Hi
I need some help. I'm busy with the next batch of skins but I have run into this problem.
I'm moving away from the black background skins and I'm creating new buttons for this skins.
The problem is that my buttons have a black pixelated edge around them as you will see in the attachment. Also note the seperate black pixels that results in spots around the button. I can use any colour for the button background, even shocking colours but I still get this nasty rond black edge around the button. ??? ???
Coffee
Did you start from scratch with this button or is it a modded one from something already produced. It almost looks like a layer or a setting on one of the layers still remains in there that you don't want.
Some one with some more graphics backgrounds then me, might nknow right away by looking at it.
Hi Bzpilot
Quote from: bzpilot on September 24, 2009, 06:48:36 PM
Did you start from scratch with this button or is it a modded one from something already produced. It almost looks like a layer or a setting on one of the layers still remains in there that you don't want.
Some one with some more graphics backgrounds then me, might nknow right away by looking at it.
No, it's not the button itself causing the problem.
You will see in the attachment a simple single red colour circle with no gradient on a bright green background. It was created in one layer and saved as JPEG (single layer).
In the second attachment you can see what the effect is once you have this button in freebox.
I have tried this many different ways with the same result and I need to solve this before I can continue with the skin.
Coffee
You need to save it as a BMP. JPG creates different coloured pixels like that, try it as a BMP file and it should work.
Hi Barry
Thanks, I'll try that.
Coffee
Hi
I've tried it as BMP and GIF and I did change the file extention in the main INI-file.
As you can see from the attachment below it is better but not solved.
The only option I can come up with is to leave a black background space behind each button but that would not be ideal in order to get a clean looking skin.
Coffee
If you put a 1 pixel border around the image that is different to the main back colour that should help. Another thing is to make the back colour (The removed colour) match the background colour of where you are placing the button as closely as you can.
I like what you are doing and it's why i wanted the PSD's to try and do the same. With the black box they look ugly when using fanart.
If you want to see what they will look like you can load it into paint and fill the background white. That should show you how it will look. Also you need to make sure the button is the same size as the original image once you start stretching they don't look as good.
Hi Barry
QuoteWith the black box they look ugly when using fanart.
I have seen what you are saying and that is why I want to get it perfect.
QuoteAnother thing is to make the back colour (The removed colour) match the background colour of where you are placing the button as closely as you can.
I can use any colour, even neon and the black ring around the button still shows up. If one can't get that thin black ring around the button out the fanart pages won't ever be 100%. That is exectly why this is so important.
I will try a few more things and see what it does.
Coffee
Wow, I think I've cracked it.
Quote from: coffee on September 25, 2009, 05:33:24 PM
Wow, I think I've cracked it.
From that picture I would definitely call that a breakthrough!!
Coffee,
What did you do to remove the black?
woody
Excellent dude, looking forward to seeing some updated buttons maybe. :beer
Hi Woody
Quote from: Woody on September 26, 2009, 01:03:13 PM
Coffee,
What did you do to remove the black?
woody
Create all buttons with transparent backgrounds and save them as GIF. You would also have to change all your INI files to accept GIF buttons.
Coffee
Hi Barry
Quote from: Barcrest on September 26, 2009, 02:33:31 PM
Excellent dude, looking forward to seeing some updated buttons maybe. :beer
I'm busy with new button sets now. So I should have a few new skins ready within a couple of weeks. ;D
Have you made any progress with the requests I have asked for?
Oooh, one more thing. Can you use 2 sets of buttons? One normal set and one set for when you press a button it change colour rather then having this system now where it depresses slightly and is a bit pixelated when you press a button. Maybe a future request? ;)
Coffee
Quote from: coffee on September 26, 2009, 02:43:15 PM
Hi Barry
Quote from: Barcrest on September 26, 2009, 02:33:31 PM
Excellent dude, looking forward to seeing some updated buttons maybe. :beer
I'm busy with new button sets now. So I should have a few new skins ready within a couple of weeks. ;D
Have you made any progress with the requests I have asked for?
Oooh, one more thing. Can you use 2 sets of buttons? One normal set and one set for when you press a button it change colour rather then having this system now where it depresses slightly and is a bit pixelated when you press a button. Maybe a future request? ;)
Coffee
My internet has been down at home, I have not had chance to sort out your requests as i have been bug fixing however I will look at making progress on those this week.
Any chance you can share your button transparency fix with the masses? I am sure others would like to learn the tricks you used, hopefully my post pointed you in the right direction.
As for having 2 different images this can't be done with what we have right now. However if i ever get chance to totally recode the whole thing then it will be possible.
Hi Barry
QuoteAny chance you can share your button transparency fix with the masses? I am sure others would like to learn the tricks you used, hopefully my post pointed you in the right direction.
Create all buttons with transparent backgrounds and save them as GIF. You would also have to change all your INI files to accept GIF buttons(GIF extensions). Oooh, I forgot about this in the previous post, you also need to change your button style from "style 7" to "style 8" in the skintool.
I've only tested this with a few buttons and it seems to work very well. I still have problems with my photoshop actions feature and I will fully test this as soon as I solve the "actions function" of photoshop.
So you must still treat this as "beta". ::)
Once I have everything in place I should be able to make new button sets by the thousands and very quickly. I am also busy streamlining the making of the backgrounds for the skins. We'll just have to wait and see how it turns out. ;)
Coffee
Ah so you used transparent gifs. I suggested that a while back but apparently no one could achieve good enough results. Hopefully we can get the default sets converted.
+ 1 for getting the defaults converted.
the current buttons and slider are a bit clunky especially when used with fan art.
Is this something you could do for us Coffee, once you have mastered the technique?
Quote from: ScAtMaN on September 30, 2009, 11:45:44 AM
+ 1 for getting the defaults converted.
the current buttons and slider are a bit clunky especially when used with fan art.
Is this something you could do for us Coffee, once you have mastered the technique?
That is something i am hoping he can do so the default skins will be fixed up. That or maybe eist can do them.
I have actually been playing with the buttons that last week or two to try and see if I can get the transparency working. The issue I'm having is with the glow around the buttons making the edges still not looking good (especially the slider button, still has white ring around it). If Coffee can come up with a method to get the buttons looking good using the glow, I can start working on them. I am currently pretty busy with work and school, but could start working on them. Thanks
If i had the PSD's i could probably give it a shot.
Hi Guys
I'm still on it. I'll let you know how it turns out. For now I'm still having issues, but the black ring around the buttons are sorted for now. I'm still having trouble with the text inside the buttons so I'm trying to sort that out.
I got a script going for mass producing all the buttons for a skin set. It takes about 10 minutes to do a full set of buttons where it normally took a day or two.
Coffee
Barry,
Here are the PSD links I sent out a few weeks ago:
www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Blue_0000CC.rar (http://www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Blue_0000CC.rar)
www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Red_FD0802.rar (http://www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Red_FD0802.rar)
www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Green_00FF18.rar (http://www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Green_00FF18.rar)
www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Orange_FF6600.rar (http://www.iamkizer.net/freeboxjukebox/files/skins/V4skins/PSDs/Orange_FF6600.rar)
Thanks for working on getting the transparency working on teh buttons Coffee.
Cheers dude, i will have a play in gimp later.
Quote from: coffee on October 01, 2009, 08:45:05 AM
Hi Guys
I'm still on it. I'll let you know how it turns out. For now I'm still having issues, but the black ring around the buttons are sorted for now. I'm still having trouble with the text inside the buttons so I'm trying to sort that out.
I got a script going for mass producing all the buttons for a skin set. It takes about 10 minutes to do a full set of buttons where it normally took a day or two.
Coffee
you need to create a full detailed how to when your done
Hi
Yeap, but there is still a lot that need to be sorted. I'll should have a test skin ready within the next week. :D
Coffee
Hi Barry
Where or in what INI file can I change Progress_slider_back, Progress_slider_button, Slider_back and Slider_button?
I need to change them to GIF format. I checked all the INI files and I can't find them. ???
Thanks
Coffee
I make all changes in the skintool rather than editting INI files. I will look at it when I get back, you will probably have it figured out by then.
Hi Guys
Here are some screenshots of what I'm busy with. I have made this skin today to test the new buttons and I will release this skin later this week once I have sorted some small issues. This skin should be perfect for using fanart because the buttons are clean as you can see in this screenshots.
Albumview screen
(http://www.coinplaysa.com/images/coffeetimemain.jpg)
Tracklisting screen
(http://www.coinplaysa.com/images/coffeetimetrack.jpg)
Search screen
(http://www.coinplaysa.com/images/coffeetimesearch.jpg)
Coffee
that looks great! so clean and tidy...the buttons have made all the difference!
i'll be using this one for sure...
look forward to the finished skin...
Looking good.
Really like the look Coffee, well done!
Have you had chance to look at the original skins to see if they can be fixed up?
Hi
(http://?)
I'll fix them up in the next week or so.
Coffee