Lighting effects Options

[Skurge]

Ok simply put, I've searched everywhere before asking here to avoid spamming the forums ( im sure many have asked this before )

I'm making a survivial horror game based on john carpenter's " The Thing"
It's going well. Really well but there are missing factors such as lighting

I need to know how I can put down a simple lighting effect for events like lights, lanterns and such.

I would prefer it to be a simple as possible and hopefully I can avoid that annoying method of adding light effects on a screenshot of the map in a photo manipulation program, I would really appreciate some help

[thatbennyguy]

You haven't specified the game maker.

Never mind, here's lighting scripts for each:
RPG Maker VX Ace: Khas Awesome Light Effects
RPG Maker VX: Kylock's Light Effects VX
RPG Maker XP: Dynamic Lighting Effects

Hope this helps.

[Skurge]

Thanks man that helped out!

I forgot to ask if there's a possible way for held torches? Like there shinning a space or so infront of the player? And if possible a script for smokey lights such as Flares or fire?

[Decedent]

I don't understand the smokey lights part, but for torches you can do this;

Create a black image 640 X 480. At the center of the image using photoshop, cut out a circle in the center with some fading around the edges so it's not a sharp edge. Then in the map, have an event 'Show' that picture at 100% size, and it should make it look like you can only see so much around you.

Alternatively if you want to use a flashlight and get creative, make 4 images just like the one described above, only have the V shape cut out for the torch's light radius. Have one picture for each direction (Up, down etc) and have a parallel process that goes something like;

Loop
Wait 1 Frame
If Player is Facing Up, Show Picture 1 "Torch Up"
Else if Player is Facing Down, Show Picture 1 "Torch Down"

etc etc,

End

The Wait 1 Frame is important because otherwise your game will just freeze from constantly showing picture.

Another feature you may be interested in is using Fog to create all the shadows and lighting effects. There once was a tutorial on this sight about sunbeams that may help, but the idea is like this;

You create a black picture the same dimensions as the map in question (By default they are 20 by 15, with each grid being 32 pixels, therefore 640 x 480). Take a screenshot of the map, and using Photoshop make the black picture translucent. From there you just cut and erase sections of the map where you would have lights or shadows. Delete the screenshot of your map so you are left with a black picture and finally, change the map fog graphic to this saved picture. Set the Fog Zoom to 100% (it defaults at 200) and there you have it.

I may not have explained it very well, there are topics around here on the method I described above.