Need a graphics program recommendation [modified]
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Have you tried MS Visio?
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "You're an idiot." John Simmons, THE Outlaw programmer "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Visual Studio. I believe with version 2008 you can drag and drop shapes like they are controls. Regardless you can just make a few shell controls that just draws a shape OnPaint, it would not take much effort. You really need to get with the program and write a few lines of code, it ain't that hard. PS: You can also use pencil and paper, then scan it in if you need to.
The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.
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Visual Studio. I believe with version 2008 you can drag and drop shapes like they are controls. Regardless you can just make a few shell controls that just draws a shape OnPaint, it would not take much effort. You really need to get with the program and write a few lines of code, it ain't that hard. PS: You can also use pencil and paper, then scan it in if you need to.
The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.
CataclysmicQuantum wrote:
You really need to get with the program and write a few lines of code, it ain't that hard.
The above program I mentioned, Cobalt[^], is made up of thousands of lines of code in C++. I wrote it myself. So I'm not shy when it comes to writing "a few lines of code." As I said in an earlier post[^] to you, sometimes the most efficient approach is to use existing tools rather than reinventing them yourself.
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Have you tried MS Visio?
"Every time Lotus Notes starts up, somewhere a puppy, a kitten, a lamb, and a baby seal are killed. Lotus Notes is a conspiracy by the forces of Satan to drive us over the brink into madness. The CRC-32 for each file in the installation includes the numbers 666." Gary Wheeler "You're an idiot." John Simmons, THE Outlaw programmer "I realised that all of my best anecdotes started with "So there we were, pissed". Pete O'Hanlon
Mustafa Ismail Mustafa wrote:
Have you tried MS Visio?
Thanks, I will check it out. :-)
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CataclysmicQuantum wrote:
You really need to get with the program and write a few lines of code, it ain't that hard.
The above program I mentioned, Cobalt[^], is made up of thousands of lines of code in C++. I wrote it myself. So I'm not shy when it comes to writing "a few lines of code." As I said in an earlier post[^] to you, sometimes the most efficient approach is to use existing tools rather than reinventing them yourself.
Leslie Sanford wrote:
As I said in an earlier post[^] to you, sometimes the most efficient approach is to use existing tools rather than reinventing them yourself.
Call me old fashion, but I like creating my own tools and using them to develop something bigger and better. It delivers more satisfaction.
Leslie Sanford wrote:
The above program I mentioned, Cobalt[^], is made up of thousands of lines of code in C++.
How many thousand? What kind of math is involved with that? When you are constructing a wave form do you have to iterate through a loop for each 16bits whatever?
The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Try Auxure Pro for prototyping. It's got a 30 day trial version: http://www.axure.com/ Also you might want to look at Paint.net. It's free and has a great deal of graphics capability. http://www.getpaint.net/index.html
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
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Leslie Sanford wrote:
As I said in an earlier post[^] to you, sometimes the most efficient approach is to use existing tools rather than reinventing them yourself.
Call me old fashion, but I like creating my own tools and using them to develop something bigger and better. It delivers more satisfaction.
Leslie Sanford wrote:
The above program I mentioned, Cobalt[^], is made up of thousands of lines of code in C++.
How many thousand? What kind of math is involved with that? When you are constructing a wave form do you have to iterate through a loop for each 16bits whatever?
The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.
CataclysmicQuantum wrote:
Call me old fashion, but I like creating my own tools and using them to develop something bigger and better. It delivers more satisfaction.
Fine if you have the time (or will be paid for it) and inclination. But it's usually more productive and more economic to use a combination of existing products and your own code.
Kevin
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Try Auxure Pro for prototyping. It's got a 30 day trial version: http://www.axure.com/ Also you might want to look at Paint.net. It's free and has a great deal of graphics capability. http://www.getpaint.net/index.html
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
Thanks, man. I will check them both out. :cool:
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Leslie Sanford wrote:
As I said in an earlier post[^] to you, sometimes the most efficient approach is to use existing tools rather than reinventing them yourself.
Call me old fashion, but I like creating my own tools and using them to develop something bigger and better. It delivers more satisfaction.
Leslie Sanford wrote:
The above program I mentioned, Cobalt[^], is made up of thousands of lines of code in C++.
How many thousand? What kind of math is involved with that? When you are constructing a wave form do you have to iterate through a loop for each 16bits whatever?
The Digital World. It is an amazing place in which we primitive humans interact. Our flesh made this synthetic machine. You see, we are so smart, we know a lot of stuff. We were grown from cells that came from the universe, which the matter and physics I'm typing in it is amazing how the universe is working. Human life is very amazing. How I experience this sh*t its like wow.
CataclysmicQuantum wrote:
Call me old fashion, but I like creating my own tools and using them to develop something bigger and better. It delivers more satisfaction.
Another reason no one who has any sense will ever hire you to write software.
CataclysmicQuantum wrote:
What kind of math is involved with that?
The kind you're never understand. :laugh:
2 75 22 6
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Leslie Sanford wrote:
I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions
Just hold down the Alt key when moving, it gives you more precise positioning control
I have no blog...
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Leslie Sanford wrote:
I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions
Just hold down the Alt key when moving, it gives you more precise positioning control
I have no blog...
Liam O'Hagan wrote:
Just hold down the Alt key when moving, it gives you more precise positioning control
Thanks! :-D
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
In a similar vain to using word or visio you could use powerpoint if you need to show multiple forms. Maybe this is of some use.
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Sometimes, I find it easier to just do a mockup with code. It takes a little more time, but it often lets me tweak it easier. Then again, it's entirely dependent on the type of UI (and sometimes requires taking a screenshot and filling stuff in later.)
Anyone who thinks he has a better idea of what's good for people than people do is a swine. - P.J. O'Rourke
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Visio is good for that I found.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa
Fernando A. Gomez F. wrote:
At least he achieved immortality for a few years.
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I'm in the process of updating a piece of software I've written. It's a VST plugin called Cobalt[^]. I'm using Paint to play around with a mockup of the new GUI, but it's painstaking: Example Mockup[^] I can create most of these shapes in Word, but Word wants to snap the shapes and text to certain positions. This makes it difficult to position things exactly like I want it. Basically, I need a simple piece of software that will let me create shapes similar to the above example and let me drag 'n drop them, resize them, etc., at will. Finally, I need to export the results as an image I can then hand off to an artist who can provide a custom rendering. I don't need it to do anything more than the above, so something like Photoshop would be overkill. Thanks for any suggestions.
modified on Sunday, May 4, 2008 5:04 PM
Cobalt has a very cool GUI! My guess is that grymmjack used Photoshop-like software for creating it, but for mockups I suggest simpler graphics software: you could take screenshots of the current Cobalt GUI, import them and cut them up into layers, duplicate them, move them around. Paint.NET is entry-level free software; you should try it first. Paint Shop Pro is much better and has more features for ~99$.
