Total new look and feel?

[mlbdude]

Anyone out there have any talent with design and graphics? I think it would be fun to put together a new "look" for SageTV 2 but honestly I have no skills in either of those areas. The finished product would of course be available to anyone and once Studio is released anyone could continue to extend it.

Any interest?

[gplasky]

Sure. I'm interested. What do I need to do to get started?

Gerry

[mlbdude]

How about drawing up an EPG or Main Menu?

When its done I will need it "carved" up into PNG files.

[mlbdude]

Here is an example of a Main Menu I built in Sage but can't really use for obvious legal reasons since as I said I have no graphic talent and had to borrow the images :).

[GbrNole]

if you really want to see some awesome skins then go checkout the xlobby.com skins page - man there's some nice work in there.

one of the xlobby regulars is a sage user and put together a very nice skin for the older version of xlobby.

today marks the day that sageTV just went through the roof me - man i'm excited!!!

having studio available isn't tremendously important since i have zero graphic editing skills but i'll happily donate to those that posess the talents :D

mlbdude, your initial implementation is one nice step in that direction!

[gplasky]

I can do that. I did a few skins for some other apps so I can get you a screen, some icons, buttons, etc. Question-though-since I don't know what Studio is capable of I'll supply you screens without really knowing if what I draw is possible. But I'll do it and then you can tel me what you can and can't do.

Gerry

[dkardatzke]

When I did the first skins for V2 I carved up the .PSD file with all the layers from our Graphic Designer.

[Opus4]

Originally posted by dkardatzke
When I did the first skins for V2 I carved up the .PSD file with all the layers from our Graphic Designer. Sounds similar to what I do with my games programming -- have the artist put all the button states on the various layers with the full background image also on each layer in Photoshop & then write an action to cut them out & save them as individual image files. Of course I would prefer that the artist write those actions... ;)

- Andy

[mlbdude]

Originally posted by GbrNole
if you really want to see some awesome skins then go checkout the xlobby.com skins page - man there's some nice work in there.

one of the xlobby regulars is a sage user and put together a very nice skin for the older version of xlobby.



I wonder if the author of the Colby's Skin would give me permission to use those images? I wonder if the author is allowed to as well :).

http://www.xlobby.com/skins.shtml

[SHS]

Ask him what going to hurt by trying mlbdude.

[GbrNole]

the colby skin is already cut up for you too :D

colby info (http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1310)

permission would be nice!

[mlbdude]

Yeah, I am going to contact him to try.

[xlr8shun]

http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage2.jpg

with a flyout type menu, you eliminate a screen change, i combined recorded tv and recording info together but you can do it any way you liked.

[falchulk]

xlr8shun, thats an excellent idea! Of all the improvements I have thought of thats one never crossed my mind. I love it.

[mlbdude]

Here is another I created by using images from another application that I do own. Not sure if I could legally distribute it to users even if they did own the images themselves so I abandoned it. Maybe someone else that is still interested can pick it up sometime :).

[Brett]

Originally posted by mlbdude
Not sure if I could legally distribute it to users even if they did own the images themselves so I abandoned it. Yeah, I am pretty sure you would not be able to get away with that one :). Although I am curious how long it took you to make that skin and is it complete?

-Brett

[mlbdude]

I got through the program guide then stopped (about 3 hours). The whole thing would just take a few days. I got bored cause I no longer like the way BTV looks but I still bet someone else will do it :).

It really just illustrates that all the programs better start resting on the meat of their features now :).

[RedCoat999]

Originally posted by xlr8shun
http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage2.jpg


I love those screens man!

[ToxMox]

Boy I can't wait to get my hands on studio and make a skin.

[mightyt]

What ever happened to this??? Still sounds like a good idea ... :)

[RedCoat999]

GIVE ME THOSE FLYOUT MENUS MAN!!!

http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage1.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/rt001/images/sage2.jpg

with a flyout type menu, you eliminate a screen change, i combined recorded tv and recording info together but you can do it any way you liked.

[Crashless]

Here's something I threw together. I would have to get permission to use the icons I stole from RyanJones' Meedio Beach Theme, but the background is a picture I took, so it's fine. Relatively simple, but different look.

I'll mess with something a little more radical when I get some more time.

Wha'cha think?

[mightyt]

Here's something I threw together. I would have to get permission to use the icons I stole from RyanJones' Meedio Beach Theme, but the background is a picture I took, so it's fine. Relatively simple, but different look.

I'll mess with something a little more radical when I get some more time.

Wha'cha think?

Very cool ... How did you move the Main Menu items to make two colums? I suspect you use Studio ... Or was this just a mock-up?

Thanks .... T.

[PGPfan]

I agree, that does look nice. But, what ever happened to the 'teehan-lax' UI that was getting everybody excited? That was a totally new look and feel, and they were more than willing to provide the graphic resources for it, for free! (I know, because they provided them to me as well for a Meedio project)

It seems to all boil down to having access to Studio. Without it, nobody even has a clue as to what is possible. What's the point of spending the time and effort of creating a nice skin if it will likely be wasted?

-PGPfan

[mightyt]

I agree, that does look nice. But, what ever happened to the 'teehan-lax' UI that was getting everybody excited? That was a totally new look and feel, and they were more than willing to provide the graphic resources for it, for free! (I know, because they provided them to me as well for a Meedio project)

It seems to all boil down to having access to Studio. Without it, nobody even has a clue as to what is possible. What's the point of spending the time and effort of creating a nice skin if it will likely be wasted?

-PGPfan

Last I remember MlbDude was working on it back in July ...

Samples ...

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showpost.php?p=51616&postcount=24

From this thread ...

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6575&highlight=teehan-lax

Haven't heard anything since ... maybe it's dead on the vine ... :confused:

As for Studio ... I gave up anticipating ... Whenever it becomes available I'll consider it a viable tool. Until then, for me it's a waste of time getting wound up about. :nono:

My hope in this thread, is those that those that can ... will ! :D

T.

[PGPfan]

I saw the samples that mlbdude made. That's what got me started in lusting after this UI ;) When I spoke with the teehan-lax guys, they mentioned that after what appeared to be some discussion on the project everything went quiet.

I do also hope that 'those that have it, will' but dang it, I sure would like to be one of them. I'm trying to avoid doing any graphic stuff for Sage as a result. Every review I've read (including the one from Gruntville linked on the Sage homepage) mention this elusive Studio 'tease' that is "just around the corner". ....Not!

But I still remain hopeful :nod:


-PGPfan

[edgley]

mlbdude,

Did you get hold of Colby? If not let me know and I will ask him.
I dont think it will be a problem as he is as generous with his work as he is talented.

Simon.

[Crashless]

yeah, that is a total mock up that 'could' be just dropped into any STV. I believe that the menus can be like this, I can't think of why they wouldn't be able to be.

I don't have studio... :(

I hope that when/if they do release studio, that they have some sort of system in place to manage the inevitable deluge of STVs that will hit the forums. The thread/post system only works for so long with these things before it gets unmanageable. Take Meedio's MAID for instance. They used the forum method for some time, then came up with the great system that is MAID. Frey will need something similar for SageTV.

I'm currently drawing up a more ambitious skin, but am also weary about spending any real time on it without knowing if what I'm designing is even possible.

[edgley]

If you are into skinning, take a look at www.xlobby.com

Sage works great with it, and you can use your photoshop talents making it look good all day (and night!)

[mightyt]

yeah, that is a total mock up that 'could' be just dropped into any STV. I believe that the menus can be like this, I can't think of why they wouldn't be able to be.

I don't have studio... :(

I hope that when/if they do release studio, that they have some sort of system in place to manage the inevitable deluge of STVs that will hit the forums. The thread/post system only works for so long with these things before it gets unmanageable. Take Meedio's MAID for instance. They used the forum method for some time, then came up with the great system that is MAID. Frey will need something similar for SageTV.

I'm currently drawing up a more ambitious skin, but am also weary about spending any real time on it without knowing if what I'm designing is even possible.

Yea ... my hope with this thread was to encourage those that currently use Studio to carry the torch for us and use some artistic creativity when developing skins, themes, STV's, whatever ;) ... as seen throughout this thread ... So far I am seeing no responses from any STV developers I know of ... that is somewhat saddening ... :(

But, I will still try and be optimistic! :nod:

Oh, and I also agree, Meedio Theme developers have done some outstanding stuff ...

T.