For more flexibility in designing your background display, you can specify
two playfields instead of one. In dual-playfield mode, one playfield is
displayed directly in front of the other. For example, a computer game
display might have some action going on in one playfield in the
background, while the other playfield is showing a control panel in the
foreground. You can then change either the foreground or the background
without having to redesign the entire display. You can also move the two
playfields independently.
A dual-playfield display is similar to a single-playfield display,
differing only in these aspects:
* Each playfield in a dual display is formed from one, two or three
bitplanes.
* The colors in each playfield (up to seven plus transparent) are
taken from different sets of color registers.
* You must set a bit to activate dual-playfield mode.
Figure 3-12 shows a dual-playfield display.
Figure 3-12: A Dual-playfield Display
In Figure 3-12, one of the colors in each playfield is "transparent"
(color 0 in playfield 1 and color 8 in playfield 2). You can use
transparency to allow selected features of the background playfield to
show through.
In dual-playfield mode, each playfield is formed from up to three
bitplanes. Color registers 0 through 7 are assigned to playfield 1,
depending upon how many bitplanes you use. Color registers 8 through 15
are assigned to playfield 2.
Bitplane Assignment in Dual-Playfield Mode
Color Registers in Dual-Playfield Mode
Dual-Playfield Priority and Control
Activating Dual-Playfield Mode
Dual Playfield Summary
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