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Re: advice

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 4:42 am
by Floyd
Switchboy wrote:Dear kevintrooper,

For example this:
...

The black bar here is a clear almost 1:1 copy of the Vista bar shown here:
...

Now lets say hypothetical that no one saw it and we all liked that design and used it in ReactOS. Then we would have given Microsoft yet another reason to sue ROS.
can you make a mock up title bar that's dark olive and has the glass effect? i would like to see it.

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:02 am
by artguy10
But there is no need to make an exact copy. For example, we are implementing desktop spaces. It doesn't have to work exactly like Windows, just be compatible with all Windows apps and files. It could work a lot like Windows, but why not make it as intuitive to use as Macs are? Windows have many design problems which can be improved upon (not necessarily radical changes), both in operating and gui.

Floyd: I'm working on a mock-up desktop for you...
[ external image ]

How's this? Drawn from scratch and used the following elements from other sources: Desktop background (from ROSFan) and icons from crystal clear. I'll get to an open window soon.

I don't think this is too different from windows to be a radical change, and I don't think Microsoft could sue for the similarities to Vista/XP.

I personally don't like the green/olive colors here, but here it is. (I would actually prefer blue; a blue desktop and theme might be my next task.)

So as far as making this, or anything else, into a theme, I would need to know how to combine these elements into a theme. Is it possible to store menu bars, task bars, icons, and a background, all in a single (large) .theme file? If I make a theme to work in Windows, would it be able to work in ReactOS?

Maybe something like this:

[ external image ]

Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:05 am
by artguy10
merged

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:01 am
by artguy10
merged

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:42 am
by artguy10
merged

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:59 am
by Z98
We don't have theme support implemented at the moment. Also, it's best to try and talk to mf about this, as he's technically in charge of graphics and the like. Finally, try to avoid double posting.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:24 am
by artguy10
If I made a double post, I didn't realize it. I understand that themes aren't supported yet. This was mainly in response to Floyd.

I could also help with making new icons, but I think the best way to go would be to work with Crystal Clear on this.

EDIT: I thought double posting was posting the same thing twice in a row. I see you mean posting different things in two posts one after another.

Great Theme Idea

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:27 pm
by Bond007s
Maybe you could help mf and others with the shell rewrite. This theme idea looks great and is similar to vista/xp designs enough to be comfortable as a move over from, but it is also different enough to not cause comostion...

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 5:35 pm
by artguy10
I would be more than happy to help with the ui to make ROS nicer to use. But, exactly how would I be able to contribute? Who's mf?

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:43 pm
by Z98
mf, aka mindflyer, is the graphics coordinator for ROS. You can find info on him in the wiki.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:30 pm
by Floyd
artguy10 wrote:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/9210 ... newfp4.png

How's this? Drawn from scratch and used the following elements from other sources: Desktop background (from ROSFan) and icons from crystal clear. I'll get to an open window soon.
...
i like it :-)
the blue and the green both are very nice.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:23 am
by artguy10
Thanks. :)

I contacted mf.

You know, it seems the direction reactos is going is to be almost like a break-off version of windows. However, I don't think there should be major fear in becoming a little more different. For example, I was able to switch from Windows to Mac (very different, and much better) and I was completely adjusted within the month. I mean, all we need is Windows compatibility (except for the crashing part), but it looks like this is going to be able to work even with windows help files (which isn't exactly a problem either). :wink:

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:41 pm
by kevintrooper
artguy10 wrote:Maybe something like this:

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/4537 ... luelo6.png
melike! very great job!

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:42 pm
by Floyd
artguy10 wrote:Thanks. :)

I contacted mf.

You know, it seems the direction reactos is going is to be almost like a break-off version of windows. However, I don't think there should be major fear in becoming a little more different. For example, I was able to switch from Windows to Mac (very different, and much better) and I was completely adjusted within the month. I mean, all we need is Windows compatibility (except for the crashing part), but it looks like this is going to be able to work even with windows help files (which isn't exactly a problem either). :wink:
i agree whole-heartedly
as far as you not liking the dark olive; try it with the red-flower vista backdrop--i think it would look much better to you.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:57 pm
by artguy10
Floyd wrote:i agree whole-heartedly
as far as you not liking the dark olive; try it with the red-flower vista backdrop--i think it would look much better to you.
Could you please direct me to the url of the exact image you are talking about? Is this it: http://www.vistawallpapers.com/data/med ... ta_002.jpg
BTW: The task bar is 100% opaque. Do you think it would work with the red background you are talking about if I made it slightly transparent?

[ external image ]

Hey, if anyone thinks there is a chance that this might help the developers to make a better gui, please give me any suggestions for improvement/change and I can post them.