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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > GUI Customization > New theme mockup, I think this might be sweet! (feedback plz)

New theme mockup, I think this might be sweet! (feedback plz)
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NetworkShadow
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Apr 23, 2003, 06:12 PM
 
This is a posable predecessor to Dark Glass:


I'm happy with it for the most part, the title bar and widgets are the best. I like the color a lot too. I've still got to work on the scroll bars/buttons as you can see.
A rounded version might be posable also, and I'm going to try a few other things on it. I'll be posting more mockups later.
Let me hear some feedback!




Edit:


2 new mockups, featuring sunken buttons, lower contrast, rounded, and better readability:



And my one color titlebar:
( Last edited by NetworkShadow; Apr 26, 2003 at 01:32 AM. )
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TheIceMan
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Apr 23, 2003, 06:22 PM
 
Wow, I like it. It's got a futuristic metal look to it. Yeah please do a rounded version. Good job so far.
     
Fluid
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Apr 23, 2003, 06:28 PM
 
The stripes look weird. Other than that awesome.
     
mrtew
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Apr 23, 2003, 07:15 PM
 
Originally posted by Fluid:
The stripes look weird. Other than that awesome.

I'd ditch the high contrast blue stripes too, but the rest looks HOT!

I love the U.S., but we need some time apart.
     
sambeau
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Apr 23, 2003, 07:19 PM
 
I think the dark blue reflection is too dark - makes the text hard to read. The inactive tab text is easier to read..

I like the progress bar..
     
fisherKing
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Apr 23, 2003, 07:29 PM
 
altho i personally prefer a uniform menubar (no seperate section for the buttons)...i like this one.

make it so!
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
Atomic Rooster
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Apr 23, 2003, 07:35 PM
 
boy!...you're sure into dark shadowy stuff...but i like it...maybe a little less curvy...
     
Sage
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Apr 23, 2003, 07:49 PM
 
Nice! Like several people have suggested, I think the pinstripes are a bit much, but otherwise, it's fantastic!
     
fisherKing
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Apr 23, 2003, 08:07 PM
 
gotta say, i LIKE the pinstripe...adds a little "animation" to the theme...
"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 23, 2003, 09:50 PM
 
I think the dark blue reflection is too dark - makes the text hard to read. The inactive tab text is easier to read..

I like the progress bar..
Maybe if the title bar and buttons text is the same color as the inactive tab's it will fix the readability? I'll try a few things in the next mockup to help readability. I don't want to lose the high contrast shiny look for the title bar though, that's the look I'm going for.

I'll keep messing with the window background color, maybe at least make less contrast in the stripes.

Well I'll be making new mockups with you're suggestions in mind. I'm not sure if there'll be pleasing everyone, but I'll try to make most everyone happy. You can count on a rounded one too.
click one
     
970
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Apr 23, 2003, 10:10 PM
 
It looks like the text is obscured by dark shadows. Spooky.
     
gveloper
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Apr 23, 2003, 10:24 PM
 
This one looks awesome, keep up the great work!
---
Dave Smith
[email protected] - AIM: Gveloper
KF4YYT
     
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Apr 23, 2003, 10:39 PM
 
It sure is original. I'd ditch the pinstripes...

And while you're at it... ditch the sig and stick to the Sig Guidelines please.

Mac Guru
     
SwarmyCurve
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Apr 23, 2003, 10:48 PM
 
I would stick to DarkGlass... this is too kaleidoscope-y (my new word).

The text is hard to read with the harsh gradients. If you smooth it out and simplify it a bit, it could progress into something very nice!
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 23, 2003, 11:52 PM
 
And while you're at it... ditch the sig and stick to the Sig Guidelines please.

Mac Guru [/B]
Hay sure, what's the guidline anyway? Is it too big?


Ok so I'll be working on, a rounded mockup with no pinstripes. Think the "pill" look for buttons would be good also?
( Last edited by NetworkShadow; Apr 23, 2003 at 11:58 PM. )
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mrbiiggy2
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Apr 24, 2003, 01:24 AM
 
The gradient is hideous. The preview looks "dirty"/messy. Can't stand the lines.
     
Adam Betts
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Apr 24, 2003, 03:03 AM
 
Originally posted by mrbiiggy2:
The gradient is hideous. The preview looks "dirty"/messy. Can't stand the lines.
I agree. I'd get headache from using it. Otherwise, it's original

Like everyone else, I'd suggest you to ditch the pinstripes
     
mrbiiggy2
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Apr 24, 2003, 03:27 AM
 
Originally posted by Adam Betts:
I agree. I'd get headache from using it. Otherwise, it's original
Blah, original like every other crappy Kaleidoscope scheme from OS9. 98% of those were really hideous. Are we going to repeat that? I've already seen a couple of schemes that remind me of those old crappy schemes.
     
fisherKing
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Apr 24, 2003, 08:14 AM
 
gotta reiterate: i like it.
just wish the bar was one color, not a seperate color where the buttons are.

like my mac to be colorful, distinctive.

great thing about themes, tho...

to each his own.

"At first, there was Nothing. Then Nothing inverted itself and became Something.
And that is what you all are: inverted Nothings...with potential" (Sun Ra)
     
Brien
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Apr 24, 2003, 10:13 AM
 
No, pill buttons is a bad idea... like the rest though.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 24, 2003, 10:39 AM
 
Wow a lot of mixed feelings on this one, seems to be a love or hate kinda theme! Well to each their own, but I think it looks a lot better than most of the OS X themes out today. Thre aren't enough original themes, so that's what I'm trying to fix. If you don't like original themes then you can stick with your aqua variations that are getting old really fast.

For one mockup I'll try a one color title bar, and try without pinstripes. A rounded look might help loose the "Kaleidoscope look" you people keep talking about. Rounded corners on the buttons might also help, and I was thinking of using a sunken look for them too.
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Hi I'm Mike
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Apr 24, 2003, 11:13 AM
 
the pinstrips make the theme i think. I also think sunken buttons instead of pill buttons would look good. more sunken stuff though.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 24, 2003, 02:18 PM
 
Originally posted by Hi I'm Mike:
the pinstrips make the theme i think. I also think sunken buttons instead of pill buttons would look good. more sunken stuff though.
Ya I had tried without the pinstripes to start with, I couldn't get a color to match though. I might try lower contrast on the pinstripes though.

Sunken and rounded are my main focus for my next mockup.
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970
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Apr 24, 2003, 04:27 PM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
Wow a lot of mixed feelings on this one, seems to be a love or hate kinda theme! Well to each their own, but I think it looks a lot better than most of the OS X themes out today. Thre aren't enough original themes, so that's what I'm trying to fix. If you don't like original themes then you can stick with your aqua variations that are getting old really fast.
You really believe that?
     
SwarmyCurve
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Apr 24, 2003, 07:42 PM
 
Originally posted by 970:
You really believe that?
Well, at least its better than that weird chart mapping theme.

This is what I meant by it being too kaleidoscope-y / garrish. This is an example of a gaudy kaleidoscope theme.



Really... stick to Dark Glass, that looks much nicer.
     
Mac Guru
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Apr 24, 2003, 07:44 PM
 
You really believe that?
YES he really believes that, and it doesn't surprise me... People like different things, that's why they sell blue cars and white cars and ones that carry two people while others carry 14. It's personal preference... he can like themes like that while you might like and all white one.

If we all liked the same thing... we wouldn't have themes now would we?

P.S.- N.S... I like the idea behind the theme... it just needs some love and time to get that much better.

Mac Guru
     
Hi I'm Ben
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Apr 24, 2003, 07:53 PM
 
I just can't dig these themes that are so overly glossy and such. It reminds me of people who use Eyecandy to make photoshop touchups
     
Adam Betts
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Apr 24, 2003, 09:32 PM
 
Originally posted by Hi I'm Ben:
I just can't dig these themes that are so overly glossy and such. It reminds me of people who use Eyecandy to make photoshop touchups
Heh yeah, that's what I thought so too.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 24, 2003, 11:26 PM
 
Can't a guy post a rough mockup without people putting it down? A critique is one thing, but some of you are just rude. *cough*mrbiiggy2*cough*

Don't worry Dark Glass is almost done, and that's why I'm working on this one now.

As Mac users should understand I'm trying to be different form other theme makers, being more creative and fun.
As for your "kaleidoscope-y" medifor, I think the non-rounded look is what reminded you of that, but I think it's a lot better than a kaleidoscope scheme even if I do say so my self.

Since at least 60% of people seem to like it I continued work on it.... And thanks for the helpful feedback! So for those who care, I just finished 2 new mockups, featuring sunken buttons, lower contrast, rounded, and better readability:



And my one color titlebar:


Getting a bit more polished hu? Now I'd glady take feedback on the new mockups, not hate mail cuz I don't want to hear it.
click one
     
TheIceMan
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Apr 24, 2003, 11:48 PM
 
NetworkShadow:

Yeah, I like this one.



Dude, you just keep working at it. As long as you like it and some like it hey, the hell with what the rest thinks. Geez, some people are never happy. And let's not forget...making themes is hard. Some of us, including me, are consumers of themes. We don't have the tech-know-how to do it. So as someone who gets to benefit from themes such as this, I am grateful. But like some have said, beauty and personal preference are in the eye of the beholder. NetworkShadow I like this theme.
     
phillryu
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Apr 24, 2003, 11:52 PM
 
It's gotten a LOT better since the first preview.

     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 24, 2003, 11:54 PM
 
Originally posted by TheIceMan:
NetworkShadow:

Yeah, I like this one.
http://awguilab.ambitiouslemon.com/i...dtheme1_06.jpg

Dude, you just keep working at it. As long as you like it and some like it hey, the hell with what the rest thinks. Geez, some people are never happy. And let's not forget...making themes is hard. Some of us, including me, are consumers of themes. We don't have the tech-know-how to do it. So as someone who gets to benefit from themes such as this, I am grateful. But like some have said, beauty and personal preference are in the eye of the beholder. NetworkShadow I like this theme.
Thanks IceMan! Any ideas to improve it?
click one
     
TheIceMan
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Apr 25, 2003, 12:26 AM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
Thanks IceMan! Any ideas to improve it?
2 suggestions: First, maybe lighten the background color just a little more. Second, I was wondering about maybe spacing the pinstrips farther apart so they don't seem "too busy". I like the distance the stripes are in Apple's original Aqua or even Max's Aqua Extreme. Just my 2 cents or 1 cent if you only take one.
     
SwarmyCurve
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Apr 25, 2003, 06:27 AM
 
It is much improved with the newer one color titlebar variation.

I would still tone down the gradiant in the scroll and progress bar. The pinstripes are still distracting too, but I've never been a huge stripe fan.
     
Lew
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Apr 25, 2003, 06:42 AM
 
Very nice-looking theme. You could get some nice colour variations going, too.

Gold



Green



Light Grey

     
Atomic Rooster
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Apr 25, 2003, 12:46 PM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
Can't a guy post a rough mockup without people putting it down? A critique is one thing, but some of you are just rude. *cough*mrbiiggy2*cough*
never ever post a pict of project and not expect some individuals not to pounce on it...go for the throat and tear your testicles from your body...
     
Hi I'm Mike
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Apr 25, 2003, 02:26 PM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:



And my one color titlebar:

alright so i was thinking take the progress and scroll from the second one and put it in the first and make the titlebar laft side color the same as the 2nd progress bar color and i like the gradient on the second one more than the first one.also those color variations look good. and yes dark glass only has the tabs to go now. so maybe monday?
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 25, 2003, 05:23 PM
 
Ya the colors might work. I'll try a few more mockups soon.

I've got a logo almost ready for dark glass also, and I want to make a safari skin too.
click one
     
mrtew
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Apr 25, 2003, 10:30 PM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
This is a posable predecessor to Dark Glass:


I have to say I like the first one the best.... it's more distinctive. You are in danger of refining it to where it looks like all the other grey gradient themes out there. Warning! Turn back!

I love the U.S., but we need some time apart.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 25, 2003, 10:34 PM
 
Originally posted by mrtew:
I have to say I like the first one the best.... it's more distinctive. You are in danger of refining it to where it looks like all the other grey gradient themes out there. Warning! Turn back!
Well thanks, though I kinda like my new ones better. But I do agree that it shouldn't become just another plane grey theme.
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Fallout
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Apr 26, 2003, 01:25 AM
 
Sorry, but that looks terrible. Those gradients are just bad. The title and drop-down menu text is almost unreadable.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 26, 2003, 01:31 AM
 
Originally posted by Fallout:
Sorry, but that looks terrible. Those gradients are just bad. The title and drop-down menu text is almost unreadable.
Forget about the old mockup, what about the 2 new ones?!
click one
     
Zimphire
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Apr 26, 2003, 04:22 AM
 
While I would never use the theme, I think it's a great theme. Esp the colors, reminds me of the Scope days. It needs to be made.
     
headbirth
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Apr 26, 2003, 08:15 AM
 
Defintely go with the first mockup.....your over thinking it :-)
     
Macrat
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Apr 26, 2003, 10:19 AM
 



I think this looks really slick! Very futuristic and sci-fi. I don't normally like pinstripes, but this works well with them. This version is a better compromise than the first, with the restfull clean area and the busy pinstripes in the background.

The only thing that looks odd are the arrows on the scroll buttons, which look a little 'pasted on'. It would be kind of nice to see the progress bar do something different than the scroll bar too.

     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 26, 2003, 01:48 PM
 
Now I'm not sure what to go with! lol Well I'll try a few more mockups, nothing hugely different though.
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Adam Betts
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Apr 26, 2003, 02:04 PM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
And my one color titlebar:
I like this one.. much better from the original mockup

It's very important that you set all lightning direction to 90 degree. In that tab box, the lightning direction is 120 degree.
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 27, 2003, 12:20 AM
 
Well the gradient/lighting would change depending on the shape of the object... But I'm not sure what you're getting at.
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bOOzo
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Apr 27, 2003, 04:39 AM
 
Originally posted by NetworkShadow:
Well the gradient/lighting would change depending on the shape of the object... But I'm not sure what you're getting at.
He means that your tab pane have a 120� shadow while other objects are lit at a 90� angle.

Btw I also like this mockup the best:
     
NetworkShadow  (op)
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Apr 27, 2003, 12:41 PM
 
Oh, dropshadow? Thanks Max.
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