Need some help with my b17 project theme.

from WinCustomize Forums

I am just starting out in this new world of cool desktops. The best way for me to learn quickly is to dive in and try to make something. I want to do a B-17 theme. The picture shows my first step, making the wallpaper (image and graphic not my own, I will be using for private use only).

I need to know if I can use a standard object or widget like a clock or weather info or other and reskin and resize them to make the gauges. I want to have most of the gauges do something (I might have the artwork from the game to use for this purpose). There should be some toggle switches also. A popup panel from the games cockpit will work for my start window I think.

Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated. I do have all the Oject Desktop programs to work with. Again this image is not mine, I did not make it, I just cleaned it up, added sky and resized for 1280x720. I hope to make this happen and if it does work and come out ok I will give it to the game designer and let them do with it as they may, this is just an experiment and a learning platform for me.

Thanks, Paul
7,145 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
White B-17 in a blizzard? (All I see is a big blank spot - have to post a pic through a 3rd part server (like photobucket) and insert the generated http addr in the box when you click image here = unless......it was possibly removed...by a mod/admin...any pics not solely yours or with permission need to be covered up (strategically placed window, etc) or sliced and diced (so only relevant parts like the cockpit dash) are shown..so's it can't be copied and used by someone as wallpaper....long winded I know...if you already knew this...mea culpa...my bad)

As far as the resizing - I've never had good luck with resizing someone else's object. haven't really tried since the builder portion became more separate in DTX. But, yeah I think you can.

The way I see it, import the widget in builder mode - this give you all the properties control - find all the separate images and resize them to suit. May have to export back after done, I'm not sure.

toggle switch should be pretty easy to create from scratch. You can even do with with a digital camera for a realistic look (I can't draw).

yes I know, not helpful... but i figured...some else will come by and go...no no no, here's what you need to do.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the input so far, I was hoping I could reskin a clock object with one of the gauge skins from the game.
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I believe you can. Once imported and redone = export with a new name. If that doesn't work, then need to make sure any .ini file for it has image names that match the name of images you use.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
due to my limited knowledge - i find it easier to look at one then use that to build one with the looks i want.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here is the link to my project picture. I am not sure what you need me to do as I post pictures of all kinds of game items on other forums. So I put a big friend in the middle to thwart the bad guys. Link: http://www.rcwarbirds.com/1b17.htm
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Resizing may cause problems if the script calls out sizing or location coordinates.

Here are a few of the tutorials for DesktopX Link

I know very little about creating objects in DesktopX, for what it is worth, here are the steps as I know them:

1 - create image files required for object
2 - use DesktopX to create a new object
3 - assign the image to the object
4 - complete the script using DesktopX script editor that is required to run the object (if the functionality is not contained in the prepackaged scripts of DesktopX)
5 - export as either an object, a widget, or a theme.

My guess is that once you feel comfortable with scripting, you can create most anything - though you will also want to keep in mind other users computer set-ups if your intention is to share the objects (widgets).

My ignorance of scripting must stop me here.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
here are the steps as I know them


That's what I know.

also for personal use (don't have to worry about other screen resolutions) you can takes parts of your pic, say crop out a dial area and use that in the graphic. it gives you a size reference, helps when lining up and blends in better.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
don't know if you saw this or not...Link it's got some useful stuff in the developers part.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thank you very much, this is exactly what I needed.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here's another Link with some info and pdf version of some.

Don't forget to look in your DesktopX / Docs folder.