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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Framebuffers and Layers and Sprites - Oh My! - SOLVED!!
| Author | Message | ||||
| toml_12953 Guru  Joined: 13/02/2015 Location: United StatesPosts: 564 |
I'm trying to create sprites on a PicoCalc. It has an LCD display so I know I have to use framebuffers but how do I do that? I've tried framebuffer create framebuffer layer framebuffer write "f" but how do I load a sprite into the framebuffer? SPRITE LOAD "balloon.spr" doesn't give me an error but then framebuffer copy f,n doesn't show anything and sprite show #1,0,0,1 doesn't either. What's the procedure for using framebuffers with sprites? Can I use a standard multi-sprite file? |
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Martin H. Guru Joined: 04/06/2022 Location: GermanyPosts: 1407 |
Good morning, You're close... but has placed the screen output on the framebuffer. You can now use SPRITE LOAD fname$,1 to makesure that it is in Spritenummber 1 Edited 2026-03-09 12:50 by Martin H. 'no comment |
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phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3064 |
Peter63 posted an example in the mouse thread Tested ok on Pico2VGA. Replace "mouse.spr" with "balloon.spr". > Sprite load "mouse.spr",1,1 > x=99 :y=77 > Sprite show 1,x,y,1 > for n=10 to 199 : Sprite show 1,n,n,1 : pause 99 : next Edited 2026-03-09 12:57 by phil99 |
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| Martin H. Guru Joined: 04/06/2022 Location: GermanyPosts: 1407 |
Here is a more detailed explanation. All graphic commands work on N F and L, depending on what you previously selected with the FRAMEBUFFER WRITE command. Your normal screen is N If you have not set anything else, all outputs will take place here. The optional framebuffer F is a hidden image memory that you can work on, but it is never displayed. However, you can copy its contents from and to N or L. This is useful for setting up a flicker-free image build-up by always working on F first and then copying the result to N (or L). The optional layer L plays a special role. It is like a pane, placed over the screen (N). It has the ability (like Sprites) to be partially transparent, making it suitable for displaying objects or placing them over the visible screen without changing the content of N.  So you create your background on N and move your sprites over layer L without having to worry about your background. However, since the Pico has limited memory, it is advisable to use layers or frame buffers with care. Only use them when you really need them. I hope that makes sense. This all applies to Picomites with VGA or HDMI. PicoCalc uses an LCD for output. The function differs slightly here. To display F and L on the display, you have use the FRAMEBUFFER COPY or FRAMEBUFFER MERGE command. For more detailed information, please refer to the manual page 77,78. Cheers Martin Edited 2026-03-09 16:44 by Martin H. 'no comment |
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Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 8650 |
OOH! Thanks, Martin. I actually understand what's going on now. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 3064 |
Martin's description is excellent, perhaps could be added to an expanded "SPRITE Command and Function Reference Manual". Then renaming it "SPRITE and FRAMEBUFFER Reference Manual" |
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| Volhout Guru Joined: 05/03/2018 Location: NetherlandsPosts: 5753 |
One thing to keep in mind. The PicoCalc LCD screen has 65536 colors. This is N in above explanation. So N is physically the LCD itself. You can load a JPG onto it (LOAD JPG "xxx.jpg") using this color depth. Due to memory restrictions inside the Pico, the framebuffers are RGB121 (16 colors). So the sprites are RGB121. And so is FRAMEBUFFER F (a shadow memory of N where you can "prepare" images before sending them over to the physical screen). In essence: if you start using framebuffers, your visual screen is RGB121. Not 65536 colors, but 16. Volhout PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS |
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| toml_12953 Guru Joined: 13/02/2015 Location: United StatesPosts: 564 |
Well, I'm almost there! Below is what I have so far (recognize it, anyone?) Now my problem is when the sprites pass over each other, they leave artifacts. Why? How can I get rid of them? Never mind! I figured it out. Below is the program that works. The addition of "safe" to the show command fixed my artifacts. Thanks to all who responded! You've given me some good ideas. FRAMEBUFFER layer FRAMEBUFFER write "L" SPRITE load "balloon.spr",1 FOR x=0 TO 280 SPRITE show safe 1,x,x,1 SPRITE show safe 2,280-x,x,1 FRAMEBUFFER copy L,N NEXT x Balloon.zip Edited 2026-03-09 21:38 by toml_12953 |
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| Martin H. Guru Joined: 04/06/2022 Location: GermanyPosts: 1407 |
FRAMEBUFFER layer FRAMEBUFFER write "L" SPRITE load "balloon.spr",1 FOR x=0 TO 280 SPRITE show safe 1,x,x,1 SPRITE show safe 2,280-x,x,1 FRAMEBUFFER copy L,N CLS 'since you're redrawing everything anyway NEXT x or try SPRITE MOVE (untested) FRAMEBUFFER layer FRAMEBUFFER write "L" SPRITE load "balloon.spr",1 x=0 SPRITE show safe 1,x,x,1 SPRITE show safe 2,280-x,x,1 FOR x=0 TO 280 SPRITE Move 1,x,x,1 SPRITE Move 2,280-x,x,1 FRAMEBUFFER copy L,N NEXT x 'no comment |
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| toml_12953 Guru Joined: 13/02/2015 Location: United StatesPosts: 564 |
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| Martin H. Guru Joined: 04/06/2022 Location: GermanyPosts: 1407 |
Use Framebuffer (F) for your Background, L for the Sprites, and FRAMEBUFFER MERGE to copy both to the Display: That way you still can use CLS for the Layer, if needed. Cheers Martin 'no comment |
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