Smooth Picture Movement + Earthquake Effect

[KJ21]

  Smooth Picture Movement + Earthquake Effect

by KJ21 / Justin

---

Introduction:

Do you want to add smooth animations and effects to pictures in your RPG Maker XP project? 
Well... This script allows you to move, zoom, adjust opacity, and apply earthquake effects to pictures, all with gradual and natural animations. Whether you're creating dynamic cutscenes, UI enhancements, or visual storytelling moments, this script provides the tools to make your pictures more engaging.

No worries—you can still use the default picture movement commands even with this script installed. This script simply adds new functionality without overriding the existing features. 


Features:

• Smooth movement of pictures
  
• Zoom in/out with adjustable levels
  
• Opacity adjustment for fading effects
  
• Earthquake effect with customizable strength, speed and duration
  

Known Issues:

• It is maybe not recommended to use smooth movement while the shake effect is active during slow-motion scenes. Movements may not align properly under these conditions.
  

Screenshots:




Script:

Code:

#==============================================================================
# ** Smooth Picture Movement + Earthquake Effect
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Author: KJ21 / Justin (K-J Productions INC.)
# Version: 2.5
# Date: March 25, 2025
#==============================================================================
# Description:
# This script enables smooth movement, zoom, and opacity transitions for
# pictures, as well as an earthquake effect with smooth fading.
#
# Commands:
# smooth_pic(id, x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration)
#   - id: Picture ID (1-50)
#   - x, y: Target position
#   - zoom_x, zoom_y: Target zoom (100 = 100%, etc.)
#   - opacity: Target opacity (0-255)
#   - duration: Duration in frames (60 frames = 1 second)
#
# start_shake_pic(id, power, speed)
# stop_shake_pic(id, duration)
#   - id: Picture ID (1-50)
#   - power: Strength of the shake effect (recommended: 5-7)
#   - speed: Speed of the shake effect (recommended: 30-100)
#   - duration: Duration of fade-out in frames (default: 60)
#==============================================================================

class Game_Screen
  def smooth_pic(id, x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration)
    picture = @pictures[id]
    picture.smooth_move_zoom_and_opacity(x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration) if picture
  end

  def start_picture_shake(id, power, speed)
    picture = @pictures[id]
    picture.start_shake(power, speed) if picture
  end

  def stop_picture_shake(id, duration = 60)
    picture = @pictures[id]
    picture.stop_shake(duration) if picture
  end
end

class Game_Picture
  attr_accessor :target_x, :target_y, :target_zoom_x, :target_zoom_y, :target_opacity, :movement_duration, :movement_time
  attr_accessor :start_x, :start_y, :start_zoom_x, :start_zoom_y, :start_opacity
  attr_accessor :base_x, :base_y
  attr_accessor :shake_stop_base_x, :shake_stop_base_y
  attr_accessor :shake_power, :shake_speed, :shake_active

  alias smooth_pic_original_initialize initialize
  def initialize(number)
    smooth_pic_original_initialize(number)
    @target_x = @x
    @target_y = @y
    @target_zoom_x = @zoom_x
    @target_zoom_y = @zoom_y
    @target_opacity = @opacity
    @movement_duration = 0
    @movement_time = 0
    @start_x = @x
    @start_y = @y
    @start_zoom_x = @zoom_x
    @start_zoom_y = @zoom_y
    @start_opacity = @opacity
    @base_x = @x
    @base_y = @y
    @shake_stop_base_x = @x
    @shake_stop_base_y = @y
    @shake_power = 0
    @shake_speed = 0
    @shake_active = false
    @shake_time = 0
    @original_x = @x
    @original_y = @y
    @shake_fade_duration = 0
    @shake_fade_time = 0
  end

  def smooth_move_zoom_and_opacity(new_x, new_y, new_zoom_x, new_zoom_y, new_opacity, duration)
    @start_x = @x
    @start_y = @y
    @start_zoom_x = @zoom_x
    @start_zoom_y = @zoom_y
    @start_opacity = @opacity

    @target_x = new_x
    @target_y = new_y
    @target_zoom_x = new_zoom_x
    @target_zoom_y = new_zoom_y
    @target_opacity = new_opacity

    @movement_duration = duration
    @movement_time = 0
  end

  def update_smooth_movement_zoom_and_opacity
    if @movement_duration > 0
      @movement_time += 1
      rate = @movement_time.to_f / @movement_duration
      pi_rate = Math.sin(rate * Math::PI / 2)

      new_x = @start_x + (@target_x - @start_x) * pi_rate
      new_y = @start_y + (@target_y - @start_y) * pi_rate
      @zoom_x = @start_zoom_x + (@target_zoom_x - @start_zoom_x) * pi_rate
      @zoom_y = @start_zoom_y + (@target_zoom_y - @start_zoom_y) * pi_rate
      @opacity = @start_opacity + (@target_opacity - @start_opacity) * pi_rate

      @base_x = new_x
      @base_y = new_y

      if @movement_time >= @movement_duration
        @x = @target_x
        @y = @target_y
        @zoom_x = @target_zoom_x
        @zoom_y = @target_zoom_y
        @opacity = @target_opacity
        @movement_duration = 0
        @start_x = @x
        @start_y = @y
        @start_zoom_x = @zoom_x
        @start_zoom_y = @zoom_y
        @start_opacity = @opacity
        @base_x = @x
        @base_y = @y
        @original_x = @x
        @original_y = @y
      else
        @x = @base_x
        @y = @base_y
      end
    end
  end

  def start_shake(power, speed)
    @shake_power = power
    @shake_speed = speed
    @shake_active = true
    @shake_time = 0
    @shake_fade_duration = 0
    @shake_fade_time = 0
  end

  def stop_shake(duration = 60)
    @shake_stop_base_x = @base_x
    @shake_stop_base_y = @base_y
    @shake_fade_duration = duration
    @shake_fade_time = 0
  end

  alias smooth_pic_original_update update
  def update
    smooth_pic_original_update
    update_smooth_movement_zoom_and_opacity
    update_shake
  end

  def update_shake
    if @shake_active
      @shake_time += 1
      current_power = @shake_power

      if @shake_fade_duration > 0
        @shake_fade_time += 1
        fade_rate = 1 - (@shake_fade_time.to_f / @shake_fade_duration)
        current_power *= fade_rate

        if @shake_fade_time >= @shake_fade_duration
          @shake_active = false
          if @movement_duration > 0
            @x = @shake_stop_base_x
            @y = @shake_stop_base_y
          else
            @x = @original_x
            @y = @original_y
          end
          return
        end
      end

      shake_x = current_power * Math.sin(@shake_time * @shake_speed * Math::PI / 180)
      shake_y = current_power * Math.cos(@shake_time * @shake_speed * Math::PI / 180)

      if @movement_duration > 0
        @x = @base_x + shake_x
        @y = @base_y + shake_y
      else
        @x = @original_x + shake_x
        @y = @original_y + shake_y
      end
    end
  end
end

def smooth_pic(id, x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration)
  $game_screen.smooth_pic(id, x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration)
end

def start_shake_pic(id, power, speed)
  $game_screen.start_picture_shake(id, power, speed)
end

def stop_shake_pic(id, duration = 60)
  $game_screen.stop_picture_shake(id, duration)
end

Instructions:

First, you need to create a picture in the event command called "Show Picture."
How you want to set it up is entirely up to you.

Next, use the following script calls in your events:

Code:

For Movement:
smooth_pic(id, x, y, zoom_x, zoom_y, opacity, duration)


For Earthquake Effect:
start_shake_pic(id, power, speed)
stop_shake_pic(id, duration)

Parameters Explained:

• id: Picture ID (1–50).
  
• x, y: Target position on the screen.
  
• zoom_x, zoom_y: Zoom level as a percentage (e.g., 100 = 100%, 200 = 200%).
  
• opacity: Transparency level (0 = invisible, 255 = fully visible).
  
• duration: Animation time in frames (60 frames = 1 second).
  
• power: Strength of the shake effect (recommended range: 5–7).
  
• speed: Speed of the shake effect (recommended range: 30–100).
  

Examples:

Move picture 1 to (100, 200), zoom to 150%, set opacity to 50%, and animate over 1 second:

Code:

smooth_pic(1, 100, 200, 150, 150, 128, 60)

Apply a shake effect to picture 1 with strength 5 and speed 30:

Code:

start_shake_pic(1, 5, 30)

Stop the shake effect for picture 1 and use duration like 20 Frames:

Code:

stop_shake_pic(1, 20)

Q&A:

     Q: Are you adding more features to this script?
     A: If I have ideas for adding features to this script, then yeah, maybe in the next version.


Compatibility:

• Compatibility with default picture commands means you can also use the default function normally.
  

Terms & Conditions:

Free to use in any RPG Maker XP project (commercial or non-commercial).
Just don’t forget to credit me – I’d really appreciate it!