Is there a way to add a fading trail or stroke to a moving SKSpriteNode?

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Created Aug ’20

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Still new, but slowly building my first game, and getting there.

I'd like to be able to add a fading streak or trail as one my SKSpriteNodes returns to it's home base.

The only thing I can think of is calculating the distance, breaking it down into x moments, then gradually move the Sprite a little, with some fade options, and then repeat in a loop till it gets back to home base.

I know that has to be wrong because it's just so ugly.

When I look at the Sprite Kit's Particle File, it has so few options. And I'm not really sure that's what I should be looking at. I have also looked at SKAction's options, and if there's an option there I'm missing it. A good book or website dedicated to SKAction would be nice.

But right am just looking for my solution.

Thanks as always

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Answer 1

billysjlk OP

Sep ’20

Accepted Answer

You could use an SKEmitterNode and change the settings so hit looks like a trail.
To make a new emitter node, choose File -> New and search "SpriteKit Particle File".
Name it Trail

Here are the settings I would set:

Texture: spark (this is one of apple's defaults, but you can use your own)
Emitter: birthrate: 20, maximum: 0
Lifetime: start: 8, range: 0
Position: All of these fields set to 0
Alpha: 0.6, range: 0, speed: -0.06
Scale: 1, range: 0, speed: 0
Rotation: All these fields set to 0
Color Blend: factor: 1, range: 0, speed: 0

To use it in code:

Code Block let emitterNode = SKEmitterNode(fileNamed: "Trail") // or whatever you named your file

Add it to the node you want to have a trail:

Code Block yourNode.addChild(emitterNode)

Hope this helps!

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