Layout Transparency & Layering

[system01]

Allright, Im trying to salvage the 'Winter' theme, using the screen that I upped in mrclean's thread.  Im having a hell of a time with layering.  Heres what Im trying to do:

From the bottom to top (z-order):
- Basic background (solid, regular JPG)
- Gamelist, snap, marquee (your usual files)
- Some icicle & snow overhang, obscuring the tops of items listed above (a giant transparent image that fits the entire window)
- falling snow over everything (another txparent image using the scrolling feature)

It seems I can get one txparent object to play nicely, but when I start piling up both txparencies, it just seems to "think" (read: hang) on mala startup.

What I guess Im asking is is whats the limiting factor here?  File size?  I understand its loading several largish images at once, and then calculating txparency.  Is is file type?  Ive been messing with PNG, GIF, BMP, (on top of a JPG back) all with the tx button on and off.  Or is it just that Im laying to much transparent stuff and its too much to crunch?  Or am I mixing too many formats into one app?

I read through the Wiki, but it'd be nice is there was a "use PNG for animations, use BMP for static txparencies" type of thing.  Ive been experimenting for about 10 hours with this and keep getting stuck.

 

Thx for any help
system

[system01]

No love, eh?

Well, I guess Ill post what I got for future generations.

After messing with this for far too long, and then playing with it again for the Christmas theme, and then again for WIP layouts, this is what Ive found works best.  For me, at least:

Use JPGs for the background image.  Im assuming PNGs will work equally well.  Using PNGs for the transparent or overlay layers will give you the crispest edges.  JPGs, BMPs, & what else all give you a pretty fuzzy black "halo" around the non-transparent pieces.

I use a somewhat high-res for the images, usually 300 dpi.  And make your transparent color a similar color to what your laying on top of.  ie. If youre putting something over an ocean, use a light-blue solid color.  Just keep it "off" enough to not bleed through surrounding colors.  That way, if you do get a small fuzzy edge on your transparency, itll mostly blend in.

As far as loading times... still unresolved.

[loadman]

May be able to make a better solution in future....  Hang in there