Topic: Create an Advanced Control System Skinset (Read 1381 times)

SoLoGHoST · « **on:** March 16, 2009, 07:57:22 PM »

Ok, I figured since you guys are all very talented in designing stuff, perhaps you'd be interested in designing some skins for the ACS gadget. I have created a billion of them and could use a rest for a change.

So, figured we could make it a contest...

Best Skinset gets put into the next ACS version (1.3.5) with props going to the designer!

2 Images are needed for a Skinset (Large Skin Dimensions are: 130px by 71px, Small Skin Dimensions are: 130px by 57px), ohh, and it needs to be in .PNG Image Format (so transparencies are fine).

Be as Creative as you like. You can create a theme, be it about sports, music, history, love, and just about anything. Just keep in mind how the skins will fit once inserted within ACS (with the buttons, arrows, Lock/Unlock Text, Top Text Area in Large Skin, etc. etc.)

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2009, 08:45:18 PM »

I think I made a mistake with this topic. Please somebody let me know if this was a huge mistake or not? $:-\$

Well, I suppose it's all good, perhaps a different topic at a different time will spark some of the designers imagination, or maybe not.

NerdBoy · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2009, 09:20:15 PM »

I don't think its a mistake gadget skins at least for me are to time consuming and do not interest me much but I am sure it is of interest to others if not now then later remember we only have 46 members and of those only a small group of us seem to be active on a regular basis most of the topics I have started have not seen much activity either we will just have to be patient until we get more members .

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2009, 11:17:38 PM »

Ghost, I think if you add example images showing how they fit, you may get some response yet...I don't use launcher type gadgets, but do skin the ones I use.

Shortie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:25:26 AM »

Just b e patient

If you type Graphics Mayhem in to Google Images you will be surprised at what is the first image

None of mine even get a mention :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

So just bear with it and keep up the good work

Shortie

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:57:34 AM »

Quote from: DMHolt57 on March 21, 2009, 11:17:38 PM

Ghost, I think if you add example images showing how they fit, you may get some response yet...I don't use launcher type gadgets, but do skin the ones I use.

Ok, sure thing. Here are example images for a Skinset.
Large (130x71):

Ok, here are both sizes (130x71 & 130x57) with a Notebook Skin I created:

Ok, and here is another skinset I created with both sizes (130x71 & 130x57):

Basically, everything in the gadget is customizable, so don't worry about the colors of your skin, you can use any color that suits you. Tho the top area of the gadget skin in 130x71 pixels should be wide enough to hold the Time Delay text that is shown in the skins above TD: 00:01:30:00.

Well that's all folks, hopefully this explains it good. Was thinking of maybe a Sports Theme for a skin or a Holiday Theme, or something Romantic.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2009, 03:50:40 AM »

So this would be too rounded to fit the TD all the way across...?

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2009, 04:16:52 AM »

Ok, nice. Here's how it looks in ACS:

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2009, 02:55:59 PM »

Is the small skin the bottom 2/3 of the skin?

Shortie · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2009, 04:22:26 PM »

Hi Ya

The small one is 57px high and the horizontal line is at 32px from the top

Hope that helps

Shortie

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2009, 10:54:27 PM »

Hey Hey Hey, let's keep em coming, k? Sweet SKinZ DM

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2009, 06:56:05 PM »

Please note, there is no rule that lines have to be in your skins, just so you know. The only rules are 130x71 and 130x57 pixels.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 25, 2009, 06:17:55 PM »

Ok, I followed the no rules rule...see if any of these suits your taste Ghost.

ACS57.rar (1081.19 kB - downloaded 25 times.)

Witcher · « **Reply #13 on:** March 25, 2009, 06:35:44 PM »

Hey guys this are nice skins.

Shortie · « **Reply #14 on:** March 25, 2009, 06:51:53 PM »

Big Thumbs up DM

And Thanks for the plug

Shortie

Skins created for the ACS gadget by DMHolt57.
Visit graphicsmayhem.com and don't forget to
check out the Gallery.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 25, 2009, 06:59:19 PM »

Now someone tell me how to combine the two skins as a set with the .acs extension so i can actually try them on the gadget.

Shortie · « **Reply #16 on:** March 25, 2009, 07:10:07 PM »

You can do it buy editing the .js files etc but that's a pain - what I do is just overwrite some which are already in the skins folder (back the folder up first or just keep a copy of the gadget install)- the default skin at the moment is 51 so if you go either side of that then you do not have to click forever until you get to yours

Shortie

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #17 on:** March 25, 2009, 09:40:21 PM »

Quote from: DMHolt57 on March 25, 2009, 06:59:19 PM

Now someone tell me how to combine the two skins as a set with the .acs extension so i can actually try them on the gadget.

Wow, great skins DM. I especially like the Wood 1 that is next to the brick (bottom left), but they all look nice and until we see them in ACS, it's hard to say how it looks.

.acs files are used to save/open the skins you already have in there, since these skins can range in #'s, depending on the amount of skins the user has in the skins/large and skins/small folders, ACS style files do not actually package the images up together as one (although this is an idea for a future version of ACS). Currently .acs files only provide a way to open and save your Appearance Settings (ofcourse, if you are using skins that aren't packaged with the gadget, you will need to copy these skins to the small/large folders in the skins directory of the ACS Root Directory with the number name of the skin being the next highest number in there. If you haven't saved the same skins as the same number name as it was when you saved the style file (.acs) from within ACS it will not be able to load up the skin (instead will load up the skinset # that the style file was saved as before (if exists)). Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to devote to this feature, so I just created a quick way of loading and exporting Appearance Settings (that is why they are approx. 678 Bytes in filesize - Only saves the variables for setting all appearance settings in ACS).

Soon to come, a way to package your skins up into a .zip file that will be renamed to a .acsp (ACS Complete Style Pack file). And also, will allow users to add/remove options from the Top Text Area. That is, create a .js file called something like custom_tta.js, ACS will look for this file in the .zip file, if exists, will begin loading all functions listed in there as Top Text Area Options with the exception of the init() function which developers can use to define variables, etc., needed to be run at load of settings, and whatever else. For example:

custom_tta.js

Code: [Select]

function init() {

                                  // do stuff in here that will load at default

                                  // let's set some variables that will need to be set in here...

                                  // setting optionsRemove to false will add all options you define here in the functions to the current options in ACS.  Setting this to true will remove all options and start options off at an index of 0.

                                  optionsRemove = false;

                                  }

                                  function cpu_temp() {

                                  // textString holds the actual text that will be inputted into the

Well anyways, those are my thoughts on the development of custom options. As far as skinsets are concerned, will just need to create 2 images called, small.png and large.png in the .zip file and will automatically convert and save them, once loaded from within ACS into the Skins directory.

Thanks a bunch bro

I am also considering to just allow the ability to import ACS Skinsets (*.acss || ACS Skinset Files) which will only load the skinsets from a .zip file without loading any custom changes. I believe I will do this first and see how this goes before I go crazy with the customization of the actual features.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 26, 2009, 01:19:46 AM »

Ok, got it fingered out, all my skins added to styles and everything looking good. I now can design some skins that are purpose oriented, since I have had a good look at it. And I notice I need to clean the corners a bit, seems like the transparency is showing on some, even though i made sure to remove drop shadows and outside strokes. One suggestion,...bring the star at the bottom up 5px(approx) so it is even with the locked/unlocked text. It tends to fall off the skin if it has an upraised area, with one point.

Shortie · « **Reply #19 on:** March 26, 2009, 01:54:01 AM »

Well Done

Like the purple one

Shortie

tip - to clean the edges create a layer at the beginning which is a copy of the background say 130x71px and a radius of 15px - then when you are finished Do a selection on the unused background invert and delete from the finished skin if it is a vector mask you can be sure you get a clean skin

e.g.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 26, 2009, 01:58:43 AM »

Yeah, I tried to make it a quick project and started with a skin i had left a drop shadow on and didn't notice till later that i should have paid more attention....but the next goaround I will be trying something new....

I only downloaded the gadget an hour ago.

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #21 on:** March 26, 2009, 02:31:31 AM »

Hello DM, the wooden one is awesome, you can always use other images besides the star. Some keyboard Shortcuts to remember, give ACS focus 1st by clicking on it somewhere and then do any of the following Shortcut Combinations:

CTRL+UP & CTRL+DOWN => Changes the ACS Buttons

CTRL + LEFT & CTRL+RIGHT => Changes the Skinsets of ACS

ALT + UP & ALT + DOWN => Changes the Locked/Unlocked Icon

ALT + RIGHT & ALT + LEFT => Changes the Arrow Images in the corners

SHIFT + LEFT & SHIFT+RIGHT => Changes the Slider Images of ACS

CTRL + T => Toggles the sizes of ACS (With Top Text Area and without)

Those are in there by default unless you have taken them out manually.

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #22 on:** March 26, 2009, 02:57:35 PM »

57Woods for ACS

Available in the Downloads Section

Shortie · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2009, 03:20:54 PM »

Cool stuff

All you need is a wallpaper to go with it Here....

Details

DMHolt57 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 26, 2009, 03:40:54 PM »

Thnx Shortie, looks great.

NerdBoy · « **Reply #25 on:** March 26, 2009, 04:17:31 PM »

Very nice to look at Dm & Shortie good stuff .

Shortie · « **Reply #26 on:** March 26, 2009, 04:27:41 PM »

Very nice - superb interpretation with the text

Shortie

SoLoGHoST · « **Reply #27 on:** March 26, 2009, 05:10:00 PM »

Quote from: DMHolt57 on March 26, 2009, 02:57:35 PM

57Woods for ACS

[ ERROR: SPECIFIED ATTACHMENT MISSING OR CANNOT BE FOUND ]

[ ERROR: SPECIFIED ATTACHMENT MISSING OR CANNOT BE FOUND ]

Very Cool DM, you should definately add this to the Downloads Section here ===> Gadget Skins and Things.

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