[Slayer-X]

First, my suggestion: In the next update of Theme Park, it would be nice if any element that repeats (such as the menubar background) would have in the description field something that says whether the image tiles or stretches. It would be really nice to know this ahead of time when designing a theme. I know some of the elements have this already but there are many that do not. I think it's vital to understand exactly how each element is used in order to get the most out of the product and make the best themes.

Now my questions. Until the above is implemented, if at all, I do need to know, if anyone offhand knows if the following elements are tiled or stretched. I am just gonna list all of the ones I need to know, even if a few of them are already specified in the current Theme Park release.

Window Title Bar Fill
Movable Modal Titlebar Fill
Side Utilitiy Title Bar
Side Utility Title Bar No Text
Utility Window Titlebar
Utility Window Titlebar No Text
Menubar Fill
Menu Title Selected
Menu Item Selected
Menu Background
Menu Background Selected
Menu Divider
Pop Up Button Text Fill
Push Button Fill

I would also like to suggest that ASM (Application Switcher Menu) be added to the list of Application Skinnable Apps, as if you have the menu seperator activated, it can often clash with a theme. I believe X-Assist also has a menu seperator as well.

[fireside]

that would be nice to know. but what would be better to know is what all of those backgrounds are for. there are like, 10 different backgrounds, how am i supposed to know what does what and what goes where?

[Dragon T]

As far as I know:
Window Title Bar Fill = Carbon = stretched, Cocoa = tiled, finder and Safari stretched
Movable Modal Titlebar Fill = stretched I think
Side Utilitiy Title Bar = stretched I think
Side Utility Title Bar No Text = stretched I think
Utility Window Titlebar = stretched
Utility Window Titlebar No Text = stretched
Menubar Fill = tiled
Root Menu Item = options on: tiled
Root Menu Title Selected = options on: fill tiled; options off: tiled (corrected)
Menu Item Selected = options on: stretched; options off: tiled
Menu Title Selected = tiled (option on, right hand menus)
Menu Background: fill = stretched, caps tiled
Menu Background Selected: fill = stretched, caps tiled
Menu Divider: fill = stretched, caps tiled
Pop Up Button Text Fill = tiled
Push Button Fill, = stretched (I'm pretty sure) (I used a single pixel)
rounded bevel button top and bot = stretched
rounded bevel button fill = tiled vertically, unsure about the horizontal (maybe stretched)
butted square bevel button fill and top = stretched
butted square bevel button bottom = cocoa stretched and carbon tiled
all window sides, top and bottom = stretched
all window corners = non stretched
all backgrounds = tiled
scrollbar fill = tiled
progress bars = tiled
image well top, bot, L,R = tiled
drawers top bot L,R, = stretched
safari tab fills = tiled

As a general rule, the Menu components (with options turned on) mostly stretch the Fills and tile the Caps.
While the Menu components (with options turned off) mostly tile.

[Dragon T]

Originally posted by fireside:
that would be nice to know. but what would be better to know is what all of those backgrounds are for. there are like, 10 different backgrounds, how am i supposed to know what does what and what goes where?

As I understand it... I think Max said this:
many of those backgrounds can't be identified, since different apps use them for different purposes. One or two of those patterns effect about 95% of all visible backgrounds.

[Dragon T]

tip for anyone wanting to tile in an area that is stretched:
any part of the stretched section that is made transparent, allows the tiled background to show through.

[Dragon T]

Added this to my above list of stretch/tile rules:

"As a general rule, the Menu components (with options turned on) mostly stretch the Fills and tile the Caps.
While the Menu components (with options turned off) mostly tile."

[Dragon T]

I will keep updating and correcting this list as I find out more useful stuff.

Does anyone know off hand if Thumb fills are stretched or tiled?

[smeger]

Originally posted by Slayer-X:
First, my suggestion: In the next update of Theme Park, it would be nice if any element that repeats (such as the menubar background) would have in the description field something that says whether the image tiles or stretches.

I am always open to improvements on the comments in the theme templates. If you've got an improvement to any comment or a new one that isn't already there, send it to me and it'll magically appear in your themes in the next release.

I don't make themes, I make theme software, so I'm really not competent to write those comments myself.

[Patcarla]

A bit off topic but the new feature I'm REALLY looking forward to
in themepark is the ability to separate the text color of the buttons
from the general text color...
And I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting for that..

[smeger]

Originally posted by Patcarla:
A bit off topic but the new feature I'm REALLY looking forward to
in themepark is the ability to separate the text color of the buttons
from the general text color...
And I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting for that..

You are most definitely NOT the only person waiting for this.

[Dragon T]

correction:
incorrect: Root Menu Title Selected = options on: fill stretched; options off: tiled
correct: Root Menu Title Selected = options on: fill tiled; options off: tiled

[Dragon T]

I have a question for smeger:
How does themepark/shapeshifter work?
I mean... are you limited to only being able to supply features that Apple has put in there, or can you add extra stuff?
eg. is it possible for you to allow a tiled bevel to stretch?... and visa versa?
is it possible to make a non transparentable bevel area transparent, if Apple didn't need it?

(new thread...)

[smeger]

Originally posted by Dragon T:
I have a question for smeger:
How does themepark/shapeshifter work?
I mean... are you limited to only being able to supply features that Apple has put in there, or can you add extra stuff?
eg. is it possible for you to allow a tiled bevel to stretch?... and visa versa?
is it possible to make a non transparentable bevel area transparent, if Apple didn't need it?

(new thread...)

ShapeShifter does both - it replaces the Aqua template with themed graphics in some cases and changes behaviors in quite a few others.

For example, almost none of those text color options are available without ShapeShifter doing heavy lifting in the background.

[Dragon T]

Cool =)
I have another suggestion:
It would be really handy if each hierarchy column window in ThemePark defaulted to the narrowest width that showed all visible text.
And/or it would be also handy if the text in those columns was compressed and attempted to squeeze itself into view.
In fact, the way that the last word disappears if touching the edge of the column, is nice, but tends to be more inconvenient than helpful.
=)
Thanks
DT