Actually, there is a way to use pictures with cosmetic lighting, if you know how to anchor an image to the map. In fact, here's a small script I threw together a while back just to do that.
#==============================================================================
# ** Game_Picture
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This class handles the picture. It's used within the Game_Screen class
# ($game_screen).
#==============================================================================
class Game_Picture
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# * Public Instance Variables
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
attr_accessor :anchor # rotation angle
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# * Alias Methods
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
alias glitch_anchor_pic_game_picture_initialize initialize
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# * Object Initialization
# number : picture number
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
def initialize(number)
@anchor = false
glitch_anchor_pic_game_picture_initialize(number)
end
end
#==============================================================================
# ** Sprite_Picture
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This sprite is used to display the picture.It observes the Game_Character
# class and automatically changes sprite conditions.
#==============================================================================
class Sprite_Picture < Sprite
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# * Alias Methods
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
alias glitch_anchor_pic_sprite_picture_update update
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
# * Frame Update
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------
def update
glitch_anchor_pic_sprite_picture_update
if @picture.anchor == true
self.ox = $game_map.display_x / 4
self.oy = $game_map.display_y / 4
end
end
end
All you have to do is insert this between the default scripts and main, and then use the following script call to anchor a picture you are displaying:
pic = $game_screen.pictures
pic[number].anchor = true
Just make sure that number is the number of the picture (as set up when you displayed the picture). Also, you can release the anchor by setti9ng it to false instead of true.
I especially like this method because it allows you to do something like make a large building with lights that can turn on and off. It also allows you to make two images, one for light, and one for shadow, and use them together. (The shadow one will be set to subtract, of course)