How to create smooth levels using Inkscape

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Revision as of 01:31, 9 September 2006 by The only dude (talk | contribs) (Level objects properties)
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Caution: this software is still in early development stage. Please report bugs on the irc


Required softwares

  • Inkscape (>= 0.44)
  • Python (>= 2.4)
  • Svg2lvl converter and inkscape extension (available in xmoto cvs)
$ cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@xmoto.cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/xmoto co -P xmoto/tools/svg2lvl/

Pre-requesites

You have to install the svg2lvl inkscape extension.

GNU/Linux

$ cd the_rep_where_you_ve_done_the_cvs_checkout
$ cd xmoto/tools/svg2lvl/
$ mkdir -p ~/.inkscape/extensions/
$ cp *.inx *.py ~/.inkscape/extensions/
$ ln -s /usr/share/inkscape/extensions/bezmisc.py ~./inkscape/extensions/bezmisc.py
$ ln -s /usr/share/inkscape/extensions/inkex.py ~/.inkscape/extensions/inkex.py

Then, you can launch inkscape.

Windows

Go to the share/extensions/ directory inside your inkscape installation. Copy the .py and .inx files inside that directory.

Then, launch inkscape.

Draw the level

Open Inkscape.

Inkscape-empty.png


You're ready to draw your level using Inskcape. See Inskcape howto's from the help menu.

Inskcape-drawn.png

Transform all objects into paths

Inskcape deals with its own shapes like stars, circles, ... so you have to convert them to path of vertex.

Disclaimer: don't put objects properties before transforming them to paths !
Else properties will be lost... Inkscape remove them.

First, select the object, Inskcape-obj.png


Then, Shift+Ctrl+C (or use the menu)

Inskcape-obj2path.png


And you got a path of vertex

Inskcape-path.png

Repeat this process for every inskcape shape (rectangle, circle, star, ...)

Level objects properties

Once your level is drawn, you have to put entities, blocks and sprites properties.

There is two ways of doing it. Manually or using inkscape effects.

Using inkscape Effects

The easiest way to change objects properties.

Select the objets whose you want to change their properties. Then go to the Effect menu and choose the X-moto sub-menu. From there you got other sub-menus to transform your objects into the desired type (Zones, Blocks and Entities).

It doesn't change graphically the objects (feel free to submit a patch), it updates the object label (see next section for a better description.


For example, we want to change the circle into a dynamic block using the texture Texture1 (it's a fake one, it doesn't exists). (Note that you can select more than one object at a time). First, we select the right entry in the X-moto submenu.

Effect-inkscape.png

Then we put the texture name

Effect-param.png

And here is the result. To see it, right click on an object then select object properties.

Effect-result.png

Edit Manually

The other way to change objects properties.

Select an object, right click on it, then select 'object properties'.

Inskcape-properties.png


Properties are put inside the 'label' box. They are seperate with a '|'. If no properties are set, then the object is put as a block with default texture. You can also fill the 'id' box, it's useful if you write a lua script for the level, because you got the blocks, zones and entities names to use in your script.

WARNING : properties are case sensitive ! Write them with the exact case as show below.

Block properties

  • background
  • dynamic
  • usetexture=texture_name
  • edgeTexture=edge_texture_name

Examples

A background block (it's a block in the background and the player can't interact with it) using the Dark Dirt texture:

background|usetexture=DarkDirt

A dynamic block using the default texture:

dynamic

A block using the default texture:

(you have nothing to put in, let it blank (or let what inkscape puts in it))

A block using the Dark Dirt texture:

usetexture=DarkDirt

A dynamic block with grass on it and the Bricks texture

usetexture=Bricks|dynamic|edgeTexture=Grass


Entity properties

  • typeid=[PlayerStart|EndOfLevel|Strawberry|Wrecker|ParticleSource|Sprite]
  • size=float_number (the entity colision radius)
  • param_name=param_value available params name are (there's more of them):
    • z (for Sprite)
    • name (for Sprite)
    • style (for every entity)
    • type (for ParticleSource)

For example

A particle source throwing smoke:

typeid=ParticleSource|type=Smoke

A strawberry:

typeid=Strawberry

A tree sprite put under foreground blocks

typeid=Sprite|name=Tree1|z=-1

Player start:

typeid=PlayerStart

End of level:

typeid=EndOfLevel

Zone properties

  • typeid=Zone
The only possible value for a zone
typeid=Zone

Generate level file

You no longer have to add many vertex, the script handle that itself !

launch the converter

In order to save your level in the .lvl file format, use the menu File -> Save as... (or use Shift-Ctrl-S) and choose the X-Moto Level file extension, put the level file name then press Save.

Save-as.png

A new window pops, you have to put:

  • level width : the level width in xmoto unit. play with it until you find the right value for your level
  • smoothitude : the higher the value, the smoothest the level. But don't add to much vertex, because xmoto doesn't scale very well with big levels made with thousands of vertex... and became quite slow...
  • lua script  : the absolute path to your lua script (leave blank if your level doesn't have a lua script)
  • level id  : the level id (each level got a unique one)
  • level name: the name of the level in the level list
  • author: your name/pseudo
  • description: short description of the level
  • sky: the sky you want to use with your level

Then your level file will be save in the place you choose in the Save as... window.

Disclaimer: on GNU/Linux, it seems that saving the level directly inside ~/.xmoto/Levels/ doesn't work...
Disclaimer2: There's a bug in Inkscape. The very first time you save a level in lvl, put something into the lua script box (default: None). Else Inkscape will abort...

Script-params.png

Then, put your lvl generated file into your xmoto Levels directory, and you can play it:

level in the editor

Our level in X-Moto

The script add a log file svg2lvl.log into your home directory.

Files used in this howto