Transparency blending combines two textures with smooth alpha control. This technique recreates Earthbound's dreamy layered backgrounds where patterns swirl and fade into each other.
How Transparency Blending Works
Think of it like stacking two layers of colored glass. One texture acts as the base while the other fades on top.
The alpha value controls how much of each texture you see:
- Alpha of zero shows only the first texture
- Alpha of one shows only the second texture
- Values in between blend both textures smoothly
The Blending Process
WebGL samples both textures using the same coordinate for each pixel. The mix function linearly blends them together based on your alpha value. The combined result renders to screen.
Creative Applications
This effect works perfectly for:
- Layered background effects
- Fading between battle scenes
- Psychedelic transparency looks
You can combine transparency with other effects like palette cycling or oscillation. Each texture can have its own animation that blends together dynamically.