrolling even if camera isn't.

I could add plugin parameter "Loop always" or something to change this default behavior, but I can't promise anything since I got too much going on ATM.

 

[harvvvvv]

It's now working same kind as RMMV core parallax does so looping will stop when player hits edge of the map. It kind of looks weird if background keeps scrolling even if camera isn't.

I could add plugin parameter "Loop always" or something to change this default behavior, but I can't promise anything since I got too much going on ATM.

If you could do that at some point, it would be amazing. No pressure though, it is almost the holiday season after all! Don't put yourself out, but I would be forever thankful.

 

[kako05]

Just to be clear. Do you need to use
clear_layer [layer index] [fade]
when you transfer the map or when you change layer index 1 to the different pictures?
I had a bad experience with TDDP parallax map plugin which had a memory leak and each time you added a layer it would add 200-500mb to the memory of ram without cleaning it resulting in RPGM maker using 3-8gb of ram until the game crashes when it runs out of memory.

 

[OcRam]

Just to be clear. Do you need to use
clear_layer [layer index] [fade]
when you transfer the map or when you change layer index 1 to the different pictures?
I had a bad experience with TDDP parallax map plugin which had a memory leak and each time you added a layer it would add 200-500mb to the memory of ram without cleaning it resulting in RPGM maker using 3-8gb of ram until the game crashes when it runs out of memory.

Thank you for the message,

In this plugin you got fixed amount of layers... so memory usage is quite minimal. If you change layer image it will over write any existing images and other parameters - so no need to call clear_layer in this case.

If you simply want to clear layer then clear_layer must be called.

 

[kako05]

Thank you for the message,

In this plugin you got fixed amount of layers... so memory usage is quite minimal. If you change layer image it will over write any existing images and other parameters - so no need to call clear_layer in this case.

If you simply want to clear layer then clear_layer must be called.

Ok, thank you.

 

[Akone]

So, first sorry for this post which is perhaps dumb, but I am a beginner with MV (not new in game development) and after some research, it seem that this is the plugin to use for parallax mapping in 2019+ !!
But it seem that I can manage to find how to use collision map ? So do there is a way to use collision map like with the QMovement's addon "QM+CollisionMap" ?
Thanks for help!

I am a bit confused about plugin for MV, I mean for now 2020 (which is still maintained).... Between QMovement, Orange Overlay, OcRam Layer, Region Restrictions, QMap, QScale... etc...

I post some youtube links to give an idea about what I would like to achieve with this engine !!
- David Browne - Guardia Forest
- Parallax mapping test
- Galveraxe - VX Ace Graphics Test

Thanks a lot for any help and advice about plugins !!

 

[OcRam]

So, first sorry for this post which is perhaps dumb, but I am a beginner with MV (not new in game development) and after some research, it seem that this is the plugin to use for parallax mapping in 2019+ !!
But it seem that I can manage to find how to use collision map ? So do there is a way to use collision map like with the QMovement's addon "QM+CollisionMap" ?
Thanks for help!

I am a bit confused about plugin for MV, I mean for now 2020 (which is still maintained).... Between QMovement, Orange Overlay, OcRam Layer, Region Restrictions, QMap, QScale... etc...

I post some youtube links to give an idea about what I would like to achieve with this engine !!
- David Browne - Guardia Forest
- Parallax mapping test
- Galveraxe - VX Ace Graphics Test

Thanks a lot for any help and advice about plugins !!

Thank you for the message,

You can achieve above things, but it will require some work. This plugin will provide only animated sprites and layers at the moment.

Extra character animation frames/pixel movement/collision map/camera things etc... is not provided via this plugin.

 

[Akone]

Thank you for the message,

You can achieve above things, but it will require some work. This plugin will provide only animated sprites and layers at the moment.

Extra character animation frames/pixel movement/collision map/camera things etc... is not provided via this plugin.

Ok thanks for the answer dude !! I have so many question but to go deeper I will open my own post, I don't want "to pollute" yours ^^ !!

 

[Akone]

Hey bro I'm really sorry, but I don't get how to set a "bottom" and "top" layer as it was in the BindPicturesToMap plugin for parallax mapping ?? ...... Thanks a lot!
The tuto video is nice, but another tuto version text would be awesome...

EDIT:
Ok I think I manage to make it work, but I don't get it, perhaps I didn't understand correctly, but do there is a way to make the character walk behind a tree AND in front of it ??
Perhaps I make a mistake on how to "cut" the different layer !! Arf.... ****, I will find it !! ^^

 

[OcRam]

Hey bro I'm really sorry, but I don't get how to set a "bottom" and "top" layer as it was in the BindPicturesToMap plugin for parallax mapping ?? ...... Thanks a lot!
The tuto video is nice, but another tuto version text would be awesome...

EDIT:
Ok I think I manage to make it work, but I don't get it, perhaps I didn't understand correctly, but do there is a way to make the character walk behind a tree AND in front of it ??
Perhaps I make a mistake on how to "cut" the different layer !! Arf.... fudge, I will find it !! ^^
View attachment 130682

Thank you for the idea!

At the moment you can't assign layer z index at run time (only via plugin parameters). Layer Z-index (and number of layers) is fixed for optimized performance.

But I'll try to find a way to adjust layer/sprite Z index in game in a way it won't impact performance.

 

[Akone]

But I'll try to find a way to adjust layer/sprite Z index in game in a way it won't impact performance.

Yeah I hope you come with something, cause for me, not be able to walk in front and behind (the same) object is a huge turn off about using this engine !!

EDIT:
I tried many thing, but I thing for now the only thing I can do about it, is to rethink the level design so that we cannot walk in front of an object where we can already walk behind !!