4 replies to this topic

[CONRAM29]

Hello, while putting the final touches on the Surfer table (smoothing out and adding points to the alpha ramps around the plastics), I stumbled upon some heavy game stutter. I began to back track and started removing points from the alpha ramps and the stutter completely disappeared. Now I may have went with overkill on the points (I trying to make it look good), but thought I would share this in case someone runs into the same.

 

With Stutter

 

 

Without Stutter ?

 

 

something to think on.

 

Thank You

CONRAM29

Edited by CONRAM29, 10 February 2013 - 05:06 AM.

[Bob5453]

That is why you see the one ramp method that only uses one ramp with one ping image of all the plastics on it. Then there are only 2 control points for all plastics on the table combined. The alpha ramp slider in the Video options of VP works by removing control points, so when someone uses a lot of them, it removes some.

[rob046]

Yeah this is nothing new to some of us, but its good you are finding this sort of stuff out on your own, & it definitely doesn't hurt to document it here so more people can see this.  I've seen some tables released with liberal use of alpha's everywhere & it just ends up an unoptimized mess that I try to fix.

 

Most tables do just use the method bob mentioned to cover all clear plastics that run parallel to the PF.  Saves on performance & its also the easiest method, I think.  But when you get to clear ramps (actual ramps), there is of course no avoiding a number of control points.

HOWEVER, dig on this!  It almost doesn't much matter how many points you use in the editor to make a ramp look real smooth & rounded, because actually VP's alpha slider can change all this anyways once you launch a table.  If your slider is maxed, then ramps are going to look extra smooth & rounded.  If its all the way to the left, then the opposite happens.

I guess by adding more points in the editor, you could improve how a alpha ramp looks when the slider is toward the left, but at the same time you are also putting more stress on the engine.  I say make a lamp look decent in the editor, but just don't use control points liberally.  Then rely on your alpha slider setting to take over from there.

[ICPjuggla]

I keep my alpha slider more to the left on my laptop and cab and notice the problems on the ramps with a lot of releases. It seems at least for me if I move it more to the right I get a whole lot more stutter on tables. So I guess just adding enough control points is the key here to try and make it look good on both accounts. What would be a happy medium then adding control point? What would look good on one set up wouldn't look good on another. Also, I might mention I've never heard of this control point thing being an issue. Maybe we should start a thread with stuff like this in it for table builders etc.

Edited by ICPjuggla, 10 February 2013 - 08:27 PM.

[CONRAM29]

I tried the one big ramp, but video card limitations on my builder pc stopped that. Then I tried on my arcade cab, that is when I  understood I need to sharpen my photoshop skills much more. Maybe I will get to that level one day. 

 

Thank You

CONRAM29