Parallax layers loading unevenly when changing maps

[DoveJumper]

I'm using the Bind Picture to Map plugin to use my parallax maps (which are just a bottom parallax and a single overlay for shadows and light sources). They work great, only they do not always load at the same time when switching maps. When my player goes to a new map the shadow/light overlay will always load last. We're talking micro seconds, but it still looks messy. This also happens if I have an event running on Map A, for instance, makes a text appear the moment the player enters Map B - the bottom parallax will load, but the overlay will not load until AFTER the text box has been closed.

After the player enters the first time, the map's two layers will load smoothly after that. So, I thought that maybe this is something a preloader should help with, but the most recommended one (TDDP Preloader) conflicts with Bind Pictures to Map and causes a crash upon starting the game. (Disabling TDDP stops the crashes) I've messed with load order with no success.

I don't necessarily have to use the preloader...perhaps there is another way to ensure my parallax bottom and overlay load together always? Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Tome571]

Hey DoveJumper,

I always used to use BindPicturesToMap and I would fix this by doing transitions a little differently. So when you want to change maps, do Fade out screen, transfer map, wait(30 - 60 frames, depending how your maps are), fade in screen.

The fade out/wait/fade in basically allows you to transfer map and there be about 1 second of delay before it opens the next map, allowing the pictures to be drawn before it fades in. You might need to adjust a little based on your needs, but it helps!

Let me know if you need any other help getting it to work, I can take some screenshots if needed.

 

[DoveJumper]

Thanks for the help! Sadly I am still having the issue. (I am so sorry!) I did the fade out, transfer, wait, fade in, and the last parallax still pops up after the fade in. I tried longer waits as well (180 frames and such) but that last parallax is still being a brat. This map is the inside of a boat, so it's a small area really.

I have two lower decks on my boat, and going from one lower deck to the other doesn't trigger this issue, but going from the outside of the boat (with moving tile water) to the inside will trigger it every time. (the events for the doorways are the same on all maps) So perhaps the moving tiles are causing it? So weird.

I looked at perhaps lessening the file size for my layers and I can't get them any smaller than say, 390kb per layer, (without losing transparency) with photoshop, but do you think that filesize might be the issue?

 

[Tome571]

I don't think the filesize is the issue. Can you screenshot your event to transfer maps and to show pictures? Are they running as autorun or parallel? Autorun will make it not run quite right as well...

 

[Tome571]

Here's an example. Left one is the BindToMap. Right one is a zone transfer.

 

[DoveJumper]

Oh my gosh, thank you.
The bind to pictures was indeed set to autorun. Working perfectly now set to parallel! You're awesome, thanks!