How to draw a trail? sf::VertexArray?

[smguyk]

Say I have an object and whenever it moves I want a continuous trail to appear behind it. The trail should never disappear but rather be persistent.

How would I draw such a trail? I thought about using sf::VertexArray and use lines and always append points or lines based on the distance moved...

Then I read the documentation and it says points and lines can only be 1 pixel thick, but I need the trail thickness to be bigger than 1 pixel (customizable).

What sf::PrimitiveType should I use, and is a vertex array even the right choice to solve this problem?

I also thought about using a vector and add rectangles but that doesn't seem as good, plus the trail generation should be smooth.

Edit:

sf::VertexArray vertices;
vertices.setPrimitiveType(sf::PrimitiveType::LinesStrip);
// dynamically append...
vertices.append(sf::Vertex(sf::Vector2f(10.0f, 10.0f)));
vertices.append(sf::Vertex(sf::Vector2f(20.0f, 20.0f)));
vertices.append(sf::Vertex(sf::Vector2f(30.0f, 20.0f)));
vertices.append(sf::Vertex(sf::Vector2f(40.0f, 30.0f)));
// ...
window->draw(vertices);

seems to be pretty good, except the line's thickness is only 1 pixel

[eXpl0it3r]

You could use a TrianglesStrip primitive and calculate the calculate the positions based on a line with a thickness.



The green points are where your object actually was. Then you add or subtract for example 2 pixels and that's your TrianglesStrip positions (red points) and since it's a TrianglesStrip the trail will be continues.
All you need to make sure, is that the points are added in the correct order. I've marked the two triangles with a slightly different color.

[smguyk]

Thanks, that's exactly what I'm looking for.

I'll try to implement it now