MUTOOLS

robfigee · Post by **robfigee** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 4:56 pm

Hi, here is another question:
In version 3 I could download a different skin, which is impotant for me, because I have very bad eye sight and need a brighter and contrasting interface.
Version 4 has a Skin chooser, but I can click on NEXT or PREVIOUS but nothing happens.
Is this choice still to be implemented?

Rob

mutools · Post by **mutools** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 7:15 pm

Currently there only is 1 skin for MuLab 4.
I've taken note that, if there is only 1 skin, the Choose Skin option is not visible.

Whether the other M3 skins will be upgraded to M4 depends on how much people want this, and about how much work will be involved. At this point i've no idea about that yet. But i think multi-core support will get more priority.

sl23 · Post by **sl23** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 7:26 pm

+1 for the skin updates

liquidsound · Post by **liquidsound** » Sat Feb 11, 2012 8:43 pm

Briefly, if you can, what are the elements that are fixed? I mean not modifiable for a skin design?

> DiGiT < · Post by **> DiGiT <** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:57 am

i think the size and shape of the component images.

mutools · Post by **mutools** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:28 pm

liquidsound wrote:Briefly, if you can, what are the elements that are fixed? I mean not modifiable for a skin design?

I don't have that specificly listed. I think 95% is skinnable.

Hey maybe it would be interesting if several skin developers would work together on 1 super skin. That sounds better to me than individual people each working on a separated skin.

I'll also have a look at what it takes to update the M3 skins.

bpblog · Post by **bpblog** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:37 pm

custom skin support is always nice, but i have to say that MuLab has never looked better with the default skin. version 4 looks awesome!

> DiGiT < · Post by **> DiGiT <** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:46 pm

i was just gonna say that

AndreasD · Post by **AndreasD** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:59 pm

Same here!
I used to use a different skin in M3, but for M4 I will stay with the default.
Just one thing I would change is that i love the Cubase style fader knobs.
As the default ones are round, a rectangular fader does not look good in the racks.
If someone is up to the task:
Racks are in LooxPhat/Common/Common/Pictures
- WideRackStandard.Png
- WideRackFocused.Png
- SmallRackStandard.Png
- SmallRackFocused.Png

The fader is in LooxPhat/Common/Common/Formats/VerticalSliderHandle.Png

robfigee · Post by **robfigee** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:38 pm

Hi, it is not that I do not like the default M4 skin. My problem is because of low vision I have troubles seeing grey characters in a dark grey background. Same goes for orange on medium grey.
I need more contrast.
I used a very bright skin in M3 which proved workable.
I sometimes have to use magnifying software to be able to read the text.
Certainly M4 skin makes this necessary, which is a pity.

Rob

DHR53 · Post by **DHR53** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:24 pm

I've really been impressed with the new look and skin... It's partly why I've been focused on the app more lately... but that being said, I'd like to do a skin option as I am a graphic designer by trade. I would classify the current skin as "dark" so I guess a different version would be a lighter overall look, or a subtle color variation of "light." I could work on parts, if someone else want to do another section. If you can point me to the skinning faq I'll take a look.

pljones · Post by **pljones** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:41 pm

I think the quickest explanation is to copy what's in .../App/Graphics/LooxPhat - the subfolders and files have identifiable names and the .txt files are reasonably self-explanatory. Start tweaking and see what happens

.

DHR53 · Post by **DHR53** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:51 pm

I'll check it out...

robfigee · Post by **robfigee** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:28 pm

That's great, guys. If you could create a lighter skin with more contrat that would be wonderful.
White text on a dark background or black characters on a white or light grey background would do miracles for me.
Thanks in advance,

Rob.

Calum · Post by **Calum** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:09 am

robfigee wrote:That's great, guys. If you could create a lighter skin with more contrat that would be wonderful.
White text on a dark background or black characters on a white or light grey background would do miracles for me.
Thanks in advance, Rob.

These links are to three increasingly lighter versions of LooxPhat. This is a "quick fix" running the whole skin through a gamma conversion script. It only affects the graphic elements and not any of the colours specified in the XML files. The files are all larger than the originals but if they are of any use to anyone then I can optimise the file size to match the original skin.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5751102/LooxPhat_1.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5751102/LooxPhat_2.zip

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5751102/LooxPhat_3.zip

I have a few half finished skins for MULAB 3
(eg. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5751102/LooxXstream.png )
and if I can find the time, I may look at updating/completing these or perhaps creating some entirely new skins for MULAB 4. If I do I will certainly look at lighter options.

Unfortunately, I am not really open to collaboratively working on a skin as I have to deal with enough "design by committee" decisions during my daytime job. I am however happy to give advice or help anyone who wants to create a MULAB skin.

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