I need some info on drawing 2D sprites in a pseudo-3D perspective (similar to billboards).

The API I am using (HTML5 Canvas) is capable of scaling images. Scale is 1.0 for normal size, 0.5 for half size, 2.0 for double size, and so on. I need some help on getting object farther away from the "camera" to be smaller (and scroll more slowly) than objects that are closer. Assume that the horizon is on the center of the screen (in this case, the center value would be 240).

As always, my arsenal of mathematical awesomeness consists of a rusty BB pellet, and a sling shot with a bent prong. Any and all help is appreciated!

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What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

You'll need to define one distance as being normal distance. (eg distance dn=100) and have other distances relative to that. So a distance of d=50 would be twice as close, and a distance of d=200 would be twice as far. Everything is inversely proportional to distance away. The magic scaling figure is msf = (dn / d).

-- If the height (or width) of an object at normal distance (d=dn) is L, then at other distances it is L*msf

-- If the parallax drift velocity for things at normal distance (d=dn) is V, then at other distances it is V*msf

-- Where a sprite is drawn will depend on where the vanishing point of the scene is. So if the position of a sprite is (X,Y) at normal distance, then at other distances it is: (X*msf + FX*(1-msf) , Y*msf + FY*(1-msf) ) where (FX,FY) is the screen coordinates of the vanishing point.

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I ain't pushing no moon buttons.

Hey Jasmine, thanks for that. Finally got around to trying it out last night, and got it going. Woot!

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What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."

Just thought I'd give you a little update:

I applied the technique I learned here to points in space, rather than sprites. With the line-drawing functions in Canvas, it's now pretty easy to get a very simple 3D game running. It took me maybe 20 minutes to get a spinning cube working, and it's running pretty smoothly.

(Well, technically a spinning rectangle, but whatever. )

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What most people don't understand about "enlightenment" is that it is not an end-goal; but where you find yourself just before taking a new "first step."