Re: OT: Custom UI design tools
Re: OT: Custom UI design tools
- Subject: Re: OT: Custom UI design tools
- From: James Chandler Jr <email@hidden>
- Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 14:50:11 -0400
In addition to Photoshop and vector-drawing tools like
ancient-but-useful SuperPaint, I've use RayDream Designer (a 3D tool).
There are surely lots better 3D tools. I don't do enough "fancy
interface elements" nowadays to justify shopping for a replacement.
Make 3D models of a group of knobs, buttons, LED's, whatever. Set the
lighting and camera angle, and "take pictures" of the controls in
various states. This captures perspective, shadows, reflections,
"rather automatically" once the model is constructed.
Though I haven't used 3D animation, folks have used the animation
features in 3D programs to make multiple bitmaps for detailed animation
of knobs, sliders, etc.
In a 3D program, you set up a path of motion, ferinstance rotating a
knob full circle. Then render the animation to a QuickTime movie, and
extract the individual frames of the animation.
A common technique is to place all the video frames into a big grid in
a single PICT. Given the control value, the control will select which
sub-rectangle in the big PICT to CopyBits into the control region.
Control features are drawn "photo-realistic" at all positions.
To draw against a textured background, you can pick out a color as the
"transparent" color, so the control can be properly masked against the
background.
One useful feature not present in my old copy of RayDream, but have
heard it is available in some 3D programs...
Computer buttons and controls are typically drawn at "infinite" camera
perspective. All Knobs and slider thumbs have the same hilites and
shadow perspective, regardless of their location in the window.
But if you "take a picture" of a complete modeled control panel from a
"camera distance" of a few inches or even a few feet, the shadows and
hilites change, depending on each control's location in the window.
Though this is the way the "real world" works, it can look "wrong" in a
computer rendering.
Have heard that some 3D rendering programs offer an "infinite" camera
perspective, so the "disturbing" parallax errors don't get rendered.
James Chandler Jr.
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