Another new screen - Mach Aqua

[Jason3]

Originally Posted by ger21 If you don't know what you're doing, you probably shouldn't be doing it. It's not that difficult, but I guess I could always write a little manual.

I definitely shouldn't be doing it then

I doubt it needs a manual - I agree, if somebody isn't familiar with the wizards it doesn't take much to learn how to use them.

How difficult would it be to change the cyan background colour on the buttons and windows - is it a layer underneath? I'm just curious, wondering whether it would be a possibility for customizing, perhaps to match a machine, or a customer's workshop...

[ger21]

If I was more organized, it would be a little easier, but as it stands, not too easy. Not very difficult, but terribly time consuming. The DRO's would be easy, and the buttons not too difficult, but a little time consuming. The problem lies in the two color buttons. That's where the majority of my time was spent. Look at one of the LED buttons in the bitmaps folder. The two color buttons are actually two buttons side by side. The main issue is that one has a glow, which makes it tricky to save them in the correct location so that they don't move in Mach when they change color. This was a tedious process as if they are off by one pixel, the movement in Mach is noticeable . Then to compound things, the gradient background cause each LED to have a different background.

Since this is a learnig process, here's what I might do. I'll need to do some testing in Photoshop to see what I can and can't do, but here's an idea. Start a new screen from scratch with fewer button sizes. I think I can set it up in Photoshop so I can change all the button's colors in one step. With some careful planning, I can save each two color button in it's own Photoshop file, so that I can easily change the colors of those as well. I'll do the layout's in AutoCAD, where I can work much faster, to get everything how I want it. Then I'll end up with a screenset that will be much easier to customize color wise.

[blackrat]

For you guys and gals that don't want to spend the bucks for photoshop, you might consider using GIMP. It's powerful and most of all, FREE!

http://www.gimp.org/windows/

comments welcome

[Jason3]

It was just an idea, please don't feel obliged on my account!

I do actually have photoshop (I bought it as a student, so it was quite affordable), but haven't really had the time to become in any way competent with it...

I am sure I was taught how to do this, but my memory is a bit hazy. Can you create multiple instances of a single object, then when you update one, they all change? Or, each button would be on it's own layer? I'm sure you can select and group layers and change properties as a batch - again, I learned how to do it, then promptly forgot...

I will readily admit I have no idea of the process of creating screens for Mach3, but would certainly like to learn more. I will do some research and reading, then perhaps I can speak from a less shaky background of knowledge

Best regards,

Jason

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Jason3 It was just an idea, please don't feel obliged on my account! I do actually have photoshop (I bought it as a student, so it was quite affordable), but haven't really had the time to become in any way competent with it...

I know just enough Photoshop to do what I'm doing, and little more.

I am sure I was taught how to do this, but my memory is a bit hazy. Can you create multiple instances of a single object, then when you update one, they all change? Or, each button would be on it's own layer? I'm sure you can select and group layers and change properties as a batch - again, I learned how to do it, then promptly forgot...

What I did before, was create an individual button using 5 layers. The button face, the recess behind it, the highlight, and two text layers. The second text layer was used for the drop shadow, and was under the highlight. Then , I grouped them together into a Smart Object. Then create multiple copies of the Smart Object, and just edit the text in each one.

I just started a new version last night, and am going about it a bit differently. I'm leaving off the drop shadow, to make it more legible. And I'm going to keep the text separate. So I create a Smart Object from the three layers. But instead of copying the object, I used "duplicate layer". This let's me change one button, and they all change. But the text has to be separate, or all the buttons would be the same. Previously, if I wanted to change the buttons color, I added a hue/saturation layer (I think it's called a layer??) inside the Smart Object.

Now, I thought, that if I did the same thing now, then they'd all change color. But they don't Only the one with the hue/saturation layer changed. So scratch the ability to change colors, unless I joined all the buttons into a single layer. But then I just had an idea. The button face's color is a gradient. If I change the gradient of the first button, they all change.

So now I think I can do it. All that's needed, is to change the gradient colors for each different size button. I've redesigned the layout to use only 2 or 3 different sized buttons, which will look better anyway. The only other thing I'll need to do is group all the DRO's, status bars and g-code window into one layer, and change the color of that layer. I'll probably copy all those layers, and join the copies, then group them and turn that layer off. Just turn it on to change the color, but still be easily edited.

[Jason3]

Can't wait to see V. 1.1 then!

I actually liked the drop shadow - I thought it added a 'depth' to the buttons, making them look like a real, 3D button on a clear substrate or something. Would reducing the offset of the drop shadow help improve the legibility while keeping the effect (I didn't think that was an issue personally, but can understand why the comment would be made)?

How about the grey background - I'm guessing that would be much simpler if you ever wanted a different color there? I think the grey looks good - a nice neutral color. If it was to change, I'd be interested to see how a darker (Graphite?) grey looked, or perhaps black with 'embossed' highlights...

Please don't let me distract you from your original purpose, just that your screen I really thought was the first I've seen that I would actually want to be using on a daily basis! Thank you very much for sharing it

Best regards,

Jason

[ger21]

How's this? A bit more organized, and cleaner. Bigger toolpath, too.

I like the drop shadow myself, and may throw it back in. Gives the buttons a little more depth.

[Jason3]

Originally Posted by ger21 I like the drop shadow myself, and may throw it back in. Gives the buttons a little more depth.

That is indeed tidy, and looks very functional as well as aesthetically pleasing...

Are we having the DRO next to where the program limits were (bottom left) on the original screen in post #1?

Jason

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Jason3 Are we having the DRO next to where the program limits were (bottom left) on the original screen in post #1? Jason

Yep. Small, but functional. One thing I forgot is the Home button. I didn't want it near the reset, so I'll swap one of the buttons under the toolpath for it. Either the display mode or offline will probably go.

[Jason3]

Perfect

[emilcnc]

NICE PERFECT SUPER ... please upload updates

Thanks

[blackrat]

very nice screen...... where is the actual screen set located on the forum?