Is there a way to have an "alpha channel" or to set a color in an ANSI or a BIN as being transparent?

I'd like to be able to make a character that's not perfectly rectangle, and have the background show through, but I'm not sure if that's possible with the existing tools.

Anyone tried something like that with frame.js or sprite.js?

--Josh

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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to All on Sat Jun 14 2014 04:23 pm

Is there a way to have an "alpha channel" or to set a color in an ANSI or a BIN as being transparent?

I'd like to be able to make a character that's not perfectly rectangle, and have the background show through, but I'm not sure if that's possible with the existing tools.

16 colors, dude.
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þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Sat Jun 14 2014 07:28 pm

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to All on Sat Jun 14 2014 04:23 pm

Is there a way to have an "alpha channel" or to set a color in an ANSI or BIN as being transparent?

I'd like to be able to make a character that's not perfectly rectangle, a have the background show through, but I'm not sure if that's possible wit the existing tools.

16 colors, dude.

Obviously. But I guess what I'm getting at is, do any of the js libraries provide any way to mask a sprite so that a background character can show through an empty character in the sprite?

--Josh

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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to Mro on Sat Jun 14 2014 08:17 pm

I'd like to be able to make a character that's not perfectly rectangle, a have the background show through, but I'm not sure if that's possible wit the existing tools.

16 colors, dude.

Obviously. But I guess what I'm getting at is, do any of the js libraries provide any way to mask a sprite so that a background character can show through an empty character in the sprite?

you could rig something up with creativity and ansimation
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þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to All on Sat Jun 14 2014 16:23:32

Ahoy Kirkman,

Is there a way to have an "alpha channel" or to set a color in an ANSI or
a BIN as being transparent?
Anyone tried something like that with frame.js or sprite.js?

Yes, frame.js can do transparency. I believe sprite.js can also be used for .BINs in order to do what you are asking. Have a look at the documentation within the comments for each of those files for transparency details.

Kind regards,

art@fatcatsbbsdotcom

"Shoes are getting full of sand. I just hate that, don't you?"
-- Geordi in ST:TNG "The Enemy"

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þ Synchronet þ fatcats bbs - fatcatsbbs.com

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: art to Kirkman on Sun Jun 15 2014 07:27 pm

Yes, frame.js can do transparency. I believe sprite.js can also be used for .BINs in order to do what you are asking. Have a look at the documentation within the comments for each of those files for transparency details.

I see frame.js allows frames to have a transparency property, which can be set to true. The only explanation is "Do not display frame sectors where char == undefined."

Sprite.js by default sets its frames to transparent = true.

I guess what I'm still wondering about is how this actually works. So if I have a small rectangular frame filled with an ANSI or BIN file, nothing will actually be transparent, because none of the characters will be undefined, right? I'm thinking the only way I could make use of the transparency is if I render the characters individually in code, leaving some of them empty.


--Josh



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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Sat Jun 14 2014 10:41 pm

you could rig something up with creativity and ansimation

Er, yes, I'm aware I am capable of creating my own custom solution. I'm seeking help with using any existing solutions in Synchronet, or with others who may have already tackled similar siutuations previously.

--Josh

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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to art on Sun Jun 15 2014 18:57:11

I see frame.js allows frames to have a transparency property, which can be s to true. The only explanation is "Do not display frame sectors where char == undefined."

Sprite.js by default sets its frames to transparent = true.

I guess what I'm still wondering about is how this actually works. So if I h a small rectangular frame filled with an ANSI or BIN file, nothing will actually be transparent, because none of the characters will be undefined, right? I'm thinking the only way I could make use of the transparency is if render the characters individually in code, leaving some of them empty.

that is correct, but you could apply a filter for a specific color (or specific set of attributes) to your graphic after you load it into a frame by iterating the contents as a 2D array and comparing the .attr property to whatever color you'd like to filter, and just set it to undefined if it matches.


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þ Synchronet þ The BRoKEN BuBBLE (bbs.thebrokenbubble.com)

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: MCMLXXIX to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 09:05 am

I guess what I'm still wondering about is how this actually works. So if a small rectangular frame filled with an ANSI or BIN file, nothing will actually be transparent, because none of the characters will be undefined right? I'm thinking the only way I could make use of the transparency is render the characters individually in code, leaving some of them empty.

that is correct, but you could apply a filter for a specific color (or speci set of attributes) to your graphic after you load it into a frame by iterati the contents as a 2D array and comparing the .attr property to whatever colo you'd like to filter, and just set it to undefined if it matches.

That's a nice idea. I'll give that a shot.

--Josh



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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to Mro on Sun Jun 15 2014 06:58 pm

you could rig something up with creativity and ansimation

Er, yes, I'm aware I am capable of creating my own custom solution. I'm seeking help with using any existing solutions in Synchronet, or with
others who may have already tackled similar siutuations previously.

"Er", what you are searching for is only an answer that you will like, not the right answer or one that is good enough.

you are dealing with text here. you are dealing with ansi graphics here.
those are the confines in which you must work with.
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þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Kirkman to Mro on Sun Jun 15 2014 06:58 pm

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Sat Jun 14 2014 10:41 pm

you could rig something up with creativity and ansimation

Er, yes, I'm aware I am capable of creating my own custom solution. I'm

well, fucking escuse me.
you're displaying ansi graphics and i suggest a method of displaying ansigraphics to pull off what you want. how stupid of me. guess i've been doing it wrong for the past 22 years.

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?
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þ Synchronet þ ::: BBSES.info - free BBS services :::

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 20:17:26

well, fucking escuse me.
you're displaying ansi graphics and i suggest a method of displaying ansigraphics to pull off what you want. how stupid of me. guess i've been doing it wrong for the past 22 years.

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?

Notice the topic: Transparency when using frames/sprites

You don't even know what question you are answering, let alone the best answer for it. How stupid of you, indeed.

Step aside. (22 years eh? It's like you're gaining 2 years of experience in the BBS community for every year that passes)


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þ Synchronet þ The BRoKEN BuBBLE (bbs.thebrokenbubble.com)

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 20:03:53

"Er", what you are searching for is only an answer that you will like, not t right answer or one that is good enough.

you are dealing with text here. you are dealing with ansi graphics here. those are the confines in which you must work with.

No, he was searching for information about what is already available in order to save himself some time. Your answer may have been good enough, but it certainly wasn't the right one.


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þ Synchronet þ The BRoKEN BuBBLE (bbs.thebrokenbubble.com)

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 08:17 pm

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?

DICK FIGHT! DICK FIGHT!

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þ Synchronet þ realitycheckBBS -- http://realitycheckBBS.org

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 08:17 pm

you're displaying ansi graphics and i suggest a method of displaying ansigraphics to pull off what you want. how stupid of me. guess i've been doing it wrong for the past 22 years.

I appreciate your longevity in the scene, and I thank you for taking the time to reply to my question.

But the fact is, I asked something pretty specific, and "You could rig up something with creativity" was completely unhelpful.

MCMLXXIX, on the other hand, offered a specific idea to help me make use of transparency in frame.js.

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?

Just for fun, I'll humor you:

I run a private Synchronet BBS called "Guardian of Forever." It's for my kids, and for my own experimentation. It's been up for more than a year.

I have been a BBS user since May 7, 1992. I cosysoped another guy's BBS for a number of years in the late 1990s, but I spent much more time as a faithful user and promoter of local boards. I continued calling the longest-lived local BBSes until they began petering out in the mid-2000s.

In 2013 I created the Break Into Chat website. It features a wiki of BBS door games, which is slowly expanding, and a blog where I've posted interviews and reminscences about BBSing and retrocomputing.

In 2014 I released a new game for Synchronet, called "Doubles."

So, that's me. Not as accomplished as you, I'm sure. Just a guy who sometimes asks questions, and appreciates the folks who are willing to help.

--Josh


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BiC -=- http://breakintochat.com -=- bbs wiki and blog


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þ Synchronet

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: Mro to Kirkman on Tue Jun 17 2014 20:17:26

Ahoy, dearest pukes!

The following line, is hereby deemed to be hilarities:

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?

You may now laugh heartily, and return to your scheduled BBSing.

Darkest condolences,

art@fatcatsbbsdotcom

"When an old fighter - like me - dies, someone always steps forward to
take his place."
-- Macius to Ro Laren in ST:TNG "Preemptive Strike"

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þ Synchronet þ fatcats bbs - fatcatsbbs.com

Re: Transparency when using frames/sprites
By: art to All on Thu Jun 19 2014 10:04:48

The following line, is hereby deemed to be hilarities:

whats your bbs url and how long have you ran a bbs?

Indeed. ;)

Ahoy, dearest pukes!

I like this too. :) Homage to someone who we all know on Dove-Net.. ;)

Nightfox

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þ Synchronet þ Digital Distortion BBS - digitaldistortionbbs.com