JavaScript Pixel Art:
Using Canvas Without a Library
Matt Wilber
@greenzeta
[IN DEVELOPMENT]
Canvas Portfolio
Peanut Butter Art
Hormel 2015
Smashion
VFiles 2016
Theraflu Thermoscanner
GSK 2017
English Oak Experience
JoMalone 2018
ExoBits NFT
GreenZeta 2021
ChartIQ
Cosaic 2019+
What Is Canvas?
- Canvas is an HTML element with an accompanying JavaScript API.
- Provides a means to programmatically generate static images within a web page.
- Images can be expanded into animation using javascript timing functions or requestAnimationFrame.
The Canvas API
Rectangle
rect()
fillRect()
strokeRect()
clearRect()
Text
fillText()
strokeText()
measureText()
Image
drawImage()
Path
fill()
stroke()
beginPath()
moveTo()
closePath()
lineTo()
clip()
quadraticCurveTo()
bezierCurveTo()
arc()
arcTo()
isPointInPath()
Other
save()
restore()
createEvent()
getContext()
toDataURL()
Pixel Control
createImageData()
getImageData()
putImageData()
Transformation
scale()
rotate()
translate()
transform()
setTransform()
Most developers use canvas via a library.
- Generating artwork through code can be cumbersome. There are many canvas libraries available that aim to simplify the process.
- Some provide a layer of abstraction over the canvas, offering additional features like object and layer control (EaselJS, p5.js).
- Others offer functionality specific to a type of project like game development (Phaser).
Sometimes, a library is overkill.
- Simple projects can be accomplished with the same amount of code.
- It’s one more dependency to worry about.
- Adds extraneous functionality that you may not need.
- Increases the file size of your project.
Use Cases for Vanilla Canvas
-
Static Image
Illustrator can export as canvas calls.
-
Procedural Art
Building custom functionality unique to your project.
-
Image Manipulation
Edit pixel colors in real-time.
- Minimal Code
Banner Ad or NFT, where file size costs money.
Let's Make Some Pixel Art!
Project Setup
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step1
Much of the project is built using the techniques discussed in the Zeta Bros. demo from Part 1. This demo focuses on the use of PlugIns and Tile Maps in building a game.
Start with the game scene and player character set up with a tracking camera, animations and input controls.
Global Plugins
import { GzRpgCharacterPlugin } from './plugins/GzRpgCharacter';
const gameConfig = {
...
plugins: {
global: [
{ key: 'GzRpgCharacterPlugin', plugin: GzRpgCharacterPlugin, start: true }
]
},
...
};src/main.js
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step1
this.player = this.add.rpgcharacter({
x: 400,
y: 300,
name: 'zeta',
image: 'zeta',
speed: 225
});src/scenes/GameScene.js
Add Tilemap Layers
...
preload() {
this.load.image('tiles', 'assets/tilemaps/Area-51.png');
this.load.tilemapTiledJSON('map', 'assets/tilemaps/area-51.json');;
}
create(settings) {
...
// Load map json from Tiled
const map = this.make.tilemap({ key: 'map' });
// settings.tiledKey is the name of the tileset in Tiled
const tileset = map.addTilesetImage('Area-51', 'tiles');
// layer key is the layer name set in Tiled
const backgroundLayer = map.createStaticLayer('Background', tileset, 0, 0);
const interactiveLayer = map.createStaticLayer('Interactive', tileset, 0, 0);
const overheadLayer = map.createStaticLayer('Overhead', tileset, 0, 0);
// Place the player above the tile layers
this.player.setDepth(10);
// Place the overhead layer above everything else
overheadLayer.setDepth(20);
...
}src/scenes/GameScene.js
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step2
Tile Layer Interaction
...
create(settings) {
...
// Identify the collision property set in the interactive layer in Tiled
interactiveLayer.setCollisionByProperty({ collide: true });
// Set up collision detection between the player and interactive layer
this.physics.add.collider(this.player, interactiveLayer);
...src/scenes/GameScene.js
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step3
Scene PlugIn
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step4
import { GzDialog } from './plugins/GzDialog';
const gameConfig = {
...
plugins: {
...
scene: [
{ key: 'gzDialog', plugin: GzDialog, mapping: 'gzDialog' }
]
},
...
};src/main.js
this.gzDialog.setText('This is a test. Hello World!');src/scenes/GameScene.js
Add Object Layer
export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
...
preload() {
this.load.json('scriptdata', 'assets/data/script.json');
...
}
create(settings) {
...
// Extract objects from the object layer
const objectLayer = map.getObjectLayer('Script');
// Convert object layer objects to Phaser game objects
if(objectLayer && objectLayer.objects){
objectLayer.objects.forEach(
(object) => {
let tmp = this.add.rectangle((object.x+(object.width/2)), (object.y+(object.height/2)), object.width, object.height);
tmp.properties = object.properties.reduce(
(obj, item) => Object.assign(obj, { [item.name]: item.value }), {}
);
this.physics.world.enable(tmp, 1);
this.physics.add.collider(this.player, tmp, this.HitScript, null, this);
}
);
}
...
// Get script data preloaded from script.json
this.script = this.cache.json.get('scriptdata');
}
update(time, delta) {
// Close the dialog on spacebar press
if( this.gzDialog.visible ){
if( this.cursors.space.isDown ){
this.gzDialog.display(false);
}
return false;
}
...
}
HitScript(player, target){
if(target.properties.name && !this.gzDialog.visible){
player.anims.stopOnRepeat();
this.gzDialog.setText(this.script[player.name][target.properties.name]);
}
}
}
src/scenes/GameScene.js
github.com/mwilber/the-legend-of-zeta > Step5
Source Code
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