[WIP] Linear

liquidskin76 · 2012-02-01 12:28

I see you're a UK Surrey lad! So am i originally (Woking), however now in Cornwall.

Man... Cornwall is so much nicer than Surrey!!

Piers · 2012-02-01 13:16

liquidskin76 Wrote:I see you're a UK Surrey lad! So am i originally (Woking), however now in Cornwall.

Man... Cornwall is so much nicer than Surrey!!

Cheers for the feedback! Removed the arrows on the recent screens. Also Checked the images on my TV (1920x1080) to see how the text looks Smile

I actually live in Woking (St. Johns) and my grandparents live in Cornwall (Lands End). Where abouts are you?

ps: Adding more screens as I go along - added a boring one (options menu).

Piers · 2012-02-01 15:48

Updated with nearly all screens - a couple of View screens will hopefully be up there later on.

Hitcher · 2012-02-01 16:06

Nice work and good to see the less eye candy views so quickly.

Baswazz · 2012-02-01 16:12

I like your concept. Specially the homescreen (the one without the arrows).
Can you make the thumbnail covers a little bigger as-well the text of the info screen/video options. I think it is hard to read on smaller LCD's from the couch.

Can you make the info screen/video options background a little grey'er like system main.
That makes it more confortable for the eye. Big Grin

Just some tips.

Keep it up!

Piers · 2012-02-01 16:56

Baswazz Wrote:...I think it is hard to read on smaller LCD's from the couch.

I tested it out on a 32" and 42" screen - they are both easy to read from about 3 metres away Smile

Baswazz Wrote:Can you make the info screen/video options background a little grey'er like system main.

I made those parts transparent as I felt it was a better fit (the background is the currently playing video), but I will make a mockup for that and post it back.

Piers · 2012-02-02 12:07

Would any skinners be kind enough to help me get started with the skin, give some pointers etc? I have picked apart the Dharma foundation skin but still got stuk. I have also looked over the wiki.

Hitcher · 2012-02-02 12:48

Just ask away here and we'll gladly help out.

Piers · 2012-02-02 13:35

Hitcher Wrote:Just ask away here and we'll gladly help out.

Well I don't really have XML skills but I have played around a bit with the Foundation skin - I managed to get the menu moved over to the left and in the correct position however I have no idea where to go from there.

I thought I would start by trying to get the universal top bar working but not quite sure where to start, I also thought that Eden handles weather differently so should I wait until maybe a new Foundation skin is released?

I then thought about using an existing skin and modifying it, but I was scared away with pretty much all of it.

Maybe I just stick to concept work Tongue

edit: if there is a skin maker who would not mind maybe talking me through a few things on MSN or even by phone (happy to call) that would be great. I would like to learn but no idea where to really start.

liquidskin76 · 2012-02-02 13:51

Piers Wrote:Would any skinners be kind enough to help me get started with the skin, give some pointers etc? I have picked apart the Dharma foundation skin but still got stuk. I have also looked over the wiki.

Some pointers from my experience starting out skinning...

Grab yourself Notepad++. Makes it real easy to work with the xml's.

Create a custom keymap.xml in ...\profile\userdata\keymaps\ with the following in it...

PHP Code:

<keymap> 
    <global> 
        <keyboard> 
            <F5>XBMC.ReloadSkin()</F5>
            <F6>Skin.ToggleSetting(DebugGrid)</F6>
            <F7>Skin.ToggleSetting(HideDebugInfo)</F7>
            <F8>Notification(Testing 123,Hello world)</F8>
        </keyboard> 
    </global> 
</keymap> 

F5 is very handy for refeshing the skin to see changes without having to restart xbmc. Be aware however that on some rare occasions refreshing doesn't show changes. I've been cought out by that once or twice!

Main xml's (what i call base xml's) that sort of sit as a base to everything else are...

...\XBMC\language\English\strings.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\language\English\strings.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\colors\defaults.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\720p\Startup.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\720p\Defauts.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\720p\Font.xml
...\addons\skin.folder\720p\Includes.xml

Start with a skin like Foundation. Open up Includes.xml and Home.xml. Then start editing/adding to Home.xml. It's the first screen you see so a sensible starting point.

Try removing some parts and deconstruct Foundations home page. Then start adding small sections of your own design. As you go on, hopefully you'll pick up more and more understanding of how the skinning works.

An important point to keep in mind... watch the formating of the xml's. Becareful not to lose important characters like < > / and phrases like </control>, etc. If any are missing from the formating you'll most likely get a black screen!

Hope that helps!

Cheers

Hitcher Skilled Skinner Posts: 9,917 Joined: Aug 2007 Reputation: 67 Location: Eastleigh, UK	2012-02-01 16:06 Post: #14 Nice work and good to see the less eye candy views so quickly.
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Hitcher Skilled Skinner Posts: 9,917 Joined: Aug 2007 Reputation: 67 Location: Eastleigh, UK	2012-02-02 12:48 Post: #18 Just ask away here and we'll gladly help out.
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