Bitmap Pixel Dissolve
07 Apr 2007
Click to run demo
An image fade/dissolve where the individual pixels move off the bitmap and disappear. Written a couple months ago to learn how to get around in AS3.
In the supplied AS3 class, the direction of the movement of pixels is 'hard coded' to go from right to left. (Here's the full project, as well.) To move the pixels in the opposite direction or up and down, the bitmap is rotated 90, 180, or 270 degrees and the wrapper sprite is rotated equally in the opposite direction - which is possible to interpret as a kludge.
To-do: Change the method used to select pixels that are to be animated. The way it's done now is inefficient. If you look at the code, you'll see what I mean.
Some other possible to-do's: Dissolve images in an arbitrary direction; allow pixels to trail beyond the current boundaries of the bitmap; allow for the changing of parameter variables' values while the effect is in progress; support for transparency.
Eating away individual pixels of a bitmap similar to what's done here could be the basis for some fun retro gameplay mechanics, à la Lemmings or Worms.