Set pixels vs bitmap image

[Light]

Hey Peter,

To make the triangular button, I created the image in photoshop. Then I have extracted the coordinate information using getPixel for black colors. From there I used the same coordinates to make them black on a white background, which acts as a mask.

From there it's just a matter of creating a single colored bitmap like bitmap 1 1 color:black to actually create the button. In this case I set the color to the text color in the active ui, which ensures that it will be visible in dark colored UIs too.

Please let me know if you have any questions.




Light

[LoneRobot]

Hey Light,

Thanks for your reply! What a great way of doing this. So the image is a kind of reference thing just until you can get the pixel information and store it as an array? I assume you run a separate script to generate the array of pixel information from the image and then store that permanently as your "arr" array.

Getting the text color is a neat idea, im always getting slight issues because i run a dark UI and everyone else seems to like grey. (i guess that makes me the freak)

Are there any memory or speed issues associated with this?

Thanks for your input Light, it is greatly appreciated.

[Light]

You can get the pixels with a fn like this:

fn getPixelCoords file color =
(
local img = openBitmap file
local arr = #(); for i = 1 to img.width do join arr (for f = 1 to img.height where (getPixels img[i,f] 1)[1] == color collect [i,f])
arr
)

As for memory and speed issues, there isn't one for a very small and 2 colored image like this (where we only set the minority pixels on top of a bitmap where the color is of the majority), and using a 1x1 bitmap for the background color of the button enhances the speed even more.




Light

[LoneRobot]

Brilliant! i cant wait to try this out. In the C4 struct you specify a 14x14 as the background (white) bitmap mask, but you mention that you can use a 1x1 background image for speed. but i guess its all hypothetical on bitmaps this small! thanks again for your help!

[Light]

Mask is 14x14, which should be 1:1 ratio, but the image behind should be made of a single color, which is visible through the mask.

Make sense?:)




Light

[LoneRobot]

got it! you are a setpixels god!

[Light]

Please post the results when you are done, if you are allowed. Just wondering the UI you have in mind.




Thanks,
Light

[LoneRobot]

Sure thing! I think mostly i've been inspired with the idea of consistency between UI background colors, in the past i'd have to make separate map files for each. So I'll post as soon as i work on something. I dont know about you, it seems to take me three times as long to make the UIs than it does to write the code!

[Light]

I also spend a great deal of time designing and planning the UIs, as it really improves the tool's quality and workflow. But after when it is done, coding generally takes alot of time, especially since I am so keen to write things shorter, faster and cleaner.




Light

[antonv]

Light, your method is great! I was using the method shown in mxs reference where you get all the pixel values in an image and store them then you create a bitmap from them... Got to change some stuf around now ;)

Anton

[davestewart]

Hey Guys,
Interesting thread! I wrote a struct library while back that does all this with one or two lines of code! It may need some cleaning up to go public.

Basically, you assign a button's image like this:

iconUtils.setButtonIcon ro1.btn1 #load
iconUtils.setButtonIcon ro1.btn2 #save

iconUtils.setButtonIcon ro1.btn3 #refresh fg:green
iconUtils.setButtonIcon ro1.btn4 #cross fg:red


And you convert b/w icons to code like this:

iconUtils.getIconDefs "c:/temp/icons/*.bmp"

The last bit is essential, as it means you can easily add your own icons to the library. I'll have a look, add some comments and get something online.

Cheers,
Dave

[Light]

Hey Dave,

It looks very interesting. I will be sure to take a look.




Light

[LoneRobot]

Nice one Dave, looks promising. I'll look forward to seeing it. That is exactly the sort of thing which could save loads of time when designing and building UIs.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.