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Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 2:19 pm
by Sling
dahabra wrote: Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:51 am If I may add to the question being asked.

How do you create the BG panel in Paint or other programs?

How do you create the "Cut Out" in the Top Panel?

Are there any Youtube Videos showing how this is done or a step-by-step guide for none graphics designers like myself?

I would like to create a Panel with G1000 Poped out Panels showing and using the Bezel of the TP to manipulate the "Poped Out" Panel.
This question is not really for these forums although we can help. To learn a certain graphics App it’s best to search for tutorials on that App. If you want a good free application give GIMP a try.

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:03 pm
by Detlef
Keith and Tony,

thank you for your help. I will check out Inkscape.

Regards,
Detlef

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:57 am
by JackZ
The best graphic editor so far for creating images and background for instruments in Air Manager is Skinman IMHO. And it’s free!
Since it is a vector based graphic program, it is very easy to create holes in a panel in a few steps:

1- create a rectangle of the panel color.
2- on top of it, create a rectangular hole or circular hole or even a complex shape. Keep the default salmon color for these.
The new objects should be below the first one in the tree directory of objects(right side of Skinman)
3- in the graphic tree on the right, select the “hole” and place its name “under” the background, such as there is a child-parent relationship that appear, with an indent to the right of the chip object(here the salmon colored hole)
4- in the properties of the child object, select the Boolean operation to perform from the child onto the parent.
In our case, select Shape- ie the child shape (the salmon rectangle) will be removed from its parent (the panel background), creating a rectangular hole.
5 once all the “holes” have been created and placed, export your image (file/export image) and select png(with alpha channel) file format for your picture.

Alpha channel is for transparency, so all the holes of your graphic will be given the special (alpha) color which is in fact an absence of color!
You can use this png file in your instrument, the holes are transparent.
1C70BD24-BC1E-4A32-8F6A-136C308022BF.jpeg
F6E7FEAA-33F5-4B2A-B58F-FC0BA075F972.jpeg

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 7:06 am
by JackZ

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:38 pm
by Detlef
JackZ wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:57 am The best graphic editor so far for creating images and background for instruments in Air Manager is Skinman IMHO. And it’s free!
@JackZ
Hello Jacques,

I saw Russ' introductory video today. Skinman looks easy to use and impressively powerful. I will try it as soon as I come arround designing some instrument graphic.

Thank you again,
Detlef

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 9:22 am
by jph
Detlef wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 5:38 pm
JackZ wrote: Wed Mar 24, 2021 6:57 am The best graphic editor so far for creating images and background for instruments in Air Manager is Skinman IMHO. And it’s free!
@JackZ
Hello Jacques,

I saw Russ' introductory video today. Skinman looks easy to use and impressively powerful. I will try it as soon as I come arround designing some instrument graphic.

Thank you again,
Detlef
Hi @Detlef ;)
Don't overlook one of the THE very best ever Skinman videos.
By the lord @Ralph - :) 'Praise be to the lord Ralph'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QwiFI4 ... nnovations

From one of the Ralph cult followers :) :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgYEuJ5 ... =Azgar1988

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 6:53 pm
by Detlef
Joe,

:)

I'll watch it. Can't reseist now of course!

Detlef

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:39 pm
by Ralph
I would rather recommend the 3 episodes on Skinman by Russ. Mine is very basic and not that well recorded.

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 6:28 am
by jph
Ralph wrote: Thu Apr 08, 2021 7:39 pm I would rather recommend the 3 episodes on Skinman by Russ. Mine is very basic and not that well recorded.
Hey, don't sell yourself short Ralph. :D I thought it was excellent AND very well recorded and produced - and detailed. I must admit I haven't watched Russ's videos though as I wasn't aware of them until now so will definitely watch them. BUT ! - THE very best use of Skinman for me is the marker tick feature which is simply amazing. Personally, I use PSP8 Pro. It is old, but does everything I would ever need- apart from the tick marks . I have also used it from Ver 1 of PSP :shock: I have version 9 also but, as with a lot of graphics programs an updated 'new' version doesn't necessarily make it better. So I stick with what I know and am comfortable with. The ease of producing a complete gauge that you demonstrated in your skinman video was amazing. If I didn't have years of experience with PSP I would certainly consider using skinman for all.
But either way, there are elements of skinman I simply could not do without. Prior to watching your vid I was even using Qcad pro to generate the tick markers (Dials) but it is a very long winded process to produce them then export and import to PSP9.
Of course I will watch Russ's as said, But I still think yours was bloody excellent.
Credit where credit is due. :mrgreen:

Re: Panel background with holes

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:45 am
by JackZ