I've played around with Rik's basic design with different colours. I came up with a set of harmonious colours using red, a soft warm grey and some darker greys. I also used black and white text in some areas.
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I've played around with Rik's basic design with different colours. I came up with a set of harmonious colours using red, a soft warm grey and some darker greys. I also used black and white text in some areas.
Personally, as an observer, I really dislike the red.
Red is really bold and associated with danger, so on something that can do no harm, the idea of using red to highlight options can have a subconscious message - do this with care/don't do this.
Here are some different colour options.
It's quite disappointing to see how little feedback you guys are getting. I won't be using Xart (my Xara software is OLD), but still it's fun to watch the progress.
Your colour pallettes are too bold for my liking Frances and the beige background isn't my favourite. Sorry.
The bar on the slider shouldn't be colour-coded, in my opinion.
I was quite impressed by the original cog - it reminded me of a menu interface that I made in Flash many years ago. I remember the Kai Krause interfaces of old. The real question for me is whether it's wise to make the interface very different from the main software.
In that vein Riks offering in the style of the main app, is where I would see this.
Have fun with your new toy, but surely more people can voice an opinion?
I dunno, personally I like the green and the dark red one. They all seem strong to me. The Xart logo looks especially good. the two parts read as an X yet are separate. I do not get a feeling of that being a check box though but that simple point may not be important.
Actually, as we will be warnig people that fiddling with the registry can have unforeseen consequences, it seems appropriate.;))
QUOTE=pauland;477466]Personally, as an observer, I really dislike the red.
Red is really bold and associated with danger, so on something that can do no harm, the idea of using red to highlight options can have a subconscious message - do this with care/don't do this.[/QUOTE]
Yes, keep the ideas coming. Eric is going to start making mockups for you to see.
Also, we have decided to use WPF Windows Presentation Foundation ), which will give us the ability to implement a rich interface. This means that it will not work on Windows XP. I trust this is OK with everyone? If it isnt then we will have to go with a vanilla interface.
After all these years, perhaps it's time to let XP go. After all there is an existing registry editor out there, isn't there?
Seems a pity to stifle a program because a few people haven't moved with the times, especially since there are legacy registry editors in existence.
I don't think that you can come up with a colour combination that is going to please everyone, for instance I don't like Rik's dark combo with the flouresent green. I also think that a harmonious colour scheme is the way to go.
I Don't see any fluorescent green in Rik's dark UI.
I like the type of UI that IObit use, Rik's is kind of similar :)
Attachment 96451 Attachment 96452
Not the nice Dark UI but one he posted before that. I'm just playing with different colour combinations I don't have a .xar file for Rik's Dark UI so I am just using a quick mock up to show how the harmonious colours look together. Grace indicated that she prefered red in the logo so I settled on a nice shade of red and the rest of the harmonious colours are based off of that.
Here is another one
Do we know or have we decided what colour scheme we want?
Frances, the opposite of active is inactive.
My 2 ¢ on a color theme and scheme:
As far as "dark" UIs go, there has been only one, perhaps two that have struck me as functional, not too much or too little contrast, and actually sort of attractive.
Here's a screen cap of I believe four colors used in Luxology modo's interface, a popular modeling program:
Attachment 96483
It's interesting and relevant to our discussion here that because we have 16.7 million unique colors to play with, even the slightest variation on a shade or a tone can be a deal-breaker. I think Frances' scheme is worth another look because she's close (IMHO) but not spot-on. That warm sand colour could be more neutral, less saturation.
And I think more than one person has told The Xara Group that the Dark UI produces headaches and it's a matter of degrees. If they'd lighten it even 5%, it would make a world of difference in terms of usability.
Grace, if you programmers are almost at the point where you can hook a front end up, I heartily endorse a very critical look at what you have right now and where you need to go with the UI, because we're going to have to live with it for a while, yes?
My Best,
Gary
Lots of good ideas...
Been away from the computer for a few days, but here's a sample layout I came up with using an off-red that plays off Rik's original blue design. It has a UI more friendly to tablet/phones perhaps, although the target platform will be desktops in most cases. The vertical scrollbar would allow for a long list of options, with the active option being highlighted and its long description / help displayed. "Undo" and "Set to Default" buttons apply to the selected option. Maybe someone has a better idea than the "Home" button for that.
Didn't try to exactly duplicate Rik's logo, which I like. This is more to generate color and layout ideas. As far as I know, Grace hasn't selected anything yet, but could be wrong.
I would have to give my computer a tap with the off-red - it would make me think the display is faulty. Sorry.
I'd suggest that you guys have a poll on the colour pallette. Some that seem to attract support I strongly dislike and it's difficullt to criticise a design without it almost being a personal rebuke, which is not intended.
A poll is a safe way to decide without upsetting anyone and without stronger personalities unduly influencing the result.
Woah!
Serious contrast problem, Steven!
As far as shades of gray, I like the colors in my Asus router management page, which also has blue in it.
The Asus design is classy.
Gare, as I understand things, Eric will be focusing on the user interface, and as Grace mentioned, is researching how to integrate "skinning" into the code. If that happens, then it will allow for more UI options. Grace will be doing the bulk the actual coding and ultimately has the final say as to what can and will be done.
I may be wrong, but I don't think anything is cast in concrete at this point. So from my vantage point, if anyone has the time and enjoys this, I say go for it.
Keep the ideas coming=D>
Hopefully the contrast is a tad better here:
get plenty of inspiration and design ideas here
http://www.uiparade.com/
Thanks Frank. Going against all our suggestions , I like this one
http://www.uiparade.com/portfolio/soft-touch-ui/#
@Grace—
The blue that's used is DEATH!
Now, I don't disagree with your preference as you linked.
I also know that Rik, I, and I'm sure Big Frank and others can draw this style of buttons and sliders in Xara.
You wanna see one or two in a better shade of blue, somewhat like the Asus UI?
I'm on in regardless of your reply! :)
Gare
@Big Frank—you are the best, man.
Yes I really like the on off buttons and the sliders. And I think the more relaxing colours.
I'm halfway done, I think, with a prototype that might please all, or displease the least number of members!
It's slick and relaxing in colours.
Be back with it 2pm EDST,
Gary
Okay, I'm sure that 100% of this isn't going to please 100% of all members, but you gotta give me credit for 1.) listening to everyone's ideas, and 2.) for making something I myself am pleased with and would use. Trust me: I have standards. They're low, but they're standards!
Attachment 96513
If anyone wants to goof with it, it's attached as a Xara file, no bitmaps within, and Arial's the font (and everyone has that installed).
My Best,
Gary
Well, I like it Gary. Not too dark. I really like the on/off buttons and the menu.
I decided to take up your offer experiment a little with your design and I was inspired by some hexagon UI toggles that I saw on a clip art site, so I decided to create something similar.
The hexagon shapes are nice, kinda reminds me of a large industrial bolt that you'd use to put something together. But I don't think that we should use an i as the icon for the default settings, i's in circleish shapes almost universally mean information or help.
@Frances—
We (and you) really need to ask ourselves how the UI might scale for foreign languages (if any) and just for the number of features we'll finally have. For these reasons, I'm not sure the "X within the cog" that I copped from mindseye is suitable for a simple on/off toggle.
Barbara had mentioned to me that she likes on/off states over checkboxes because they aren't ambiguous—they clearly tell you what the state of an option or feature is.
I'd also prefer accent colours for visual separation in the UI (not having "young" eyes anymore!). Green and blue are complements, too close in chroma for separation, I feel.
My 2¢,
-g
Here is a simple look with flat colours.
If it can be done, then give the user the choice of being able to choose from a selection of colours.
Why is there such a strong preference for colourful interfaces? The interfaces with a colour accent set over dark grey or black are classy, don't look dated and have a resonance with the main Xara software.
I don't think your average user cares about choosing their own colours for a utility program users only want to run once in a blue moon.
There was a mention of multiple languages. Is Xara available in multiple languages?
Yes. http://support.xara.com/index.php?_m...articleid=2465
"Our parent company MAGIX sell localized versions of Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, Xara 3D Maker, Xara Web Designer and Xara Web Designer Premium under the MAGIX brand. There are German, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Turkish versions of some or all of these. There is also a German (only) version of Xara Designer Pro. You can find full details about all localized versions on our website."
Thanks Barbara.