hAv1c+ v3.02 - the fastest and most stable RR skin - 09/13/08 - Download Now! - Page 9

aperali · 11-13-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by monkeyracer

"I'd recommend opening the skin in skineditor and double click on the label B02 "

Im using XP SP3.
What skin are you talking about? Do you want to say label L102? I cant find any label B02 on the menu.skin neither on mainmenu.skin. Ive changed the font of this label (L102) from webdings to wingdings 3 on menu.skin but nothing changes!

Also I noticed that menu.skin has 2 labels L102, is it correct?

EDIT: If I use notepad and choose the webdings font and type #4 I got the play symbol. Then, the font is installed.

monkeyracer · 11-13-2008, 09:04 PM

I meant label L102 not B02, sorry. The font should be Webdings. Webdings 3 was a font I made as the pre-cursor to CarPC, which isn't as organized as CarPC. Webdings 3 did not have the play pause and prev/next symbols, Microsoft's Webdings does though.

If the font works in notepad but not RR, that doesn't really make any sense to me. I'm thinking there is something unique to your situation since this is the first I've heard of this issue (mAv1c also uses Webdings, maybe try that skin and see if anything is different.)

When you edit the skin file, make sure you are using quotes around the font name, for example, L102 should read:

Code:

L102,14,68,59,49,#FRed#,#FGreen#,#FBlue#,40,"Webdings","=4","CENTER"
...

If it's anything else, then it should be changed back. If it is this and there's still issues, then I don't know where to start to try to troubleshoot, especially if webdings works in other programs.

Also, to note, this skin has shadowed text which is really just the label code duplicated, moved over 2 pixels right and down, and then in black, so there is a second label L102 further down in the skin file:

Code:

L102,16,70,59,49,0,0,0,40,"Webdings","=4","CENTER"

AND, the pause symbol is right next to the play button, on it's own label code, but since it's on the same button (second button down), it is designated as L102 as well:

Code:

L102,48,66,59,49,#FRed#,#FGreen#,#FBlue#,40,"Webdings","=;","CENTER"
...

and

Code:

L102,50,68,59,49,0,0,0,40,"Webdings","=;","CENTER"

Notice that all four lines are slightly different, but they are all "Webdings" where it designates the font.

These label codes are in every .skin file except a few (mainmenu.skin, exitmenu.skin, etc.) that don't display the play/pause/prev/next symbols as color changeable labels.

monkeyracer · 12-06-2008, 11:38 AM

Potential new graphics for this skin:

It adds a little dynamicism to the buttons, but still keeps it highly visible.

Also, I might be implementing a button customizer for the next release. (Would only affect the main screen and main menu screen)
- Change between Text, Font Symbols, Images, Images with Text
- Re-Order buttons (you don't use video? change it to GPS, or something else)

And, along with that will come a slight re-work of the code to simplify it even more.

treetop777 · 12-06-2008, 02:09 PM

That looks good. If i had any artistic talents, i would "frame" the middle.

monkeyracer · 12-06-2008, 02:15 PM

Like mAv1c?

I was thinking of that, but I didn't like the way it was starting to look.

treetop777 · 12-06-2008, 03:12 PM

Yes, but still totally transparent. Would have the color, bevels and shadows just like the buttons. Ofcourse this is IMO.

monkeyracer · 12-06-2008, 03:30 PM

It may be a possibility. I'd have to mess around with it a little bit to get something that I would like. The problem I came to is finding something that worked with screens that have only the left 7 buttons, and something that would remain cohesive with the menus too.

monkeyracer · 12-06-2008, 07:20 PM

maybe something to this effect?

It's a start, but I might still abandon it and leave hAv1c+ the way it was...

monkeyracer · 12-07-2008, 02:59 AM

I just really don't like the center window, so it's gone. I'm changing the songpos slider, and added the gloss gradient to the bottom corner 'windows.'

This is starting to look a little more refined now:

Lots more work to do...

blk02si · 12-07-2008, 12:58 PM

^ That looks gorgeous Monkey, very sleek!

Looking forward to this one!

monkeyracer · 12-07-2008, 10:55 PM

I always thought the 'gel' and 'gloss' buttons were cheezy, and took away from the visibility of the skin, but seeing it this way makes it look a little more... realistic? maybe?

I've tried to study up on some interface design, and a lot of what I've learned has made this skin what it is today:
Consistent layout, high contrast, etc, and it's been focused on function before form. I think it's time to give it a little more flair.

Throughout this next update, I'll definitely try to keep the fundamentals the skin started with.

On a side note, I see some of the other skins out there now, and some of the things they do just seem to not make any sense. (Not just concept skins, established skins that a lot of people seem to love...)

For example:
Omega - Great looking skin, a lot of hard work went in to it, but I just can't use a skin without audio controls on the main screens. I find it strange to have to press more than one button to pause the song to take a call, etc.

DFX - Honestly, not really sure exactly why it's so popular, but it is. Not sure what the stigma is about it, but it is a good skin, for the most part. It seems to have become so complex though, that if there's a problem it's just really hard to troubleshoot.

One thing I learned with interface design was that the best way to refine the interface is to let people who have never used the interface before try to perform certain tasks. If they can't easily figure out how to do something fairly simple, then you know what needs to change.
Also, the most used tasks should be on the main screen, and easy to find (especially in this environment) and for me that's Audio, GPS, Gas Prices, and Weather. The most used tasks should have the least number of steps to get to them as possible. I don't want to press two or three buttons to go to the next song or to pause it.

Lastly, certain tasks are ALWAYS in the same location. For example, exit, is always in the top right corner, Menu (or file, etc...) is always in the top left. I put those buttons there because it's more natural now to perform that function in that location of the screen.

Back to hAv1c+, I will probably make a skin customization screen where the user can choose the color of their font, the style of the labels, Speedometer or Album Art, etc. I may just use the full screen background chooser, but I'll play around with it for a bit to see what works. I also want to redesign the weather screens to be a little bit more friendly. I'll probably jump up to V4, but it could be a few weeks before I release it.

monkeyracer · 04-24-2009, 09:01 AM

I just wanted to poke my head in here and say that I am still planning an update to this skin based on the last pics. I've had to put the CarPC project on hold for lack of funds, and issues with the laptop. I'm not sure when I'll get around to it, but I haven't even upgraded to the newest version of RR (i'm still on RoadRunner...) to see what's new. Also, the main computer I design this on had a hard drive replacement, and I still haven't fully recovered all the files. I have them on a spare drive, but I need to take the time to filter through everything and get them copied back over.

I'm still alive, and still want to finish this skin.
Thanks to all that use my skin, and those that at least gave it a try.

Stay tuned...

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