KnobMan/SkinMan Examples

[osiris]

I tried this :#6D7B8D It was the closet I came to your background color. There were several color choices given. FYI: Click on the color tabs at the bottom of the page marked 'Monochromatic', etc. to show the corresponding colors. It doesn't just show them. You click the buttons and it displays the corresponding colors.

[l0calh05t]

Ok, here is the updated version (darker text, different shading, text alignment improved):

[Hlis93]

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[scuzzphut]

hlis93

the layout of that post was not pleasing to me at all

[Kriminal]

hlis93

the layout of that post was not pleasing to me at all

[Hlis93]

yeah, I edited that bit out. I didn't say what I wanted. Was not meant to be discourage.

[duncanparsons]

Ok, here is the updated version (darker text, different shading, text alignment improved):

I like that, it's really coming along.

I'm not sure I understand everything that Hils says, but when your getting to that kind of critique, then it's going well

DSP

[l0calh05t]

Edit:

OK let me try this one last time. Here are some suggestions as I perceive the skin. These are the things I would ask myself to change if this where my skin.

First of all, thanks for the extensive reply.

The knobs: Make the knobs a unified color; keep the accents on the most important parameter only. Remove the stubble from the outer edge of the knob. A continuous solid outer edge will help establish a clear connection between the indicator line and the numeric values outside the knob. The stubble as it spins will be distracting and it is hard on the eyes. Place the stubble inside the solid shape they will serve to create depth but will not break the line between of slight between the number and the indicator. Perhaps increase the brightness on the metal shape and change the contrast to accent or dull the gradients.

Well, the point of the colored edge was to create separation between the different parameter categories and I don't really see what's wrong about having the "stubble" at the outer edge. Is this approximately what you had in mind:

The switches: the switches are not working with the knobs; they clash both in color and I don't get a strong stylistic connection between them.

What would you suggest? The only possible change that came to my mind was making the slider a little darker.

The Meters: I do not know if that color of the meter is just temporary placement or if that is the actual background color, I don't use skinman I only use knobman. None the less, perhaps something much darker until it is illuminated when lamps are off there is no light to illuminate them, the purplish hue make me think there is.

Yes, the slight blueish hue is supposed to be the lighting, but why should the lamps ever be off?? Or are you thinking about having the lamps vary their brightness with the position of the needle (as I have seen in a few plugins)? Because that is extremely silly and unrealistic IMO.

The backgound is good, the logo you have on the top is very nice. The font is looking good.

Honestly I think you are close to having something nice or I wouldn't say anything at all, yet it does need a little more then fine tuning. Of course in the end you need to exercise your creative judgment and ignore anything said by others, keep pursuing it, please feel free to ignore me.

[mystran]

Well, the point of the colored edge was to create separation between the different parameter categories and I don't really see what's wrong about having the "stubble" at the outer edge.

I'd say keep the coloring. It's subjective which way looks better aesthetically, but that should really be secondary concern in user interface design; like you say, the coloring helps separate different groups of controls on an otherwise dense panel.

As for the switches, I think the biggest problem is that the labels above the switches are closer to the knobs above them, than to the switches below, so one instinctively tries to link them to the knobs instead of the switches. I'd consider moving all the labels below the relevant controls, so that when the lower edge of the switches is aligned to the lower edges of the knobs on the same row, all the labels will be in line, but also equally far from the controls they are related to...

To clarify myself: while the switches and knobs are technically of the same height, the numbering around the knobs makes the logical visual area of a knob taller (and wider) than that of a switch, hence the knobs "feel taller" and hence the labels "feel" closer to the knobs than the switches.

I don't know what a "stubble" is (and too lazy to check dictionary) so don't have an opinion on that.

[l0calh05t]

I don't know what a "stubble" is (and too lazy to check dictionary) so don't have an opinion on that.

I believe Hlis93 meant the edge of the knobs (the wavy circle ).

[mystran]

I don't know what a "stubble" is (and too lazy to check dictionary) so don't have an opinion on that.

I believe Hlis93 meant the edge of the knobs (the wavy circle ).

Yeah I guess. I checked the word and seems it means at least a few days old facial hair growth, and there seems not to be that many male faces on your GUI so..

[mystran]

Oh btw, if the "hold" is the time the envelope detector will chill after "attack" and before it starts "releasing" then I might swap the positions of the "hold" and "release" knobs to put them in "chronological order" in the sense that hold happens after attack, and release happens after hold.. unless the hold is actually the time it holds after releasing before it starts another attack, in which case it's good thing you've thought about it and put it after release instead.

edit: or is there a workflow reason to have hold after release?

[l0calh05t]

Yeah I guess. I checked the word and seems it means at least a few days old facial hair growth, and there seems not to be that many male faces on your GUI so..

Should I include any?

Oh btw, if the "hold" is the time the envelope detector will chill after "attack" and before it starts "releasing" then I might swap the positions of the "hold" and "release" knobs to put them in "chronological order" in the sense that hold happens after attack, and release happens after hold.. unless the hold is actually the time it holds after releasing before it starts another attack, in which case it's good thing you've thought about it and put it after release instead.

edit: or is there a workflow reason to have hold after release?

Algorithmically, hold is applied before attack & release, but sonically the effect is much smaller than either, so I decided to put it further to the right.

[mystran]

Algorithmically, hold is applied before attack & release, but sonically the effect is much smaller than either, so I decided to put it further to the right.

Urgh. So it basically delays the detected envelope? Or did I still get it wrong, and it's like a detection window control that will simply smooth the envelope a bit before the attacks and releases are shaped?

Is it some speciality control or like a normal control that a lot of compressors have and I've just missed them all?

[Hlis93]

Stubble is poor choice of words bad word; I've had a beard for a few years now so I don't know anything about that. The little bumps on the side of the knob is what I meant and yes the example is sort of what I was thinking, it would be up you of how its designed. Don't get me wrong, if you used those knobs without numbers I would have said cool knobs perhaps brighten the metal circle a touch .

As for the switch I think a darker color might do the job, not to dark, but I don't know. I think the one you have are growing on me.


PS.
after looking at it agian this morning, perhaps you might try and add the shadowing on the knobs. Leave everything and add shadows to the knobs and switches. I think that is what is throwing me off visually.