How to make special effects???

[ChiefRedThunder]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to find some cool tutorials or any how to information on making special effects. I"m trying to figure out how to make light trails like Runes of Avalon? Does anyone have any information on the subject? Or anything relating to special effects?

Thanks for your time.

[Leon]

I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, how your engine does things(I'm using a 2d engine), ect. I'm lucky enough to have a brother who's extremely skilled at Photoshop, which is very good for making graphics and even animating them, who creates sprites and 2d effects for me.

Photoshop 101 has a ton of tutorials, some good, some not so hot.

If you don't have Photoshop, which is understandable with it's price, there is also The Gimp which is a free tool comparable to Photoshop. Some even like it more, although brother and I do not.

[Maupin]

I'm trying to find some cool tutorials or any how to information on making special effects. I"m trying to figure out how to make light trails like Runes of Avalon? Does anyone have any information on the subject? Or anything relating to special effects?

Do a search for particles. Many engines have some sort of support for them.

For example, here's Wikipedia's entry on the subject.

[rockford]

Hey Chief,
Runes of Avalon is made with BlitzMax, I'm using this engine too.
I manage to create some effect like Runes with Smash Particle Engine for BlitzMax

http://www.intermediaware.com/index.php?id=289

Unfortunately, lot of bugs in the editor and not quite good performance, but it not so bad.

David

[ChiefRedThunder]

Hey Chief,
Runes of Avalon is made with BlitzMax, I'm using this engine too.
I manage to create some effect like Runes with Smash Particle Engine for BlitzMax

http://www.intermediaware.com/index.php?id=289

Unfortunately, lot of bugs in the editor and not quite good performance, but it not so bad.

David

Thanks for the info... time to pass this on to my team mates and see what we can do with it.

[Nexic]

It's just a very basic particle effect. They are just creating one shiny ball sprite at the cursor's position every so many tics. Then every shiny ball in play slowly alpha fades itself out and falls downwards. Usually the sprite is in additive blend mode, or is made of two sprites, one plain alpha and the other additive.

[HairyTroll]

Take a look at the effects in the examples at Processing.

[ChiefRedThunder]

Thanks for the suggestions and the links.
I've been thinking about how I could make a custom looking particle, and I'm gonna try and do something with photoshop.
Keep the suggestions coming, and thanks for the help.