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. Additionally, it now includes the flash_pic feature, which lets you create picture flash effects with customizable colors, transparency, and duration. 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
  
• Flash effect with any color, adjustable alpha transparency, and customizable duration (New Version)
  

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: 2.6
# Date: April 6, 2025
#==============================================================================
# Description:
# This script enables smooth movement, zoom, and opacity transitions for
# pictures, as well as an earthquake effect with smooth fading and
# a flash effect with customizable color and duration.
#
# 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)
#
# flash_pic(id, red, green, blue, alpha, duration)
#   - id: Picture ID (1-50)
#   - red, green, blue: Color values (0-255)
#   - alpha: Flash color transparency (0-255)
#   - duration: Duration of fade-out in frames (60 frames = 1 second)
#==============================================================================

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
 
  def flash_picture(id, red, green, blue, alpha, duration)
    picture = @pictures[id]
    picture.start_flash(red, green, blue, alpha, 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
  attr_accessor :flash_color, :flash_duration, :flash_time, :original_flash_color, :flash_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
    @flash_color = [0, 0, 0, 0]
    @original_flash_color = [0, 0, 0, 0]
    @flash_duration = 0
    @flash_time = 0
    @flash_active = false
  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
 
  def start_flash(red, green, blue, alpha, duration)
    @original_flash_color = [red, green, blue, alpha]
    @flash_color = [red, green, blue, alpha]
    @flash_duration = duration
    @flash_time = 0
    @flash_active = true
  end
 
  def update_flash
    if @flash_active
      @flash_time += 1
     
      if @flash_duration > 0
        progress = @flash_time.to_f / @flash_duration
       
        fade_factor = 1.0 - progress
       
        @flash_color[0] = (@original_flash_color[0] * fade_factor).to_i
        @flash_color[1] = (@original_flash_color[1] * fade_factor).to_i
        @flash_color[2] = (@original_flash_color[2] * fade_factor).to_i
        @flash_color[3] = (@original_flash_color[3] * fade_factor).to_i
      end
     
      if @flash_time >= @flash_duration
        @flash_color = [0, 0, 0, 0]
        @flash_active = false
      end
    end
  end

  alias smooth_pic_original_update update
  def update
    smooth_pic_original_update
    update_smooth_movement_zoom_and_opacity
    update_shake
    update_flash
  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

class Sprite_Picture < Sprite
  alias smooth_pic_flash_update update
  def update
    smooth_pic_flash_update
   
    if @picture
      if @picture_flash_tone.nil?
        @picture_flash_tone = Tone.new(0, 0, 0, 0)
      end
     
      if @picture.flash_active
        r, g, b, a = @picture.flash_color
        @picture_flash_tone.set(r, g, b, a)
      else
        @picture_flash_tone.set(0, 0, 0, 0)
      end
     
      self.tone = @picture_flash_tone
    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

def flash_pic(id, red, green, blue, alpha, duration)
  $game_screen.flash_picture(id, red, green, blue, alpha, 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)

For Flash Effect:
flash_pic(id, red, green, blue, alpha, 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).
  
• red, green, blue: Color values (0–255) for the flash effect.
  
• alpha: Flash color transparency (0–255).
  

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)

Start the flash effect for picture 1 and set in like 255, 255, 255 and 255 in alpha and 20 Frames:

Code:

flash_pic(1, 255, 255, 255, 255, 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!

[KJ21]

New Update!
Version 2.6

---

A new version has been released and it includes a new feature called: flash_pic.
You can now use the Picture Flash Effect in pictures. You can use any color you want, set the level of transparency, and adjust how long the flash effect should last.

Warning: It’s possible that your current save file may no longer work, in which case you’ll probably need to start a new game.

[kyonides]

I think I'm about to burst your fear bubble now.

The game devs are not supposed to expect their saves to fail to load after installing your script UNLESS you forced it to save new values in any of the default $globals_variables. I mean, they're supposed to be the kind of values that need them to be preset to a value other than nil or false.

For temporary values, they should be feel free to disregard that warning for those values are ALWAYS expected to be erased or nil'ed at some point. Since you're just altering the way the usual event pictures behave, and they're supposed to be temporary from the very beginning, you'd have no specific reason to suspect something should go wrong because of that.

 Or is there a reason why you'd save some new variables there?

[KJ21]

Hey kyonides, sorry about that!  Maybe I can fix it later, or maybe you have some tips on the best way to approach it? Maybe I can also update the old version to the new one ^^
(But it's not a big deal, I might figure out the best way to fix it myself.)



Edit: So, I used the old script from version 2.5, saved it, and then immediately used version 2.6 and loaded the save file, and no errors occurred. Therefore, it looks like I don't necessarily have to do the script bug-fixing.