How can I make a mask visible temporarily?

Solar2D Advanced Graphics
#1

Hi all,

Is there a way of seeing where the mask is?  

I am trying to achieve an effect where a character steps into a space on the screen and disappears (like he is stepping into an invisible door).  I thought that I could apply a mask to the character when needed, offset it and then move it back over the character as required (maybe with a transition or Runtime listener that checks his location and moves the mask accordingly).  The problem is I cannot seem to get this right and I can’t see where the mask is, is there any way to make the mask visible?  Or can anyone think of another way of achieving the same effect?

Cheers,

Craig

#2

I would do this the old school way and have multiple layers. Let me use this Sports Illustrated cover to explain:
 

http://www.danpatrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/lebron650.jpg

See how the text “Sports Illustrated” is between the background image and Lebron James in the foreground.  There are three layers here, the background, the text and a copy of the background where it’s been erased around Lebron. In your case, the background is your games main background, the Text is your player and Lebron would be the part of the door (and enough background to fully hide your character) that’s cut out and sitting on top of the player. That way the top cover layer and the background layer look like it’s a single image, but your player is setting on a layer in between and when the player moves through the door opening, the top layer will hide the player for you.

Rob

#3

I would do this the old school way and have multiple layers. Let me use this Sports Illustrated cover to explain:
 

http://www.danpatrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/lebron650.jpg

See how the text “Sports Illustrated” is between the background image and Lebron James in the foreground.  There are three layers here, the background, the text and a copy of the background where it’s been erased around Lebron. In your case, the background is your games main background, the Text is your player and Lebron would be the part of the door (and enough background to fully hide your character) that’s cut out and sitting on top of the player. That way the top cover layer and the background layer look like it’s a single image, but your player is setting on a layer in between and when the player moves through the door opening, the top layer will hide the player for you.

Rob