Melda GUI improvements

[GNXT]

My vote is for the right-hand version. Too much contrast is fatiguing and should be used sparingly, but knobs are the perfect place to use higher contrast - the darker knobs in that option work better for me. There's also a bonus of consistent design language - the teal shows parameter amounts for both knobs and sliders, whereas the first example mixes up teal (slider amount) with grey (knob amount) which is much less effective visual design.

Spot on

[goldglob]

My vote is for the right-hand version. Too much contrast is fatiguing and should be used sparingly, but knobs are the perfect place to use higher contrast - the darker knobs in that option work better for me. There's also a bonus of consistent design language - the teal shows parameter amounts for both knobs and sliders, whereas the first example mixes up teal (slider amount) with grey (knob amount) which is much less effective visual design.

Spot on

Yes, spot on.

[jmg8]

I prefer the dark knobs on the right and it seems so does most others. However, I was asking for colour for a good reason, as when the outer arc is not visible there is no way to see any colour and colour is important for identification.

I have an idea......how about using the dark knobs only, but making the line/pointer inside the knob coloured? This way there would at least be some small amount of colour shown.

[jmg8]

How about something like this?

[David]

I'd prefer something like either of these:

[DarkStar]

@ jmg8 - I'll can try that.

@David - I cannot see what you've changed.

NB I was only asking about which knobs to use for the Display panels - those on the Panel and Control panels would be the right-hand ones.

[DarkStar]

They look pretty ragged when sized down to 44 x 44 pixels (even with oversampling in the Style Editor):

[goldglob]

They look pretty ragged when sized down to 44 x 44 pixels (even with oversampling in the Style Editor):

Yeah, and the concentric circles (or part circles) confuse.
jmg8, I think just the coloured pointer line is enough.

[jmg8]

Shit, is that how small they need to be? Just 44 x 44. That is small. So how is a smooth curve normally made with such few pixels?

BTW, I think they look good. Maybe I should make my own style. I have ideas in mind already, but dont know how to use the style editor. Would you be willing to help me a little please?

[GNXT]

They look pretty ragged when sized down to 44 x 44 pixels (even with oversampling in the Style Editor):

Also a bit confusing to me with such thin lines, i much prefer the previous non coloured design.

[DarkStar]

Shit, is that how small they need to be? Just 44 x 44. That is small. So how is a smooth curve normally made with such few pixels?

BTW, I think they look good. Maybe I should make my own style. I have ideas in mind already, but dont know how to use the style editor. Would you be willing to help me a little please?

Yep, can do. There's quite a learning curve, but the user guide helps . I have used it for several years and there are still several elements that I do not understand. PM me if you wish.

The best way to get started it load the Neon Style and deconstruct it - look at the various elements, change one or two things and see what affect they have. Th style Editor has 4 preview screens where you can see most of the style elements, so you do not need to keep loading the new style into a plug-in.

And I use KnobMan v1.5.1 (no Java) to build the knob layer images.

[David]

@David - I cannot see what you've changed.

Top is yours, which is my fav, but I also think there should be some color and not just a grey circle around the knob when at full left.

Middle shows the right-hand knob's indicator line changes to colored ONLY when full left.

Bottom shows knob indicator line staying colored no matter where it is.

I like the idea of having knobs colored only at zero (either fully left or dead center) to both keep them from ever going all grey, and to show at a glance that they ARE zeroed.

btw, the Editor's Windows only, right?

[scott_free]

Guys,
In the light-coloured Display areas, which looks preferable?

+1 for the version on the right.

The new UI with these knobs is really looking great.

[DarkStar]

@ David,
Ah ha, now I understand.

Sorry, I cannot see a way to do the colour change. The line is a single image, rotated by the MeldaProduction kernel software. It can be a fixed colour: e.g. light grey (as in my example), or the Highlight colour (as in yours). And then there is the complication that knobs can have their "0" position ("also known as "Origin") anywhere around the arc. Have a look at Pan (origin at 12:00), Width (origin at 10:00 often) and many Gain (origin at 05:00) knobs.

[DarkStar]

So, another knob style choice to be made: left-hand or right-hand?