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N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 03:43 AM

This may have been posted somewhere else, but I did a search and didn't find anything, so here goes... I've been playing around with both of these themes, both of which are incredible (nice job Max!), but I am realizing that I do actually like brushed metal, especially in Safari. That being the case, is there any way to revert the theme back to normal brushed metal? I took a look at the theme's resources, but couldn't seem to find what I was looking for... Anyone able to help me out?

Sage · Jul 6, 2003, 01:16 PM

The white-brushed look is only for the "Sunken Aqua" versions of Aqua Extreme and SmoothStripes... if you use the normal raised Aqua versions, you'll have the regular brushed look.

(for SmoothStripes, that means you have to download the non-sunken versions, but for Aqua Extreme, they're all in the same package)

N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 01:19 PM

LOL Figures. Of course, sunken aqua was the main reasons that I liked them in the first place... :-)

bOOzo · Jul 6, 2003, 01:34 PM

Sage is right, it's just for the Sunken Aqua variations. The reason being because the sunken aqua elements use a gradient to make them look sunken, but that gradient only looks good on a bright backgrround, hence the "milk" metal apps.
You could bring the Metal back by copying the Metal texture, Metal gradient and Metal Bevels from a regular extras.rsrc into the sunken aqua resource.

SwarmyCurve · Jul 6, 2003, 04:32 PM

Is it just me, or is the new Aqua Extreme Sunken Aqua 1.2 Traffic slightly messed up?

I just started using it (it looks amazing!) and in Aqua apps, the close/min/max buttons are traffic colored, like they should be, but in Brushed windows, they are all blue, like the other theme config.

Just a tip, looks great otherwise!

N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 05:05 PM

Just out of curiosity, what is it I'm needing to copy between the resource files...I've been looking them over in ThemePark but I can't seem to find anything that looks like a metal texture or gradient. I'm pretty new to this and I know how annoying newbies get, so I apologize, but I just need a couple of pointers and I can figure it out from there. :-)

fireside · Jul 6, 2003, 05:24 PM

maybe i should do some research before i start typing. :o

edit2: eh ill stick with the old aqua extreme. i like the new features but i got rid of panther because of its ugly title and menu bars. maybe next time

bOOzo · Jul 6, 2003, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by SwarmyCurve:
Is it just me, or is the new Aqua Extreme Sunken Aqua 1.2 Traffic slightly messed up?

I just started using it (it looks amazing!) and in Aqua apps, the close/min/max buttons are traffic colored, like they should be, but in Brushed windows, they are all blue, like the other theme config.

Just a tip, looks great otherwise!

I got that report to me, I probably messed that up when making the tons of different variations. I'll fix it sometime, busy downloading stuff with ADSL

SwarmyCurve · Jul 6, 2003, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
I got that report to me, I probably messed that up when making the tons of different variations. I'll fix it sometime, busy downloading stuff with ADSL

Yeah, that must be weird going from a 28.8 modem to ADSL. Have fun!

N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
Sage is right, it's just for the Sunken Aqua variations. The reason being because the sunken aqua elements use a gradient to make them look sunken, but that gradient only looks good on a bright backgrround, hence the "milk" metal apps.
You could bring the Metal back by copying the Metal texture, Metal gradient and Metal Bevels from a regular extras.rsrc into the sunken aqua resource.

Thanks Max! This worked pretty well, though I had to not only replace the metal itself, but I also had to replace the metal-specific widgets with ones from your brushed theme. All-in-all, though, it looks pretty good, though I'm taking my chances when it comes to regular widgets (this is one occasion when I'm happy Apple has used custom ones in metal apps...).

fireside · Jul 6, 2003, 10:27 PM

i was hacking Aqua Extreme 1.2 to get the brushed metal back and the stripes in correctly, but i just can not find the pxm for one thing. its hard to explain so ill just take a pic of of. here:

. kthnx

N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 11:11 PM

I could be completely wrong, but after looking at the "ppat" resources, that seems like one of them...

On another note, what resource is the little dot between the address intput and the Google input in Safari (the one that allows you to resize the Google field)?

N.L · Jul 6, 2003, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by N.L:
I could be completely wrong, but after looking at the "ppat" resources, that seems like one of them...

On another note, what resource is the little dot between the address intput and the Google input in Safari (the one that allows you to resize the Google field)?

Nevermind, I found it (Pane Splitter Dimple, in case anyone who doesn't know wants to know

).

fireside · Jul 6, 2003, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by N.L:
I could be completely wrong, but after looking at the "ppat" resources, that seems like one of them...

heh, you're right. i would have never thought about looking there
thanks.

now i need to know which freaking one.

N.L · Jul 7, 2003, 01:11 AM

I don't think there's too many....just try replacing them one by one with a plain-colored graphic or something and see what happens.

bOOzo · Jul 7, 2003, 05:49 AM

An easy way to combine themes is by doing this in ThemePark:

Apply the theme which you want to take elements from.
Open ThemePark 1.0.

Browse to which every category you want to take. For example you could choose the whole "Background" category if you just want the backgrounds from a theme.
Choose "Merge with installed elements".
Do this to all the elements you want to take.

Save that file as a themepark file.

(If you want to add elements from an other theme, save the file and apply that theme and then relaunch ThemePark.)

Then apply the theme that you want to merge the elements with and relaunch ThemePark.

Open up the file you saved. Go to the "Global Elements" category and select the whole category. Choose "merge with installed elements" (your changed items are NOT replaced).

Now go into the File menu and choose to export a DLTA.

Save that and inside you will have a Extras.rsrc which will have your changes in it.

Done!

fireside · Jul 7, 2003, 08:31 PM

eh whatever. im growing the the stripes in the menu bars and title bars and such and the subtle ones in different places. looks kinda spiffy.

bborofka · Jul 8, 2003, 01:46 AM

I love SmoothStripes Sunken Aqua 3.1.1, but I too can't stand not having brushed metal in the iApps and Safari. I know nothing about editing themes and don't have any tools to do so. Is there a chance someone could post a version of this theme with normal brushed metal? How bad do the buttons really look?

bOOzo · Jul 8, 2003, 06:38 AM

This is how bad they would look:

The best solution I could offer would be a bright metal in metal apps, would the be of interest?

If so I could make a mockup and then post a poll about it on my homepage.

alternate_bit · Jul 8, 2003, 11:02 AM

i have always thought a more subtle 'metal' is in order, and i'm surprised no one has come out with one yet. i have no idea how to get textured backgrounds to tile, otherwise i would help out.

mdc · Jul 8, 2003, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
...
The best solution I could offer would be a bright metal in metal apps, would the be of interest?

If so I could make a mockup and then post a poll about it on my homepage.

that would be too cool of you. your themes are amazing, but i would really like brushed metal back.

bOOzo · Jul 8, 2003, 12:10 PM

I tried some tinkering with the buttons now, and I came up with a different gradient that uses a alpha channel and would look good on both surfaces. I will probably remake the buttons using that and then the theme would not have a problem with metal texture.

mdc · Jul 8, 2003, 12:17 PM

Sage · Jul 8, 2003, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
I tried some tinkering with the buttons now, and I came up with a different gradient that uses a alpha channel and would look good on both surfaces. I will probably remake the buttons using that and then the theme would not have a problem with metal texture.

And an added bonus would be that they would look good on all websites too!

N.L · Jul 8, 2003, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
I tried some tinkering with the buttons now, and I came up with a different gradient that uses a alpha channel and would look good on both surfaces. I will probably remake the buttons using that and then the theme would not have a problem with metal texture.

Woo hooo! This I am really looking forward to!

bborofka · Jul 8, 2003, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
This is how bad they would look:

The best solution I could offer would be a bright metal in metal apps, would the be of interest?

If so I could make a mockup and then post a poll about it on my homepage.

That really doesn't look all that bad, but I'm glad to hear you've found a way to make the buttons look even better on brushed metal... I hope that doesn't mean you're going to change brushed metal at all... I don't think I'd want it brighter than it is now

Keep up the good work. Can't wait for the update!

bOOzo · Jul 9, 2003, 05:41 AM

This is how the new buttons will look on SS and Brushed:

Although they will look a tad bit different in Aqua Extreme, they will be 4% darker on the top. And they will also be 1% lighter on the bottom in both AE and SS.

mdc · Jul 9, 2003, 08:08 AM

they look good. you got my vote

N.L · Jul 9, 2003, 12:00 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
This is how the new buttons will look on SS and Brushed:

[image above]

Although they will look a tad bit different in Aqua Extreme, they will be 4% darker on the top. And they will also be 1% lighter on the bottom in both AE and SS.

Those look great! Eagerly awaiting the update!

Zimphire · Jul 9, 2003, 02:29 PM

Those look cool booz, they look just like the sunken buttons on the bottom of the iTunes window. And I like those.

fireside · Jul 9, 2003, 10:47 PM

dru · Jul 10, 2003, 03:38 AM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
This is how the new buttons will look on SS and Brushed:

[image]

Although they will look a tad bit different in Aqua Extreme, they will be 4% darker on the top. And they will also be 1% lighter on the bottom in both AE and SS.

I like them. Update please.

bOOzo · Jul 10, 2003, 08:34 AM

The update should be out in a day or two.

N.L · Jul 10, 2003, 10:33 AM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
The update should be out in a day or two.

Awesome! Thanks!

bOOzo · Jul 11, 2003, 10:31 AM

It's out now! Grab it on my homepage, although the ww.maxthemes.com redirect does not seem to work right now, but just click my sig and you will get there.

Hope you will like it.

N.L · Jul 11, 2003, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by bOOzo:
It's out now! Grab it on my homepage, although the ww.maxthemes.com redirect does not seem to work right now, but just click my sig and you will get there.

Hope you will like it.

It looks very nice (as does the Safari skin, which is cool)! Very much appreciated! A donation is on it's way.

mdc · 03:04 PM

looks good, thanks a lot