In the previous version of SRPG Studio, there were plugins—such as those that implemented weather effects—designed to enhance the appearance of maps. In SRPG Studio EX, these map-enhancement features are included by default as pixel shaders.
The shaders that can be applied to a map can be broadly categorized into two types. One is the backdrop shader, and the other is the overlay shader. The backdrop shader is rendered before the map is drawn. It serves as a replacement for space or sky backgrounds. The overlay shader is rendered after the map is drawn. This is similar to weather effects such as snow or rain.
Configuring shaders is extremely simple. When you open a map in the engine, you’ll find options in the top-right corner to set the backdrop shader and overlay shader. Simply select a shader here, and it will be displayed when the game runs. Of course, you can also select custom shaders you’ve created yourself.
Below is a screenshot of the game with the shaders applied. The backdrop shader (sky) does not overlay the main map. Additionally, the overlay shader (breeze) is displayed on top of the main map. Incidentally, this sample airship map is vertically elongated, so depending on the screen resolution, dead space may appear. However, thanks to the backdrop shader, the black color typical of dead space is not visible.
