HOW TO MAKE THE MASK BITMAP =========================== Every ltg. has two bitmaps: the Game bitmap, and the Mask bitmap. The Mask bitmap enables certain game objects to be "transparent" or, in other words, you can see the background around these objects even if the object is pushed upon ice or a tankmover. For the mask to work correctly, the background on the Game bitmap must be Blacked out. the Object in the Mask bitmap must be blacked out. The Game Objects that are masked are: 1.The LaserTank 2.The Movable Mirrors 3.The Anti-Tanks 4.The Dead Anti-Tanks 5.The Tunnels 6.The Red Crystal Block 7.The Movable Block In order that a Game bitmap matches a Mask bitmap exactly, you might like to follow the following procedure: First make your Game Bitmap. If there is to be black outlines showing on any masked objects, either put these outlines in a dark color not used anywhere in the Game Bitmap or make the background a bright color that's not used anywhere else in the Game bitmap. This is only temporary, in order to make the making of the Mask bitmap easier. Also, use this temporary color in the part of the tunnel that will show the tunnel's identifying color.( As the Red Crystal Block does not move on the game board, it can have the ground as background, if the background shows behind it.) SAVE the Game bitmap, but don't close it. This is VERY IMPORTANT. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAKING THE MASK BITMAP ====================== With the saved Game Bitmap still open, open another paint window, and outline a white tile 32x32. Go back to the Game Bitmap and paste. It should fall into the Ground tile at the upper left corner. Paste again, and drag to fit exaxctly the water tile beneath the ground tile. Keep pasting the white 32x32 tile until only the masked objects and THE RED CRYSTAL BLOCK remain. It's the one in the lower left corner. If you used a color other than black in the backgrounds of the masked objects, drop white into that color now, leaving only what you want to be seen in the finished ltg. Now, black out the objects. The tunnel's mask works in reverse, leave white where the default color of the tunnel will show through, and black out the rest. For the red Crystal Block at the lower left corner, outline a tile 32x32 in black and paste over this object. Save this bitmap in a different name as the Game Bitmap. When you "Save as", you should get a little window below the name field with a side arrow, this will be at default 24-bit or 256 colors, but you want to save the Mask Bitmap at the Monochrome setting to save file size. Now reopen the Game Bitmap and either black out the backgrounds on the masked objects, or put black in the outlines of the masked objects, if this was the way you went. Also, black out the part of the tunnel that will show the tunnel's identifying color. Save, load on to the LTG Editor and test in a game level that shows all the game elements, or in several different levels. Make changes and fix errors as necessary.