there are a couple more free rendered knobs over on http://www.neutron7.com
there is a link near the top "free knobs for scope developers"
new knobs.
I would like to build some knobs too. How should the file be made ? let's say a 32-position knob. Should all the files be separate or combined in a bitmap sequence ? What about transparency ? I assume you want a transparent background. And do they have to be bmp files or is png or even gif ok ?
I notice the posted knobs above are actually tga files on black.....
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2002-03-26 20:35 ]</font>
I notice the posted knobs above are actually tga files on black.....
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2002-03-26 20:35 ]</font>
scope requires 32 bit TGA or (some kind of) BMP files (which i never tried)
the files have to be numbered like knob0000,knob0001.....knob0031 (for a 32 position one.)the name part before the number is not important.
scope will load nnn0000 and every following file with the same name until it finds one with no following number. the animation is then stored with the device (and can be referenced within a device for other knobs)
I like to use 3dsMAX to crete controls because it is "scope friendly" i like it for these reasons:
when you create an object in 3dsMAX and render it with nothing behind it. the alpha channel(transparancy) is created automatically.
when you specify a non animated file type and render an animation sequence it will create the proper numbered files
video post can be used to make alpha blended glows.
something else i cant think of right now
If you open those knobs in photoshop and look at the alpha channel you will see how the transparency works.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: defex on 2002-03-27 12:29 ]</font>
the files have to be numbered like knob0000,knob0001.....knob0031 (for a 32 position one.)the name part before the number is not important.
scope will load nnn0000 and every following file with the same name until it finds one with no following number. the animation is then stored with the device (and can be referenced within a device for other knobs)
I like to use 3dsMAX to crete controls because it is "scope friendly" i like it for these reasons:
when you create an object in 3dsMAX and render it with nothing behind it. the alpha channel(transparancy) is created automatically.
when you specify a non animated file type and render an animation sequence it will create the proper numbered files
video post can be used to make alpha blended glows.
something else i cant think of right now
If you open those knobs in photoshop and look at the alpha channel you will see how the transparency works.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: defex on 2002-03-27 12:29 ]</font>
Other instructions.
you cannot rezise animations in scope (i had the question once).
for faders : do only the button itself, a single bmp 24 bit (or tga 32 for alpha channel). it is imported after by the developper on the "trail" script. You can also do the whole animation if it's special.
For 2 state buttons (on/off for ex) do the on & off states , or all states if you have specific text.
deal only with bitmaps 24 bit windows, or TGA 32 bit if you need an alpha.
if you don't need an alpha bmp is preffered (my opinion of course, but it's better for compatibility)
Alpha allows to make round corners/transparancy.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-03-27 13:48 ]</font>
you cannot rezise animations in scope (i had the question once).
for faders : do only the button itself, a single bmp 24 bit (or tga 32 for alpha channel). it is imported after by the developper on the "trail" script. You can also do the whole animation if it's special.
For 2 state buttons (on/off for ex) do the on & off states , or all states if you have specific text.
deal only with bitmaps 24 bit windows, or TGA 32 bit if you need an alpha.
if you don't need an alpha bmp is preffered (my opinion of course, but it's better for compatibility)
Alpha allows to make round corners/transparancy.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-03-27 13:48 ]</font>
Another tip :
Please do not do animation of 32 images for a knob : do at least 33 or an ODD number. Why ? because it allows a perfect middle position, contrary to what you can see on Pulsar knobs.
I alos talked about size : this means your animation/knob will be of the same size as you do it. there's no way to make it smaller or bigger afterwards.
I would take a device ipmage as a background to make my own knob fits the general pulsra graphics.
PAy attention to shadow : "drop shadow" can be made in DP (shadow iof the knob on the device surface). but the light effect on your knob must be in the animation. We can do Drop Shadow in Scope, but their's no lightning editor (and that's better for our dsp).
This is taken from DP Manual :
Bitmaps/Animations
This dialog serves to provide content for bitmaps and
animations , supports 24-bit BMP and 32-bit TGA
files. For rectangular bitmaps with no transparency
component you can use the 24-bit BMP format. For objects
with rounded or other transparent or semi-transparent
regions (such as a potentiometer knob) you will need the
alpha-channel. This is supported by only a few graphics
formats, and in SCOPE it is supported only for the TGA
format at present.
Animations also use BMP or TGA images. The 3d images
used to animate the potentiometers were rendered as a
sequence of TGA files (pot01.tga, pot02.tga, pot3.tga ...).
The number of frames you use is arbitrary and does not
influence the resolution of the values the control can
produce. The more frames you use the smoother the
animation will be - and the greater the storage requirements.
The potentiometers use 32 images, which is quite sufficient
to produce a smooth sequence.
******************
As i said, please do ODD numbered anim for knobs, like 33 images and not 32. Maniacs like me like it when middle value correspond to a perfect middle position graphic.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-03-28 11:34 ]</font>
Please do not do animation of 32 images for a knob : do at least 33 or an ODD number. Why ? because it allows a perfect middle position, contrary to what you can see on Pulsar knobs.
I alos talked about size : this means your animation/knob will be of the same size as you do it. there's no way to make it smaller or bigger afterwards.
I would take a device ipmage as a background to make my own knob fits the general pulsra graphics.
PAy attention to shadow : "drop shadow" can be made in DP (shadow iof the knob on the device surface). but the light effect on your knob must be in the animation. We can do Drop Shadow in Scope, but their's no lightning editor (and that's better for our dsp).
This is taken from DP Manual :
Bitmaps/Animations
This dialog serves to provide content for bitmaps and
animations , supports 24-bit BMP and 32-bit TGA
files. For rectangular bitmaps with no transparency
component you can use the 24-bit BMP format. For objects
with rounded or other transparent or semi-transparent
regions (such as a potentiometer knob) you will need the
alpha-channel. This is supported by only a few graphics
formats, and in SCOPE it is supported only for the TGA
format at present.
Animations also use BMP or TGA images. The 3d images
used to animate the potentiometers were rendered as a
sequence of TGA files (pot01.tga, pot02.tga, pot3.tga ...).
The number of frames you use is arbitrary and does not
influence the resolution of the values the control can
produce. The more frames you use the smoother the
animation will be - and the greater the storage requirements.
The potentiometers use 32 images, which is quite sufficient
to produce a smooth sequence.
******************
As i said, please do ODD numbered anim for knobs, like 33 images and not 32. Maniacs like me like it when middle value correspond to a perfect middle position graphic.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-03-28 11:34 ]</font>
Good numbers of frames for knobs:On 2002-03-27 23:06, spacef wrote:
Another tip :
Please do not do animation of 32 images for a knob : do at least 33 or an ODD number. Why ? because it allows a perfect middle position, contrary to what you can see on Pulsar knobs.
0 to 10 dial .
41 frames.
modular type dial (with marks at -135, -90, -45, 0, 45, 90, and 135 degree positions)
37 frames.
Main Light source is "microsoft approved" from the top and right with some fill lighting as you like.
this is just so it will match other pre existing controls someone may decide to use.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: defex on 2002-03-28 08:33 ]</font>
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: defex on 2002-03-28 08:34 ]</font>
Thanks Spirit !
actually i was looking for that one
but it's not there on defex site...
AT a moment I was interested in giving a free membership/ProQ for he who would do knobs i could use on the final commercial version of ProQ, but i don't know if people would be interested....
I could also do nothing and use 3rd party knobs if any, and make members if i use the knobs in a commercial device (ie, out of any "contest" or whatever)
In any case i would update the free beta/devices
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-04-01 01:18 ]</font>
actually i was looking for that one
but it's not there on defex site...
AT a moment I was interested in giving a free membership/ProQ for he who would do knobs i could use on the final commercial version of ProQ, but i don't know if people would be interested....
I could also do nothing and use 3rd party knobs if any, and make members if i use the knobs in a commercial device (ie, out of any "contest" or whatever)
In any case i would update the free beta/devices
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-04-01 01:18 ]</font>
did you have any luck yet? I would be interested in seeing a non MAX based knob creation automationOn 2002-04-01 01:20, Spirit wrote:
I'm trying
Trying to automate the process between a bitmap sequence and creating the alpha channels - don't to do an alpha channel for all 33 bitmaps individually...
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: defex on 2002-04-05 11:03 ]</font>
I created a knob as a bmp in Fireworks then took it to Flash to do the rotation. I then tried to "export as bitmap sequence". The plan was to then take the multiple bitmaps, drop them into Photoshop and then drop the alpha channel on each bmp and save as tga. But I wasn't satisfied - too messy and inaccurate.
Now I'm trying to take the bmp, save as a GIF, create a rotation animation in Fireworks (which is far more easily controlled than in Flash), then export as a bitmap sequence, go to Photoshop for tga etc.
It's all a bit messy. I think I'd like it your way !
Just one thing I'm a little hazey about: when I have the Photoshop file with the Alpha channel, should I make the alpha visible when saving as a tga ?
So I'm perservering - I just want to automate some of it.
Now I'm trying to take the bmp, save as a GIF, create a rotation animation in Fireworks (which is far more easily controlled than in Flash), then export as a bitmap sequence, go to Photoshop for tga etc.
It's all a bit messy. I think I'd like it your way !
Just one thing I'm a little hazey about: when I have the Photoshop file with the Alpha channel, should I make the alpha visible when saving as a tga ?
So I'm perservering - I just want to automate some of it.
I've had good success at last - Fireworks can semi-automate the process, but no TGA output 
For now I'll just go with 24-bit bmp files on black.
Just one more question: Fireworks exports the bitmap sequence with file numbering name _f01, name_f02 .... name_f33
Will this naming convention be OK or does it need to be four numbers ie name_0001 ?
thanks for all the help
Too bad Scope won't take gif files, then I could really have fun...
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2002-04-06 07:51 ]</font>
For now I'll just go with 24-bit bmp files on black.
Just one more question: Fireworks exports the bitmap sequence with file numbering name _f01, name_f02 .... name_f33
Will this naming convention be OK or does it need to be four numbers ie name_0001 ?
thanks for all the help
Too bad Scope won't take gif files, then I could really have fun...
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Spirit on 2002-04-06 07:51 ]</font>