Pre-multiplied Alpha (blend mode + convert on load)

[NightCabbage]

Hi all

My first feature request is something I'm a little surprised isn't already here

I'd love to see pre-multiplied alpha in SFML.

Pre-multiplied alpha makes life a lot easier. Not only can you so alpha and additive blending in one pass, but it also makes objects with transparent backgrounds look better (no ugly black borders, etc.)

For example, XNA uses pre-multiplied alpha by default. Very handy, and after seeing how good it is, I can't really see any reason to NOT use pre-multiplied alpha.

There is an older thread on this subject, but I didn't want to necro it.
http://en.sfml-dev.org/forums/index.php?topic=5026.0

It would be great if not only was this added as a blend mode, but if there was also an option that SFML would automatically convert an image to pre-multiplied alpha when it was loaded (by simply multiplying the colour by the alpha).

Thanks!

[Laurent]

There is an older thread on this subject, but I didn't want to necro it

Why not? This is exactly the same request, so it's more convenient for everyone if all the discussions are gathered in a single thread.

Never mind, I'll add a link to this topic in the corresponding task on the tracker.

[NightCabbage]

Thanks Laurent

Sorry, most forums look down on resurrecting year old threads

Very much looking forward to this feature, but I imagine I can just modify it myself for now without too many problems?

I'd  also like to take the opportunity to thank you for SFML, you've done so much great work and I'm really grateful!

I'm currently swapping over from XNA

I look forward to posting more about my upcoming game! 

[Laurent]

I imagine I can just modify it myself for now without too many problems?

Yep, should be easy to do

[NightCabbage]

Hmmmm, this might be a dumb question... but where can I find the source code fot the .Net version of the SFML 2.0 Release Candidate?

(so I can modify it to add pre-multiplied alpha)

Also will the full version 2 release be within the next few months?

[eXpl0it3r]

Hmmmm, this might be a dumb question... but where can I find the source code fot the .Net version of the SFML 2.0 Release Candidate?

(so I can modify it to add pre-multiplied alpha)

It's on GitHub next to the C++ and CSFML repositories.

Also will the full version 2 release be within the next few months?

Everyone hopes so, but I doubt it. The offical statement is, as always: 'soon'.

[NightCabbage]

Cool thanks for the info

So if I'm making a game right now, am I better off using 2.0 or 1.6?

[Nexus]

You should use SFML 2.0, it has more features and less bugs. SFML 1.6 has not been maintained for years.

[NightCabbage]

Oh cool thanks for the info - I'm only just getting started with SFML so it's great to know WHERE to start

2.0 it is!

-EDIT-

About the source code:

Ah, I see - most of the .net stuff is just a wrapper for the normal dll files. So if I want to modify it (to add pre-multiplied alpha) I still need to compile the c++ version?
(or actually the c version? they seem to reference "csfml-window", etc.)

[eXpl0it3r]

Ah, I see - most of the .net stuff is just a wrapper for the normal dll files. So if I want to modify it (to add pre-multiplied alpha) I still need to compile the c++ version?
(or actually the c version? they seem to reference "csfml-window", etc.)

Yes, iirc SFML.NET uses CSFML (like most of the other bindings).

[NightCabbage]

-EDIT-

Ok, because this post isn't relevant to pre-multiplied alpha, I've made a new topic for all my silly questions

http://en.sfml-dev.org/forums/index.php?topic=9878.0

And I have decided to write a guide when I know what I'm doing a bit better (which will be thanks to your help answering my questions).

-FINISH EDIT-

[Skwint]

*Bump*
+1 vote in favour of this feature request.

To quote TomF "What we think of as conventional alpha-blending is basically wrong"
It's been obviously wrong since atleast 1984.  It was wrong before then, but it would be understandable if people didn't realise it

So just so you know, I'm another guy off to implement premultiplied himself because I need something that works 

[cire]

https://github.com/SFML/SFML/issues/298

[Skwint]

That's reassuring.  Thanks.

Since I found this thread, instead of finding github, I'll stick this here for any that want it:

void Image::convertToPremultipliedAlpha()
{
        if (!m_pixels.empty())
        {
                Uint8* source = &m_pixels[0];
                for (unsigned int y = 0; y < m_size.y; ++y)
                {
                        for (unsigned int x = 0; x < m_size.x; ++x)
                        {
                                Uint32 alpha = *(source + 3);
                                *(source    ) = Uint8((Uint32(*(source    )) * alpha) / 255);
                                *(source + 1) = Uint8((Uint32(*(source + 1)) * alpha) / 255);
                                *(source + 2) = Uint8((Uint32(*(source + 2)) * alpha) / 255);
                                source += 4;
                        }
                }
        }
}
 

optimizations exist for this I'm sure, but this works, and I don't have a profiler to hand.