Qith said:Here, I wrote you some code. I don't think you'd need any alpha difference, since snow's not really see-through... if you want it anyway, you could just change the beginFill code to something like beginFill(0xFFFFFF, rndBetween(0.3,1));.
CODE//***COMMENCE THY SNOWING!***//
//***SETUP***//
var flakeAmnt:int = 150; //amount of snowflakes;
var flakeSize:Number; //for randomization of flake size later in code;
var minFlakeSize:Number = 1.5; //minimal flake size (for randomization);
var maxFlakeSize:Number = 4.5; //maximum flake size (for randomization);
var avgSpeedY:Number = 1; //average vertical fall speed;
var deviationY:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average vertical speed;
var avgSpeedX:Number = 0; //average horizontal speed (use a negative number to make more flakes go to the left);
var deviationLeft:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the left;
var deviationRight:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the right;
var snowFlakes:Array = []; //Array to be filled with snowflakes;
//***FLAKE CREATION***//
for (var i:int = 0; i < flakeAmnt; i++){ //this loop creates all snow flakes, one per iteration;
flakeSize = rndBetween(minFlakeSize, maxFlakeSize); //determine size for this flake;
snowFlakes = new MovieClip(); //create a new MovieClip in a new spot in the Array that corresponds to the current iteration's number (i), for the flake to be in;
addChild(snowFlakes); //add the MovieClip to the stage so that it shows up;
snowFlakes.graphics.beginFill(0xFFFFFF); //begin a white (0xFFFFFF is hexadecimal for RGB white) fill for drawing a snow flake into the previously created MovieClip;
snowFlakes.graphics.drawCircle(0,0,flakeSize); //draw a snow flake (a simple circle) around the (0,0) coordinate of the MovieClip, using the size (flakeSize) we determined at the beginning of the loop;
snowFlakes.graphics.endFill; //end fill for the snow flake;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedY = rndBetween(Math.abs(avgSpeedY-deviationY),Math.abs(avgSpeedY+deviationY)); //determine vertical fall speed according to the variables we set in the setup at the top, using the rndBetween function at the bottom;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedX = rndBetween(avgSpeedX-deviationLeft,avgSpeedX+deviationRight); //same thing, this time for horizontal speed;
snowFlakes.x = rndBetween(0,stage.stageWidth); //placement of flake at random horizontal coordinate on stage;
snowFlakes.y = rndBetween(0,stage.stageHeight);//placement of flake at random vertical coordinate on stage;
}
//***FLAKE ANIMATION***//
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, fH); //event listener that fires every time the movie enters a new frame, attached to the fH function (acronym for frameHandler), this is ideal for scripted animation;
function fH(e:Event):void { //the function that gets executed every time the event that it is linked to fires;
for (var j:int = 0; j < flakeAmnt; j++){ //another loop, this time it goes through the entire array that contains the snow flakes, to move each flake to its next position;
snowFlakes[j].x += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedX; //add the flake's horizontal fall speed (which we determined earlier on) to its current place on the horizontal (x) axis, effectively moving it horizontally;
snowFlakes[j].y += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedY; //same thing, only for the vertical (y) axis. This can't be negative since that would make the snow fly upwards;
//***this segment is for keeping the flakes on the stage, they get "recycled" every time they go out of view***//
if (snowFlakes[j].y > stage.stageHeight+(snowFlakes[j].height/2)){ //if the flake goes completely out of view on the bottom...
snowFlakes[j].y -= stage.stageHeight+snowFlakes[j].height; //make it go all the way to the top so that it shows up again next iteration!
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x > stage.stageWidth+(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //same thing, only for the right side...
snowFlakes[j].x -= stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and here we move it to the left...
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x < 0-(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //and this one's for the left side...
snowFlakes[j].x += stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and we move it to the right.
}
//***end of recycling segment. Note that of the last two parts (which deal with the left and right sides), only one is ever applicable to the current flake since a flake moving to the left never goes off the stage on the right side***//
}
}
//***SIMPLE FUNCTION FOR RANDOMIZING BETWEEN TWO NUMBERS***//
function rndBetween(min:Number, max:Number) { //take the numbers we got from the call to this function (for example if we put "rndBetween(1,2)" somewhere);
return((Math.random()*(max-min))+min); //use Flash's own Math.random() function to generate a random number between 0 and 1,
//then multiply that with the maximum we got from the call *minus* the minimum. This
//will result in a number between 0 and said maximum minus minimum. Now, we add the minimum
//to this number and we end up with a number between the minimum and the maximum!
}
Good luck with it!
...Oh man, this has to be the most generous I've ever been.
EDIT: You're right, randomizing the alpha does add some depth! You could also blur them, but that would require more code and processing power.
Qith said:Hey, go right ahead. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "iteration" in this case though... if you mean on every ENTER_FRAME, clearing the screen every frame already sort of happens... Flash Player completely calculates every frame, every time it enters a new frame, and discards the last one (well behind the scenes it does calculate what it needs to redraw and what it can leave on the screen, but that's not something you can influence with ActionScript).
I'm also a bit in the dark about what you mean by it "sticking on the screen", that sounds like abnormal behaviour... if you mean the snow is leaving traces, then that's really weird. I can only think of that happening when you're drawing it to a Bitmap Object you're displaying and don't empty *that* every frame, but I'm guessing you're not doing that.
There's no easy, general way of clearing the screen, because of the object-oriented nature of ActionScript. You'd have to remove each object from the stage. But if you'd do that each frame, only to generate a new set of snow flakes with random locations, you'd just get noise (it would look kind of like TV noise, probably) and no real object animation.
This script was written in ActionScript 3, are you sure you're using Flash CS3 or CS4 (or another authoring environment that takes AS3) and specifically chose "Flash File (ActionScript 3.0)" when you made a new file to test this in?
EDIT: ALSO, if by it sticking to the screen you mean the screen stays white, that might be because you haven't changed the background colour to something other than white yet. You can set the file's background colour in the PROPERTIES pane.
Qith said:
mbeard said:The second method you posted doesn't work, as Snowflakes isn't initialised on the first run through so it errors as Snowflakes is undeclared.
As for your first idea, I'm going to try it now, although this whole Flash scenario is new to me - I'm used to Java, C++ and the like.
EDIT: Does anyone have any good links on how to do this? I honestly have absoloutely no idea how to do this.
Ah, good to know you have some coding knowledge, that gives me some more freedom.
Hm, that's odd, are you sure you put the exclamation mark (!) in front of "snowFlakes" in the conditional statement? Because "if (!snowFlakes)" literally means "if there is no variable called snowFlakes" (well technically it could also mean "if snowFlakes is set to false", but only if snowFlakes had been declared as a Boolean earlier on). Also, it sure works here XD. I'll just post the entire thing again, that way there's no room for misinterpretation:
CODE//***COMMENCE THY SNOWING!***//
//no stop(); this time!
stage.quality = "high"; //sets the quality to high, value can also be StageQuality.HIGH (but this is obviously shorter);
stage.align = "topLeft"; //sets the stage to stick to the top left upon being resized, value can also be StageAlign.TOP_LEFT;
stage.scaleMode = "noScale"; //makes sure the stage does not scale automatically upon being resized, value can also be StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE;
//***SETUP***//
var flakeAmnt:int = 150; //amount of snowflakes;
var flakeSize:Number; //for randomization of flake size later in code;
var minFlakeSize:Number = 1.5; //minimal flake size (for randomization);
var maxFlakeSize:Number = 4.5; //maximum flake size (for randomization);
var avgSpeedY:Number = 1; //average vertical fall speed;
var deviationY:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average vertical speed;
var avgSpeedX:Number = 0; //average horizontal speed (use a negative number to make more flakes go to the left);
var deviationLeft:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the left;
var deviationRight:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the right;
if (!snowFlakes){
var snowFlakes:Array = []; //Array to be filled with snowflakes;
//***FLAKE CREATION***//
for (var i:int = 0; i < flakeAmnt; i++){ //this loop creates all snow flakes, one per iteration;
flakeSize = rndBetween(minFlakeSize, maxFlakeSize); //determine size for this flake;
snowFlakes = new MovieClip(); //create a new MovieClip in a new spot in the Array that corresponds to the current iteration's number (i), for the flake to be in;
addChild(snowFlakes); //add the MovieClip to the stage so that it shows up;
snowFlakes.graphics.beginFill(0xFFFFFF, rndBetween(.3,1)); //begin a white (0xFFFFFF is hexadecimal for RGB white) fill for drawing a snow flake into the previously created MovieClip;
snowFlakes.graphics.drawCircle(0,0,flakeSize); //draw a snow flake (a simple circle) around the (0,0) coordinate of the MovieClip, using the size (flakeSize) we determined at the beginning of the loop;
snowFlakes.graphics.endFill; //end fill for the snow flake;
snowFlakes.flakeBlur = new BlurFilter; //create a new BlurFilter instance;
snowFlakes.flakeBlur.quality = 2; //set the BlurFilter's quality to 2 (which is like medium, I wouldn't generally recommend going above 3 since it can get pretty heavy);
snowFlakes.flakeBlur.blurX = snowFlakes.flakeBlur.blurY = rndBetween(1,8); //set the BlurFilter's horizontal and vertical blur values to the same random value;
snowFlakes.filters = [snowFlakes.flakeBlur]; //apply the filter to the flake;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedY = rndBetween(Math.abs(avgSpeedY-deviationY),Math.abs(avgSpeedY+deviationY)); //determine vertical fall speed according to the variables we set in the setup at the top, using the rndBetween function at the bottom;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedX = rndBetween(avgSpeedX-deviationLeft,avgSpeedX+deviationRight); //same thing, this time for horizontal speed;
snowFlakes.x = rndBetween(0,stage.stageWidth); //placement of flake at random horizontal coordinate on stage;
snowFlakes.y = rndBetween(0,stage.stageHeight);//placement of flake at random vertical coordinate on stage;
}
}
//***FLAKE ANIMATION***//
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, fH); //event listener that fires every time the movie enters a new frame, attached to the fH function (acronym for frameHandler), this is ideal for scripted animation;
function fH(e:Event):void { //the function that gets executed every time the event that it is linked to fires;
for (var j:int = 0; j < flakeAmnt; j++){ //another loop, this time it goes through the entire array that contains the snow flakes, to move each flake to its next position;
snowFlakes[j].x += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedX; //add the flake's horizontal fall speed (which we determined earlier on) to its current place on the horizontal (x) axis, effectively moving it horizontally;
snowFlakes[j].y += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedY; //same thing, only for the vertical (y) axis. This can't be negative since that would make the snow fly upwards;
//***this segment is for keeping the flakes on the stage, they get "recycled" every time they go out of view***//
if (snowFlakes[j].y > stage.stageHeight+(snowFlakes[j].height/2)){ //if the flake goes completely out of view on the bottom...
snowFlakes[j].y -= stage.stageHeight+snowFlakes[j].height; //make it go all the way to the top so that it shows up again next iteration!
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x > stage.stageWidth+(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //same thing, only for the right side...
snowFlakes[j].x -= stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and here we move it to the left...
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x < 0-(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //and this one's for the left side...
snowFlakes[j].x += stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and we move it to the right.
}
//***end of recycling segment. Note that of the last two parts (which deal with the left and right sides), only one is ever applicable to the current flake since a flake moving to the left never goes off the stage on the right side***//
}
}
//***SIMPLE FUNCTION FOR RANDOMIZING BETWEEN TWO NUMBERS***//
function rndBetween(min:Number, max:Number) { //take the numbers we got from the call to this function (for example if we put "rndBetween(1,2)" somewhere);
return((Math.random()*(max-min))+min); //use Flash's own Math.random() function to generate a random number between 0 and 1,
//then multiply that with the maximum we got from the call *minus* the minimum. This
//will result in a number between 0 and said maximum minus minimum. Now, we add the minimum
//to this number and we end up with a number between the minimum and the maximum!
}
Qith said:mbeard said:The second method you posted doesn't work, as Snowflakes isn't initialised on the first run through so it errors as Snowflakes is undeclared.
As for your first idea, I'm going to try it now, although this whole Flash scenario is new to me - I'm used to Java, C++ and the like.
EDIT: Does anyone have any good links on how to do this? I honestly have absoloutely no idea how to do this.
Ah, good to know you have some coding knowledge, that gives me some more freedom.
Hm, that's odd, are you sure you put the exclamation mark (!) in front of "snowFlakes" in the conditional statement? Because "if (!snowFlakes)" literally means "if there is no variable called snowFlakes" (well technically it could also mean "if snowFlakes is set to false", but only if snowFlakes had been declared as a Boolean earlier on). Also, it sure works here XD. I'll just post the entire thing again, that way there's no room for misinterpretation:
CODE//***COMMENCE THY SNOWING!***//
stop(); //makes sure this frame keeps looping;
stage.quality = "high"; //sets the quality to high, value can also be StageQuality.HIGH (but this is obviously shorter);
stage.align = "topLeft"; //sets the stage to stick to the top left upon being resized, value can also be StageAlign.TOP_LEFT;
stage.scaleMode = "noScale"; //makes sure the stage does not scale automatically upon being resized, value can also be StageScaleMode.NO_SCALE;
//***SETUP***//
var flakeAmnt:int = 150; //amount of snowflakes;
var flakeSize:Number; //for randomization of flake size later in code;
var minFlakeSize:Number = 1.5; //minimal flake size (for randomization);
var maxFlakeSize:Number = 4.5; //maximum flake size (for randomization);
var avgSpeedY:Number = 1; //average vertical fall speed;
var deviationY:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average vertical speed;
var avgSpeedX:Number = 0; //average horizontal speed (use a negative number to make more flakes go to the left);
var deviationLeft:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the left;
var deviationRight:Number = 1.5; //maximum deviation from average horizontal speed, towards the right;
if (!snowFlakes){
var snowFlakes:Array = []; //Array to be filled with snowflakes;
//***FLAKE CREATION***//
for (var i:int = 0; i < flakeAmnt; i++){ //this loop creates all snow flakes, one per iteration;
flakeSize = rndBetween(minFlakeSize, maxFlakeSize); //determine size for this flake;
snowFlakes = new MovieClip(); //create a new MovieClip in a new spot in the Array that corresponds to the current iteration's number (i), for the flake to be in;
addChild(snowFlakes); //add the MovieClip to the stage so that it shows up;
snowFlakes.graphics.beginFill(0xFFFFFF, rndBetween(.3,1)); //begin a white (0xFFFFFF is hexadecimal for RGB white) fill for drawing a snow flake into the previously created MovieClip;
snowFlakes.graphics.drawCircle(0,0,flakeSize); //draw a snow flake (a simple circle) around the (0,0) coordinate of the MovieClip, using the size (flakeSize) we determined at the beginning of the loop;
snowFlakes.graphics.endFill; //end fill for the snow flake;
snowFlakes.flakeBlur = new BlurFilter; //create a new BlurFilter instance;
snowFlakes.flakeBlur.quality = 2; //set the BlurFilter's quality to 2 (which is like medium, I wouldn't generally recommend going above 3 since it can get pretty heavy);
snowFlakes.flakeBlur.blurX = snowFlakes.flakeBlur.blurY = rndBetween(1,8); //set the BlurFilter's horizontal and vertical blur values to the same random value;
snowFlakes.filters = [snowFlakes.flakeBlur]; //apply the filter to the flake;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedY = rndBetween(Math.abs(avgSpeedY-deviationY),Math.abs(avgSpeedY+deviationY)); //determine vertical fall speed according to the variables we set in the setup at the top, using the rndBetween function at the bottom;
snowFlakes.fallSpeedX = rndBetween(avgSpeedX-deviationLeft,avgSpeedX+deviationRight); //same thing, this time for horizontal speed;
snowFlakes.x = rndBetween(0,stage.stageWidth); //placement of flake at random horizontal coordinate on stage;
snowFlakes.y = rndBetween(0,stage.stageHeight);//placement of flake at random vertical coordinate on stage;
}
}
//***FLAKE ANIMATION***//
addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, fH); //event listener that fires every time the movie enters a new frame, attached to the fH function (acronym for frameHandler), this is ideal for scripted animation;
function fH(e:Event):void { //the function that gets executed every time the event that it is linked to fires;
for (var j:int = 0; j < flakeAmnt; j++){ //another loop, this time it goes through the entire array that contains the snow flakes, to move each flake to its next position;
snowFlakes[j].x += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedX; //add the flake's horizontal fall speed (which we determined earlier on) to its current place on the horizontal (x) axis, effectively moving it horizontally;
snowFlakes[j].y += snowFlakes[j].fallSpeedY; //same thing, only for the vertical (y) axis. This can't be negative since that would make the snow fly upwards;
//***this segment is for keeping the flakes on the stage, they get "recycled" every time they go out of view***//
if (snowFlakes[j].y > stage.stageHeight+(snowFlakes[j].height/2)){ //if the flake goes completely out of view on the bottom...
snowFlakes[j].y -= stage.stageHeight+snowFlakes[j].height; //make it go all the way to the top so that it shows up again next iteration!
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x > stage.stageWidth+(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //same thing, only for the right side...
snowFlakes[j].x -= stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and here we move it to the left...
}
if (snowFlakes[j].x < 0-(snowFlakes[j].width/2)){ //and this one's for the left side...
snowFlakes[j].x += stage.stageWidth+snowFlakes[j].width; //and we move it to the right.
}
//***end of recycling segment. Note that of the last two parts (which deal with the left and right sides), only one is ever applicable to the current flake since a flake moving to the left never goes off the stage on the right side***//
}
}
//***SIMPLE FUNCTION FOR RANDOMIZING BETWEEN TWO NUMBERS***//
function rndBetween(min:Number, max:Number) { //take the numbers we got from the call to this function (for example if we put "rndBetween(1,2)" somewhere);
return((Math.random()*(max-min))+min); //use Flash's own Math.random() function to generate a random number between 0 and 1,
//then multiply that with the maximum we got from the call *minus* the minimum. This
//will result in a number between 0 and said maximum minus minimum. Now, we add the minimum
//to this number and we end up with a number between the minimum and the maximum!
}
Yeah, I know Flash can be a bitch... the authoring tool & work flow really take some getting used to. You can try Kirupa and goToAndLearn for some great Flash/AS2/AS3 tutorials! Kirupa has lots of non-scripting stuff, you can use those to learn your way around the UI.
By the way, since you're used to Java/C++, you're probably used to writing classes to set everything up. You can do this in AS3 as well, it actually makes things a lot cleaner and more manageable, though for small scripts like this one it can be a bit much (in my opinion). Both Kirupa and GTAL have tutorial content regarding this.
Qith said:Oh crap, sorry, you should totally remove that stop(); line now XD. What I added was kind of a workaround for that.
You're right about the helping thing, I'm not bugged at all, even though I should definitely be doing other stuff that's due this Friday but that's my own choice. You should continue doing Flash, ActionScript knowledge is a great virtue these days!
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