RPG Crisis Community Forums: Basic Understanding Of Layers - IG Maker - Tutorials/Scripts - RPG Crisis Community Forums

Note:
This tutorial was written using Action Game Maker but should work fine with IG Maker.

In IG Maker your able to use 4 layers when working on your canvas, whats a canvas you ask? A canvas is IG Maker's way of creating maps allowing you to also place tiles, gadgets and items. For those of you who've used RPG Maker before think of it like the Event and Map editors combined.

What Are Layers?
Layers are what allow you to build your canvas, you have 4 different layers that you can work with that combined from the entire canvas. In IGM you can also name each layer on each canvas to suite your needs. For example lets say on the canvas "My House", layer 1 is for the background so we name it "Background" and layer 2 is for the the awesome waterfall you happen to have in your room, so we name it "Awesome Waterfall". When we switch to a different canvas like "Pancake House" the layers all have the default name. This allows you to keep track of what layers your using.

Using Layers
Layers in IG Maker act differently then how they did in RPG Maker XP. While all 4 layers work together to form the overall canvas their all independent from one another, confused? Let me explain. When creating your canvas and placing your character on it, the character can only interact with other tiles, gadgets and items on the same layer. If I placed my main character and one enemy on layer 3 and one enemy one layer 4 I would only be able to interact with the enemy on layer 3, the enemy on layer 4 would appear behind me.

Main character on layer 3, big enemy on layer 4


Now since our main character is on layer 3 anything on a lower layer, either layer 1 or 2 like the railing would appear in front of him.


While they may seem confusing just remember this. Any layers above your interaction layer (Read below for information on interaction layer) will appear behind the interaction layer. Any layers below your interaction layer will appear in front of the interaction layer.

Interaction Layer
The interaction layer is the layer you want to put any tiles, gadgets and items you want your character to interact. Its also the same level the main character is on as well. Let me make this clear, the interaction layer is the only layer your character can interact with. Putting a gadget, like an enemy on a different layer will not work. The enemy will most likely fall straight down and off the screen, same thing with items. This layer is also the layer you want to put the floor tiles on because if you don't your character will fall straight down off the screen as well.

Everything looks all fine and dandy right?


OH MY GOD THE BRIDGE IS OUT!


While my character and the floor tiles were on layer 3, I changed the bridge tiles to layer 2 causing my character to fall down into the pit of doom.

Remember this, all tiles (floors, bridges, platforms..etc), gadgets and items as well as the main character must be on the same layer. If not your character will either be in front of or behind the tile, unable to attack an enemy or unable to get the item. It would be a fun way to tease the player though. smile.gif

Layer Toolbar
The layer tool is a pretty nifty thing, it allows you to easily swap between layers and turn off certain layers and by turn off I mean hide them so you can see them. You can also zoom in/out, turn grid lines on/off and turn snap on/off. Don't worry, I'll be explaining everything below.



Section 1:
This section allows you to switch freely between layers, all you do is click the layer you want to switch too. It also shows any gadgets on that layer.
Section 2:
This section allows you to show/hide any layer minus the one your working on, it would be hard to work on your canvas if you can't see what your doing. This is also a great way to just focus on what your doing instead of the entire canvas.
Section 3:
Magnifying Glass With Arrow: Allows you to zoom in 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, 400% and 800%.
Magnifying Glass With An H: Allows you to zoom in.
Magnifying Glass With An L: Allows you to zoom out.
Magnet: Turns snap on/off. Snap uses the grid lines to evenly place objects.
Square Gird: Turns grid display on/off.

Additional Info
You can quickly switch between gadgets/items on your canvas by click the up arrow located in the lower right-hand corner. It will bring up a window with all the gadgets/items on that canvas.

I'm always looking for feedback and tips for improving this. Any questions just ask!