AS3 BitmapData CopyPixels with alpha - actionscript-3

I am trying to copy the pixels of a bitmap into BitmapData at a transparency of lets say .5 but i can't seem to find any reference to this anywhere on google or here!
i have my standard copy pixel code
_bitmapData.copyPixels(_bitmaps.vault[BitmapNames.BITMAPNAME], SCREENRECT, _drawPoint, null, null, true);
I can see that the first null value i pass is a BitmapData labelled alphaBitmapData:BitmapData so i'm assuming it has something to do with that, but i cant work it out!
Any help would be appreciated, cheers!

Following this link you will find some explanation about the variables.
In short, when you set the last parameter (mergeAlpha:Boolean) to true, the function will take the 4th parameter (alphaBitmap:BitmapData) into account when copying the pixels, effectively using the alpha of the alphaBitmap to merge the copied pixels. So you should pass the same bitmap you use for the first parameter to the 4th parameter, set the 5th parameter (alphaPoint:Point) accordingly and set the last parameter to true.

I have accepted Will Kru's answer as the answer (though only theory based) below is the code used to put the method behind the madness!!
var alphaBitmap:BitmapData = new BitmapData(width, height, true, toARGB(0x000000, (.5 * 255)));
_bitmapData.copyPixels(_bitmaps.vault[BitmapNames.BITMAP], _drawRect, _drawPoint, alphaBitmap, null, true);
toARGB function found here alpha + RGB -> ARGB?

Related

libgdx/box2d lights: change blur of lights

I was wondering whether it is possible to change the rate at which a lights intensity decareases over distance.
something like this:
So I finally figuered it out.
You have to write a custom shader that is essetially the same as the default one, but change the line that takes care of the interpolation:
"v_color = s*quad_colors;\n"
for example:
"v_color = s*2*quad_colors;\n"
halves the dropoff rate, while:
"v_color = (s*0)+quad_colors;\n"
gets rid of any blur (leaving out the "s" completely out won't work)
I have the "v_color = squad_colors;\n" its in the vertex shader of the light source. See https://github.com/libgdx/box2dlights/blob/master/src/shaders/LightShader.java. However the above didn't work for me, the number you use must be a float. E.g."v_color = (s0.0)+quad_colors;\n"

Best and most performant implementation of dynamic shapes in cesium

I am currently working an application that is using a Cesium Viewer. I need to be able to display a collection of shapes that will be updated dynamically. I am having trouble understanding the best way to do this.
I currently am using Entities and using CallbackProperties to allow for the updating of shapes.
You can through this into a sandcastle to get an idea of how I am doing this. There is a polygon object that is being used as the basis for the cesiumCallback, and it is getting edited by another piece of code. (simulated with the setTimeout)
var viewer = new Cesium.Viewer('cesiumContainer', {});
var polygon = {};
polygon.coordinates = [
{longitude: 0, latitude: 0, altitude: 0},
{longitude: 10, latitude: 10, altitude: 0},
{longitude: 10, latitude: 0, altitude: 0}
];
// converts generic style options to cesium one (aka color -> material)
var polOpts = {};
// function for getting location
polOpts.hierarchy = new Cesium.CallbackProperty(function() {
var hierarchy = [];
for (var i = 0; i < polygon.coordinates.length; i++) {
var coordinate = polygon.coordinates[i];
hierarchy.push(Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(coordinate.longitude, coordinate.latitude, coordinate.altitude));
}
return hierarchy;
}, false);
viewer.entities.add({polygon: polOpts});
setInterval(function(polygon){
polygon.coordinates[0].longitude--;
}.bind(this, polygon), 1000);
The polygon being passed in is a class that generically describes a polygon, so it has an array of coordinates and style options, as well as a render method that calls this method renderPolygon passing in itself.
This method of rendering shapes works for everything I need it to, but it is not very performant. There are two cases for shapes updating, one type of shape will be updated over a long period of time, as a slow rate like once every few seconds. The other is shapes that will will get updated many times, like thousands, in a few seconds, then not change again for a long time, if ever.
I had two ideas for how to fix this.
Idea 1:
Have two methods, a renderDynamicPolygon and a renderStaticPolygon.
The renderDynamicPolygon method would do the above functionality, using the cesiumCallbackProperties. This would be used for shapes that are getting updated many times during the short time they are being updated.
The renderStaticPolygon method would replace the entities properties that are using callbackProperties with constant values, once the updating is done.
This creates a lot of other work to make sure shapes are in the right state, and doesn't help the shapes that are being updated slowly over a long period of time.
Idea 2:
Similarly to how the primitives work, I tried removing the old entity and adding it again with its updated properties each time its need to be updated, but this resulted in flickering, and unlike primitives, i could not find a async property for entities.
I also tried using primitives. It worked great for polylines, I would simply remove the old one and add a new one with the updated properties. I was also using the async = false to ensure there was no flickering. This issue I ran into here was not all shapes can be created using primitives. (Is this true?)
The other thing I tried was using the geometry instance using the geometry and appearance. After going through the tutorial on the cesium website I was able to render a few shapes, and could update the appearance, but found it close to impossible to figure out how to update the shapes correctly, and also have a very hard time getting them to look correct. Shapes need to have the right shape, a fill color and opacity and a stroke color, opacity and weight. I tried to use the polygonOutlineGeometry, but had not luck.
What would be the best way to implement this? Are one of these options headed the right way or is there some other method of doing this I have not uncovered yet?
[Edit] I added an answer of where I have gotten, but still not complete and looking for answers.
I have came up with a pretty good solution to this, but it still has one small issue.
I made too ways of showing entities. I am calling one render and one paint. Render uses the the Cesium.CallbackProperty with the isConstant property true, and paint with the isConstantProperty false.
Then I created a function to change the an entity from render to paint and vice vera. It goes through the entities callback properties an uses the setCallback property to overwrite the property with a the correct function and isConstant value.
Example:
I create a ellipse based on a circle object I have defined.
// isConst is True if it is being "painted" and false if it is being "rendered"
ellipse: lenz.util.extend(this._getStyleOptions(circle), {
semiMinorAxis: new Cesium.CallbackProperty(
this._getRadius.bind(this, circle),
isConst
),
semiMajorAxis: new Cesium.CallbackProperty(
this._getRadius.bind(this, circle),
isConst
),
})
So when the shape is being updated (while the user is drawing a shape) the shape is rendered with the isConstant being false.
Then when the drawing is complete it is converted to the painted version using some code like this:
existingEntity.ellipse.semiMinorAxis.setCallback(
this._getRadius.bind(this, circle),
isConst
);
existingEntity.ellipse.semiMajorAxis.setCallback(
this._getRadius.bind(this, circle, 1),
isConst
);
This works great performance wise. I am able to draw hundreds of shapes without the frame dropping much at all. I have attached a screen shot of the cesium map with 612 entities before and after my changes, the frame rate is in the upper right using the chrome render tool.
Before: Locked up at fps 0.9
Note: I redacted the rest of the ui, witch makes the globe look cut off, sorry
And after the changes: The fps remains at 59.9, almost perfect!
Whenever the entity is 'converted' from using constant to not constant callback properties, it and all other entities of the same type flash off then on again. I cannot find a better way to do this conversion. I feel as thought there must still be some thing I am missing.
You could try using a PositionPropertyArray as the polygon's hierarchy with SampledPositionProperty for any dynamic positions and ConstantPositionProperty for any static positions. I'm not sure if it would perform any better than your solution, but it might be worth testing. Here is an example of how it might work that you can paste into the Cesium Sandcastle:
var viewer = new Cesium.Viewer('cesiumContainer', {});
// required if you want no interpolation of position between times
var noInterpolation = {
type: 'No Interpolation',
getRequiredDataPoints: function (degree) {
return 2;
},
interpolateOrderZero: function (x, xTable, yTable, yStride, result) {
if (!Cesium.defined(result)) {
result = new Array(yStride);
}
for (var i = 0; i < yStride; i++) {
result[i] = yTable[i];
}
return result;
}
};
var start = viewer.clock.currentTime;
// set up the sampled position property
var sampledPositionProperty = new Cesium.SampledPositionProperty();
sampledPositionProperty.forwardExtrapolationType = Cesium.ExtrapolationType.HOLD;
sampledPositionProperty.addSample(start, new Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(0, 0)); // initial position
sampledPositionProperty.setInterpolationOptions({
interpolationAlgorithm: noInterpolation
});
// set up the sampled position property array
var positions = [
sampledPositionProperty,
new Cesium.ConstantPositionProperty(new Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(10, 10)),
new Cesium.ConstantPositionProperty(new Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(10, 0))
];
// add the polygon to Cesium viewer
var polygonEntity = new Cesium.Entity({
polygon: {
hierarchy: new Cesium.PositionPropertyArray(positions)
}
});
viewer.zoomTo(viewer.entities.add(polygonEntity));
// add a sample every second
var counter = 1;
setInterval(function(positionArray) {
var time = new Cesium.JulianDate.addSeconds(start, counter, new Cesium.JulianDate());
var position = new Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-counter, 0);
positionArray[0].addSample(time, position);
counter++;
}.bind(this, positions), 1000);
One nice thing about this is you can set the timeline start/end time to a reasonable range and use it to see your polygon at any time within the sample range so you can see the history of your polygons through time (See here for how to change the timeline start/end time). Additionally, you don't need to use timers to set the positions, the time is built in to the SampledPositionProperty (although you can still add samples asynchronously).
However, this also means that the position depends on the current time in the timeline instead of a real-time array value. And you might need to keep track of a time somewhere if you aren't adding all the samples at once.
I've also never done this using ellipses before, but the semiMinorAxis and semiMajorAxis are properties, so you might still be able to use a SampledProperty.
Of course, this doesn't really matter if there are still performance issues. Hopefully it will improve as you don't need to recreate the array from scratch each callback and, depending on how you're getting the data to update the polygons, you might be able to add multiple samples at once. This is just speculation, but it's something to consider.
EDIT
Cesium can handle quite a bit of samples added to a sampled position, for example in the above code if you add a million samples to the position it takes a few seconds to load them all, but renders the polygon at any time without any performance issues. To test this, instead of adding samples using a timer, just add them all directly to the property.
for (var i = 0; i < 1000000; i++) {
var time = new Cesium.JulianDate.addSeconds(start, i, new Cesium.JulianDate());
var position = new Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-(i % 2), 0);
positions[0].addSample(time, position);
}
However, if you run into memory problems currently there is no way to remove samples from a position property without accessing private variables. A work around would be to periodically create a new array containing new position properties and use the previous position property array's setValue() method to clear previous values or perhaps to use a TimeIntervalCollectionProperty as in this answer and remove time intervals with the removeInterval method.

How to get the real height of a character (fontmetrics/graphics2d)

I am currently in need to get the real height of a character. I am aware of the functions like getDecsent(), getAscent(), ... but they only allow to get values regarding the hole font (in its context). I also tried the way using getStringBounds(), but that is the same story.
Like the title says, I am looking for a way to get the height value of just one char at a time.
For example 'N' is higher then 'n', 'I' just a little bit higher then 'i' and so on
Thanks for your time
Use this
Rectangle2D bounds = font.getStringBounds("put your string here", context);
//font can be set to whatever you want
//my suggestion is that you use the same font for both characters
//context is a object of FontRenderContext
System.out.println(bounds.getHeight());
//Instead of just printing it you could do this a second time and compare the 2 strings

Getting an unexpected trace for getpixel32. Can anybody see why?

When running the following code, "-2" is being traced and I am wrecking my head trying to understand why.
var bmd:BitmapData = new BitmapData(1,1,true,0xFFFFFFFF);
bmd.setPixel32(0,0, 0x32FF6B45);
trace(0x32FF6B45-bmd.getPixel32(0,0));
As far as I can tell, it should trace 0. 0x32FF6B45 is initially assigned to the pixel at coords 0,0. That value should be returned in bmd.getPixel32(0,0) and then, when it's subtracted from 0x32FF6B45, it should result in 0. Why the heck am I getting -2?
EDIT:
I've traced out the values individually and it makes sense that the operation in the trace above results in -2 because tracing out 0x32FF6B45 results in 855599941 and tracing out bmd.getPixel32(0,0) results in 855599943. The question now is why the heck are those values different? Whey doesn't bmd.getPixel32(0,0) also trace out 855599941?
I have the same problem, and I believe it is related to premultiplied alpha, as described here. In my code I was setting a pixel to 0xa08800ff and getting back 0xa08700ff. If you need alphas other than 0xff, then unfortunately it may be necessary to simultaneously store all your pixel values in a separate data structure too.
That is expected.
getPixel
This will return a value: #RRGGBB (rgb / red, green, blue)
getPixel32
This will return a value: #AARRGGBB (argb / alpha, red, green, blue)
Example:
trace('test 0x32FF6B45: '+0x32FF6B45);
var bmd:BitmapData = new BitmapData(1,1,true,0xFFFFFFFF);
trace('setting 0,0 to 0x32FF6B45');
bmd.setPixel32(0,0, 0x32FF6B45);
var color:* = bmd.getPixel32(0,0)
trace('0,0: '+color);
trace(color-bmd.getPixel32(0,0));
Results:
test 0x32FF6B45: 855599941
setting 0,0 to 0x32FF6B45
0,0: 855599943
0
From what I can tell, you're using a color that is out-of-bounds to Flash. I'm not sure of the color range, but I know in previous experiences when taking photoshop elements with many colors, sometimes objects failed to import because the color value was out of bounds.
#Jari is also correct about the transparency.

How to copy Input Text Value into Dynamic Text that is in a MovieClip1 Inside a MovieClip2

Current my code is as such
setcustomlocation.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK,customlocation2);
function customlocation2(e:MouseEvent):void
{
locationinput.text = FlashingWon.Won1.name.text;
}
I'm trying to make it such that it would copy the input text field values into a dynamic text. However, it throws up the error that
TypeError: Error #1009: Cannot access a property or method of a null object reference.
at main/customlocation2()[main::frame1:9]
Which can I only assume that it is not able to communicate with the dynamic text field in the movieclip within another movieclip.
First, you can be 100% sure that it CAN communicate with the dynamic TextField in the MovieClip.
From you description I understand that you wish to copy from input into dynamic. But from your code I see that you take from the dynamic into the input, please check that out:
// This will copy in such a way: input <= wonText
locationinput.text = FlashingWon.Won1.name.text;
// This will copy from input
FlashingWon.Won1.name.text = locationinput.text;
Anyhow, the error that you get has nothing to do with this, it's rather like you already noticed, that one of your TextField is not 'found'. For this I recommend you a best practice: To create instances of the objects you want to use and populate them from the stage through the getChildByName method. This way you will promptly now (specially if you do this on construction or init) if you had any misspelling or miss structure on the childs you want to get.
like so:
var inputText: TextField;
var dynoText: TextField;
In your Constructor or else where at a soon level, give to your vars the proper value:
inputText = getChildByName('locationinput') as TextField;
dynoText = FlashingWon.Won1.getChildByName('name') as TextField;
This way you will soon enough know if one of this 2 textFields were not found under the object you give, and you have only one place to miss spell it. Also you will get code completion on your TextFields.
Finally the copy text part:
dynoText.text = inputText.text;
Hope it helps.
Alright, sorry for the delay, I was out on holidays.
I have opened your example and can see where the problems are:
1) You are trying to reach the FlashingWon when initiating the dynoText on the FIRST frame like so var dynoText = FlashingWon.Won1.getChildByName('name_txt'); BUT the FlashingWon element is ONLY available on the FIFTH frame. Meaning that you cannot refer to it quite yet, unless you add it on the first frame and make in invisible till the fifth frame. (You can make it visible in the goto1 function if you wish after the goToAndStop(5) line)
2) You called the TextField on the Won1 element 'name' which is a restricted sting in AS3, so change it to name_txt or label if you wish and it will work.
Let me know how it worked.