Development skins

[Lich]

Silicon Karma 2.0 shows using of resizeability. Through this I was able to make it qsk instead of 4-modes qsf.

[shaohao]

Silicon Karma 2.0 shows using of resizeability. Through this I was able to make it qsk instead of 4-modes qsf.
Cool!!!!
The first resizable skin. :)
Same power but smaller file size.

[Young Twig]

Hehe. I was looking at it on 4.10 wondering why there was a hole in it. Time to upgrade the other computer.

I'm glad you did this, Lich. I was trying to add resizeablity to GVB before, but needed an example skin.

[chicubs]

thats awesome lich...really, really nice.

[Lich]

First question:
is it true what stretching is OK only if break line goes in widest or highest part of skin? I'm experimenting with Twin Reactor and getting very strange effect: when horyzontal break line placed in the middle of playlist, it drags some parts of bottom part while resizing. I'll show:

[Paul]

First question:
is it true what stretching is OK only if break line goes in widest or highest part of skin? I'm experimenting with Twin Reactor and getting very strange effect: when horyzontal break line placed in the middle of playlist, it drags some parts of bottom part while resizing. I'll show:
The edges of the wider part below the break are remaining in place. This is just a scenario I didnt consider. I'll see if I can accomodate it.

[Young Twig]

Whoa, Paul! Did some of the map colors change? Because on GVB, instead of having Arist over Track, I am getting Artist / Track in the bottom slot. As if the artist area is the wrong color. And the close button on the vis area won't show up/work. But they appear to be the right colors.

[Young Twig]

Here. Try it yourself.

[chicubs]

youngtwig, just wanted to tell you that when you resize GVB the buttons go all of center and it looks a little silly.

[Young Twig]

youngtwig, just wanted to tell you that when you resize GVB the buttons go all of center and it looks a little silly.
No. It doesn't look sillly. It looks nice and trendy. :D

[Lich]

2Paul:
How about tiling in addition to stretching? It's very important.

[Paul]

2Paul:
How about tiling in addition to stretching? It's very important.
It is tiling.

[Young Twig]

Paul, any word on why my skin is all broke?

[Lich]

It is tiling.Ouch! What's a shame for me:(

[Young Twig]

Paul, can you make it so that you acn have multiple breaks (H&V) on an extension? That would allow the skinner to put a break between each button allowing the buttons to be like this:
| 0 0 0 0 |
rather than being like the following:
| 0 0 0 0 |
| 0 0 0 0 |


You like my illustrations?


EDIT: AH! NO HTML!
EDIT: A few too many spaces.

[Young Twig]

Ouch! What's a shame for me:(
Lich, you appear to be only repeating one pixel. That pixel doesn't hjave the border. You need a 2 (two) pixel mapbreak. One pixel will have the border, one won't. When repeated it will look like normal.

[Paul]

Paul, any word on why my skin is all broke?
Just a bug in B66.

[Paul]

Paul, can you make it so that you acn have multiple breaks (H&V) on an extension? That would allow the skinner to put a break between each button allowing the buttons to be like this:
| 0 0 0 0 |
rather than being like the following:
| 0 0 0 0 |
| 0 0 0 0 |


You like my illustrations?


EDIT: AH! NO HTML!
EDIT: A few too many spaces.
'fraid this won't be possible.

[Young Twig]

'fraid this won't be possible.
Is there any other way to evenly space the buttons?

That's one bad bug... :(

[Paul]

Is there any other way to evenly space the buttons?

That's one bad bug... :(
Design your skin differently. It's not a bug, it's a constraint.

[Young Twig]

Design your skin differently. It's not a bug, it's a constraint.
I was saying the fact that my skin is all ghetto-ed up is a bug. I know this is not a bug.

I'm too lazy to build it differently. Maybe next skin.

[Xymantix]

I don't think it looks bad at all with the buttons on one side. As we all experiment with the resizability, we'll probably discover that it's a good idea to design the skin for the 'common use case', and realize that when you start pushing it to extremes it won't necessarily look quite as good depending on layout. I'd say design for the 80% use case and let the remaining cards fall as they may.

[Young Twig]

I don't think it looks bad at all with the buttons on one side.

Nor do I. But I think it would look a bit better if they were evenly spaced.

But no, it doesn't make that much of a difference.

[Lich]

You can also define an area of each control that will remain
centered as it is stretched. Using the same color as the control's
map color, indicate the area on mapbreaks[HV].bmp that is to
remain centered.I see what BOTH H and V mapbreaks MUST present and have centered area drawn to make this possible (even if skin resizes only vertical). Damn, I've lost a whole day digging to it.

[Paul]

First question:
is it true what stretching is OK only if break line goes in widest or highest part of skin? I'm experimenting with Twin Reactor and getting very strange effect: when horyzontal break line placed in the middle of playlist, it drags some parts of bottom part while resizing. I'll show:
Lich, I believe I've corrected this scenario. Can you send me your updated TwinReactor to test?

[Young Twig]

Every extension is resizable...

GVB

[hedge]

i want to resize my main window with breaks as shown below, however im getting some weird effects with it... is it actually possible to do anything like shown below??? and if it is, how???

[regener8ed]

the way the documentation reads, your break line must be straight, and you can have only one V or H break per extension. the only way i could see this possible is to make the skin with 3 extensions with those breaks, but obviously you'd have to have 3 resize controls (one for each break.)

now if there were some way to "link" extension stretching..... (hint hint Paul)

[Lich]

Top-priority request!:)
See:
I have draggable and resizeable child body (Playlist).
Playlist owns button opening another extension, which is fixed and not resizeable (Search, for example). It overlaps Playlist.
Now I need some mechanism to define Search extension behaviour - how it moves when Playlist is resizes. I want it snap to parent button, but can't archieve it with b67.

[Lich]

I need some public opinions.
Imagine we have a skin with resizeable playlist and with resizeable main body. What should be the default size for them? Something balanced OR extremely minimized (maybe even unusable in that state, but we have resizeability now)? Second way gives us possibility to pack skin in minimal kilobytes, but at first launch such skin can be ugly/unclear.
Your thoughts?

[Tokelil]

I have thought about the same thing since I'd like the playlist in Matts MMD port to me smaller (vertically) than what I can do now. (Maybe only showing 2-4 songs)

The ideal solution for me would be if the artist could make it as small as possible without ruining textures and layout and he/she could set a default size in the skin ini file. (Hope you understand what I mean...)

[fatal error]

I need some public opinions.
Imagine we have a skin with resizeable playlist and with resizeable main body. What should be the default size for them? Something balanced OR extremely minimized (maybe even unusable in that state, but we have resizeability now)? Second way gives us possibility to pack skin in minimal kilobytes, but at first launch such skin can be ugly/unclear.
Your thoughts?
i try to place a 10 character limit in track/artist as my "minimum" for a resizable main body. any resizing after that is just a "happy medium".

i set a 5 track limit minimum on resizable playlist, height-wise. width-wise is again a "happy medium".

[Young Twig]

I need some public opinions.
Imagine we have a skin with resizeable playlist and with resizeable main body. What should be the default size for them? Something balanced OR extremely minimized (maybe even unusable in that state, but we have resizeability now)? Second way gives us possibility to pack skin in minimal kilobytes, but at first launch such skin can be ugly/unclear.
Your thoughts?
I'd say set it to the width and height of the main body of the skin. That way the minimum can be put under / on top of / to the side of the main body easily.

Now obviously, this can't be used in every situation, but... in a general rectangular skin you could do this:

[Lich]

Thanks, guys! Just scaled playlist down to 6-tracks height:)set a default size in the skin ini fileSweet idea... with addition of MaxSizeH and MaxSizeV...

[Xymantix]

I wondered about the same thing when playing with resizability. So far I think that it's better to make it smaller to begin with, and allow the user to resize it as big as they want. This seems to allow for the most freedom and flexibility. If you default to having it somewhat large, you can't ever make it smaller, so it's less useful.

[Lich]

Grrr... one of most frustrating things in QCD is what Search field cannot have bitmapped background. Too hard to bypass/mask it...

[Young Twig]

Grrr... one of most frustrating things in QCD is what Search field cannot have bitmapped background. Too hard to bypass/mask it...
Word. This is what keeps me from using it.

[Hanzo]

Indeed, I find the search feature in Betamaxx very useful. I was wondering why the other skinners did not use it. Is because it can't be skinned?

[Lich]

@Hanzo:
It's good topic for poll:)
Seriously, there are a lot of skins with Search, but most of them hiding it on extension. Iron mask for simplicity...

[Young Twig]

Indeed, I find the search feature in Betamaxx very useful. I was wondering why the other skinners did not use it. Is because it can't be skinned?
You have to have 1 solid color background... :(

As Lich said, this is why most skins hide it and put it over the playlist.

[Lich]

Fast look into future - half-made Phaseless 2. Yes, it's incomplete, there's no Color Modes, no Encoder, placeholder instead Search... but there's resizeable Main Body and Playlist, and EQ you should try.
Comments are highly welcomed - I can add/remove/change things before diving into Color Modes.

[Tokelil]

Very nice! Phaseless has always been one of my favorite skins so Im glad you choose to update it! :)

It took me a while to figure out how to resize the main player though... I dont know if its possible but it would be more entuative if you had to pull in the right end instead.

[ace2701]

Fast look into future - half-made Phaseless 2. Yes, it's incomplete, there's no Color Modes, no Encoder, placeholder instead Search... but there's resizeable Main Body and Playlist, and EQ you should try.
Comments are highly welcomed - I can add/remove/change things before diving into Color Modes.I think it's just great. Love the color, and all the resizeable extentions. Right now, I'm using Phasyme on my free work machine 'cause it's very large and across the room; just right for my eyes. When I get home, I will definitely use your updated skin, as i really like the origional.

I installed your beta at home, and it still looks good, even on my 15 inch monitor. I would like everyone to see it when used with Shoutcast on my desktop (and also, it gives me a chance to try a small program I found called "HoverSnap") ;) .

[Lich]

Thanks Tokelil, thanks Ace:)
--
Now about sad things: with b70 and 'extNdefaultsize' feature used you can get unwanted effects like this: see illustration 1.

[Lich]

Please, help me in testing. I'm not sure following issues caused by b70 or my skin itself.
1. Download Phaseless 2 beta (http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=318).
--
2. Open Playlist,
3. Resize it,
4. Click "Search" button,
5. Close Serch.bar using "x" button,
6. Report if you see redraw error #1. With that "Search" button becomes disabled.
There are related thread (http://www.quinnware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=959&goto=newpost) but with changing Search.bar for Extension9 to Extension3 not solve problem completely.
--
7. Open Encoder,
8. Resize it vertically,
9. Report if you see redraw error #2.

[Spidercrab]

Please, help me in testing. I'm not sure following issues caused by b70 or my skin itself.
1. Download Phaseless 2 beta (http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=318).
--
2. Open Playlist,
3. Resize it,
4. Click "Search" button,
5. Close Serch.bar using "x" button,
6. Report if you see redraw error #1. With that "Search" button becomes disabled.
There are related thread (http://www.quinnware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=959&goto=newpost) but with changing Search.bar for Extension9 to Extension3 not solve problem completely.
--
7. Open Encoder,
8. Resize it vertically,
9. Report if you see redraw error #2.
I would send it to Paul. I am pretty sure there is a bug in the resize draw code in B70 which was not there in B69. I see a similar thing in a skin I am playing with that has a ststus area inside the resize area.

[hedge]

How is phaseless 2 coming along? wouldn't mind seeing a resizable version of the twilight colour mode sitting on my desktop (http://users.tpg.com.au/maria777/desktopmarch.jpg)...

[Lich]

Hi, Hedge:)
Sorry, here's bad news.
1. I'm kinda stuck in my side-project (not related to QCD), so I don't know when Ph2 will be ready. However, it's 90% done.
2. Twilight mode has been changed (it's more saturated now) and splitted into Twilight itself and Winter mode. Last is very-very pale lilac-blue (and replacing old Graphite mode)

-and some good news-
3. There will be Olive mode matching Olive theme from default Microsoft WinXP bundle.
4. There will be Blood\Red mode.
5. 7 color modes total:)

[Tokelil]

What could be more relevant than QCD skinning? ;) Ahh anyway, I use the green mode anyway, so my needs are satisfied. (Regarding skins anyway... )

[hedge]

Hi, Hedge:)
Sorry, here's bad news.
1. I'm kinda stuck in my side-project (not related to QCD), so I don't know when Ph2 will be ready. However, it's 90% done.
2. Twilight mode has been changed (it's more saturated now) and splitted into Twilight itself and Winter mode. Last is very-very pale lilac-blue (and replacing old Graphite mode)

-and some good news-
3. There will be Olive mode matching Olive theme from default Microsoft WinXP bundle.
4. There will be Blood\Red mode.
5. 7 color modes total:)
Ah well, you can't get everything you want in life... i'll just have to hunt down a new wallpaper to suite that blood/ red one... sounds awesome!!!

[Lich]

10 chars spoiler!

[ace2701]

10 chars spoiler!
10 chars response

WOW!

[Mootang]

Oh winter is so purdy.

[Young Twig]

:lol:

I will remember about anti-aliasing. :D

Lich, that is one pimp skin. I really like winter and blood.

[J44xm]

Nice indeed. I just hope the text will be easy to read.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

Nice indeed. I just hope the text will be easy to read.

The skin looks indeed very beautiful, but i have to agree with J44xm, i'm a little afraid the white reflection in the top area of the playlist/player makes the text underneath hard to read. But that's just my opinion.

[hedge]

Oh Yeah phaseless 2 is looking AWESOME!!!
I see what you mean about the twilight mode though, it is quite different...
And about the text, it is quite hard to read on the track/ album display on phaseless 1, but i think i'm getting used to it anyway...
Can't wait for this skin!!!

[Lich]

Oh, so many positive responses! Thanks!;)
About readability: I'm trying to use contrast font colors when there's need. See picture below.
--
There's hard-to-reproduce bug in b71. Try:
1. Re-download Phaseless 2 beta ( http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=402 );
2. Resize Playlist and Encoder to make them intersect. Make sure what Search.bar is opened, and intersects Encoder.
3. Close Playlist, close Encoder.
4. Restart QCD and open Encoder. See... there's shadow of Search.bar on it!

[hedge]

Oh, so many positive responses! Thanks!;)
About readability: I'm trying to use contrast font colors when there's need. See picture below.
--
There's hard-to-reproduce bug in b71. Try:
1. Re-download Phaseless 2 beta ( http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=402 );
2. Resize Playlist and Encoder to make them intersect. Make sure what Search.bar is opened, and intersects Encoder.
3. Close Playlist, close Encoder.
4. Restart QCD and open Encoder. See... there's shadow of Search.bar on it!
Yep, those fonts seem easier to read, but I can't seem to reproduce that bug though...
OH yeah, go Dimmu Borgir, that album is SICK!!! (especially Kings of the Carnival creation.)

[Tokelil]

I can reproduce it. I have seen it or something similar in Prizm too.

[hedge]

Well, seeming as the new twilight mode will look different, i thought i'd make a resizable version of the old one....
All works fine, except for the area behind the playlist text.
Theres a picture behind there, that when streched, looks plain ugly.
So i'm trying to remove it, but as the CrappyBody.zip attachment shows, i'm just too crap at using gradients on photoshop to get anything good going.
So could someone throw together something for the area behind the playlist text?
Thanks in advance.

[Lich]

Hedge, don't worry - I'll make a separate old style twilight mode just for you.
Metal forever!

[hedge]

Hedge, don't worry - I'll make a separate old style twilight mode just for you.
Metal forever!
Thanks Dude! You rule!
:grimreapeMetal shall never die!:grimreape

[Lich]

I'm not sure what I'll be able to complete this thing soon, so...
Maybe someone who don't need Encoder (it's still unfinished), ML (sorry) and MiniMode (alas) will find SK3dev usable or at least interesting.
http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1416&stc=1
Anyway, comments are welcome.

[max77]

Woohaaa!!!
The buttons are much better than the other version
The entire skins are much visible
Thanks
I wait the next version :grin:

[hedge]

I'm not sure what I'll be able to complete this thing soon, so...
Maybe someone who don't need Encoder (it's still unfinished), ML (sorry) and MiniMode (alas) will find SK3dev usable or at least interesting.
http://www.quinnware.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=1416&stc=1
Anyway, comments are welcome.
Wicked looking skin so far. Usuability is very good, with everything clearly labelled and placed.
Making the media library button open up the library at this stage would be great, the library itself i don't mind seeing not skinned.

[Lich]

Silicon Karma 3.03.dev

Skinned MediaLibrary (although b107 icons screwed it a little)
Re-worked Playlist
Complete Encoder
Only 69Kb.
…but still there’s no Remote\WinShade mode. Sorry.

Testers are welcome.
Especially I’m interested in how EQ behaves under Windows 2000 and with soundcards with Bass/Treble support (my SB Live! lost it after installing kX drivers).

[Lich]

Screenshot

[jkrzok]

The sliders for the sound card controls seemed inexact; try as I might I couldn't get bass and treble back to 50%. After switching back to the default skin I was quickly able to do so.

Otherwise I love the functionality in such a small skin. I'm also glad I have new glasses.:cheerful:

[Paul]

The sliders for the sound card controls seemed inexact; try as I might I couldn't get bass and treble back to 50%. After switching back to the default skin I was quickly able to do so.

Otherwise I love the functionality in such a small skin. I'm also glad I have new glasses.:cheerful:
Double-click sliders to get them back to center (works on eq sliders, soundcard sliders and vis gain).

[hedge]

Me likes, me likes very much :D
And that media library is just plain awesome.

[jkrzok]

Double-click sliders to get them back to center (works on eq sliders, soundcard sliders and vis gain).
Is this the same double click speed you can set in Mouse properties? The double-click seems to be a whole lot faster here than elsewhere in Windows. I had a very difficult time getting it right in the default skin and no luck at all in Karma.

Perhaps my finger is just tired.

[Lich]

Something is moving.

[bmc152003]

Silicon Karma 3.03.dev

Skinned MediaLibrary (although b107 icons screwed it a little)
Re-worked Playlist
Complete Encoder
Only 69Kb.
…but still there’s no Remote\WinShade mode. Sorry.

Testers are welcome.
Especially I’m interested in how EQ behaves under Windows 2000 and with soundcards with Bass/Treble support (my SB Live! lost it after installing kX drivers).
one of my favorite skins. is the "floater" skin going to be for the encoder?

[Lich]

Floater should be remote, like it was in old QCD skin.

[beckyrebecca]

oh yeah, that'll be useful!

very good review .