KnobMan, the VSTGUI AnimationKnob bitmap generator

[duncanparsons]

That looks like Max only consider transparency to be be on or off, rather than proper alpha blending which is effectively a crossfade between 2 images. Whereas it looks like the Max renderer is making a choice between one or the other.

It could be that either you can't use shadows like that, or you need to render shadows onto a background as part of the knob strip, then use the outline of the rectangle (or whatever shape background you used) to do the on/off transparency.

HTH
DSP

[MetalSir]

That looks like Max only consider transparency to be be on or off, rather than proper alpha blending which is effectively a crossfade between 2 images. Whereas it looks like the Max renderer is making a choice between one or the other.

It could be that either you can't use shadows like that, or you need to render shadows onto a background as part of the knob strip, then use the outline of the rectangle (or whatever shape background you used) to do the on/off transparency.

HTH
DSP

mmmm.. how to do this?
the upper line with the image with shadows and the bottom line with the mask of the knob without shadows?
i can try..

btw is orrible without the drow of the level indication all around the knob..

[Art60]

Hi,

I don't know max/msp but it seems to me that you shouldn't (where possible) have a black & white (1bit) mask.
When KnobMan renders it, I'm pretty sure Alpha channel (transparency) is computed with 256 levels of gray (8 bits) so transitions are smooth and shadows as well as knob edges blend seamlessly into the background.

Can you dig this way ? (English is not my mother's tongue either)

Hope This Helps

[MetalSir]

Hi,

I don't know max/msp but it seems to me that you shouldn't (where possible) have a black & white (1bit) mask.
When KnobMan renders it, I'm pretty sure Alpha channel (transparency) is computed with 256 levels of gray (8 bits) so transitions are smooth and shadows as well as knob edges blend seamlessly into the background.

Can you dig this way ? (English is not my mother's tongue either)

Hope This Helps

tks man..
i'm not sure about the undestanding what you told me..

[g200kg]

If you need only the 'true' circle knobs, the simplest method is...
draw drop shadows as a part of the background image. and make the knob strip without drop shadows.

If you want something like Chicken-head-knob, you have to do more complex process (like DSP mentioned )

[MetalSir]

If you need only the 'true' circle knobs, the simplest method is...
draw drop shadows as a part of the background image. and make the knob strip without drop shadows.

If you want something like Chicken-head-knob, you have to do more complex process (like DSP mentioned )

mmmm.. so, i have to get the image with shadows for the upper line (the visible one), end make the mask using ONLY the image shape without shadows? =)

am i right? =)

[Art60]

I think g200kg is telling you it would be easier to build your still background surface with the buttons shadow already in place (their shape are constant whichever their position).
Then the buttons you want to draw on top with max/msp just have to be round, their mask too: as their shadow is already painted on the background, no problem with varying transparency and other "complex" stuff.

May be I misunderstood but I think I'm right.

[MetalSir]

I think g200kg is telling you it would be easier to build your still background surface with the buttons shadow already in place (their shape are constant whichever their position).
Then the buttons you want to draw on top with max/msp just have to be round, their mask too: as their shadow is already painted on the background, no problem with varying transparency and other "complex" stuff.

May be I misunderstood but I think I'm right.

argh.. very hard for me..

[g200kg]

background image means the panel graphics like this (that has drop shadows).


and knob strip has no shadows.


just only for the round knobs.

Thanks Art60

[MetalSir]

background image means the panel graphics like this (that has drop shadows).


and knob strip has no shadows.


just only for the round knobs.

Thanks Art60

how to do with non uniform rgb background?
i use metal pannel for background.. you know.. the color is not uniform to seem realistic..

confused..

[Art60]

how to do with non uniform rgb background?
i use metal pannel for background.. you know.. the color is not uniform to seem realistic..
confused..

You may draw your own with photoshop, paintshopPro, The Gimp etc. just droping a fuzzy circle some pixels down/right from the place you'd put your buttons
You may also use g200kg complementary software called SkinMan.
This is the one he used for his top "Chorus" Image example.

[MetalSir]

how to do with non uniform rgb background?
i use metal pannel for background.. you know.. the color is not uniform to seem realistic..
confused..

You may draw your own with photoshop, paintshopPro, The Gimp etc. just droping a fuzzy circle some pixels down/right from the place you'd put your buttons
You may also use g200kg complementary software called SkinMan.
This is the one he used for his top "Chorus" Image example.

i'll try.. tks a lot!

[Limeflavour]

don't mind, i was looking at the wrong page....

[Hlis93]

so you have to have six frames just to make a switch that has an on off state? Is that what I am getting from this.

[MetalSir]

so you have to have six frames just to make a switch that has an on off state? Is that what I am getting from this.

mmmm.. for troggle, if you whant trasparency (and EVERYONE want it), you need to have all the frame of the button (with mouse on clicked and mouse off clicke) and all the black&withe masks..


here is a troggle:


the first line has the OFF_NOT_CLICKED frame on left and the OFF_CLICKED frame on right.
the second line has the ON_NOT_CLICKED frame (left) and the ON_CLICKED frame (right).
3rd and 4th lines are simply the masks of the previous 2 lines.