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Albert
2 Posts |
 Posted - 02/03/2014 : 08:16:11
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Hello,
I really like using StrokesPlus; it works great. What I do not like is the interface - yes, it is really functional, but it does look old and not really pretty. I would like to help to change it, but maybe I am just a minority and everybody else like it this way.
In this case it should stay like it is!
In my opinion it looks deterrent for people that are not used to computers. Also for people that never heard about this software before - it is just so much information at once.
Here is my suggestion: just have two skins: classic and modern.
If you're new to StrokesPlus and do not know much about computers (=an usual user) you could use the modern Interface that also allows you to do everything but 'hides' some features so that it does not look overwhelming. If you are used to the classic interface or prefer it for some reasons you could simply change it.
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 02/03/2014 : 09:06:36
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I certainly understand where you're coming from and agree. The main reason it is very crude is because it's pure WinAPI. If I used some kind of framework/widget library with a nice form designer and easy to handle control events, it would be fairly simple to make a much nicer interface.
However, to keep S+ as small and lightweight as possible, it is written in pure C/C++. Working with UI elements in native WinAPI is quite frankly just a pain.
In the end, I've made very little money from S+ (barely enough to cover the costs of the website/domain registration/renewals..which is rapidly approaching being in the red) to warrant the amount of time I would have to invest in revamping the entire UI.
You say you want to help, if you have the skills to build out an interface in native WinAPI, I'd happily do the legwork to wire it up to the existing code  |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/07/2014 : 12:44:08
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It all started because of a minority ...
If you like it, then I am ready to spend my time.
Logo and tray icon states
Frankly, inspired by Mouse Stroke Google Chrome extension logo.
StrokePlus.exe 2.8.2.0 with replaced icons:
http://www.datafilehost.com/d/e0ef74ab
16x16 32-bit only |
Edited by - OkhsuS on 03/07/2014 12:55:15 |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2014 : 12:05:05
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I must say I rather like the clean lines, the middle dot it also very clear; overall the icon conveys more of a sense of what S+ does, instead of a small mouse and a dot which aren't very clear.
I'm certainly interested in any updates to the UI that improve usability! It's purely functional at the moment.
If you're comfortable working with a native WinAPI, I'd welcome any improvements. Like I said, I'm more than willing to wire up a new interface to the S+ core.
The only constraint is that I do not want to bloat S+ with a heavy UI toolkit/library. though I'd certainly entertain anything now; I could always maintain the existing light UI and offer a heavier, more user-friendly one as an option.
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2014 : 04:24:15
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Another one version
S without Plus maybe for training mode. Anyway you decide.
No programming, just art : ) |
Edited by - OkhsuS on 03/10/2014 18:33:39 |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2014 : 19:08:40
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Let me know when you decide to, if you will, we'll work it out.
Everything is good no-frills now.
Thank you. |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2014 : 10:52:40
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I've been very busy lately, I'm not ignoring you
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2015 : 20:21:19
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| Do you have a source (like Photoshop file) or something? I think maybe it's time to see what it would look like |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2015 : 05:28:15
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Here I woke up.
Let's make the most clean and simple icon for an app that saves the seconds of life.
First of all, which version do you like? Alpha (that almost need no improvement) or S+ (that reflects the name of an app but little bit unsmoothed in the bends and fuzzy in miniature yet)? So i could touch up something. And maybe there are some new ideas? Maybe S with a Dot instead of a Plus ... If you want to do it yourself, then I'll just send you these two sketches in the vector (made in Corel but export allowed).
P.S. I'm not a professional artist + I can make mistakes in English.
P.P.S. No rush anyway. We can stretch this venture for another couple of years : ) |
Edited by - OkhsuS on 08/29/2015 13:37:04 |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 08/30/2015 : 05:00:32
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| I've downloaded the ZIP and will take a look. |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2015 : 00:14:26
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| I'll prepare a second version and give you for comparison after a while. |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2015 : 04:01:44
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Since I don't have CorelDRAW, would you mind making an additional icon in the S+ icon set which communicates S+ being disabled?
I'm thinking the red +, rotated 45 degrees and moved to the lower-right. Or, something else you may come up with.
I like the Alpha icons as well, but I feel like all I (and others) do is refer to StrokesPlus as S+, so it seems like the most easily identifiable set. |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2015 : 17:10:13
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| Roger that. |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2015 : 20:08:17
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What came to mind ...
Plus, which became Cross
Slashes
As well as the side effects of cross-breeding
I would choose ... stop ... the choice is yours. |
Edited by - OkhsuS on 10/06/2015 20:23:01 |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2015 : 21:43:45
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I like the first cross-breed at larger sizes, but down to 16px the coolness is lost (due to lack of detail).
I think the most visually appealing one (functionally) is the largest slashes version. There's a stark difference from the normal operating mode icons and the red line is very easy to see.
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2015 : 03:10:57
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Indeed, the resizing is delicate work that requires attention to pixel level.
You never know in advance, there is no universal resize method when it comes to 16x16.
I'll prepare the third slashed one and ... look, maybe we have a new master icon?
What do you think?
P.S. I'll take care of resizing anyway. |
Edited by - OkhsuS on 10/07/2015 06:04:08 |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2015 : 20:26:58
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I do kinda like it! I say give me all of the icons I've mentioned and I'll throw them in a test executable to see what seems to look the best.
Thanks! |
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OkhsuS
11 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2015 : 22:25:13
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| Please wait ... |
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Rob
USA
2615 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2016 : 09:45:27
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I just wanted to let you know that I'm using your icons for the new version of S+ :)
I don't have CorelDraw at the moment, so I can't work with the cdr file. But I was wondering if you could make a gray icon (the S+ look) for when S+ is disabled, in 16, 32, 48.
Thanks! |
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[OPEN] New Interface/Skin
Forum Locked
