ThaPanel-EX

[OtisBee]

hi there!

the 3rd and (probably) last skin in the mini skin series is "ThaPanel-EX"

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5598/thapanelexforumpreviewjq0.png (http://imageshack.us)

ThaPanel Pack (1.24MB) (http://www.zshare.net/download/289561619b2319/)

all ThaPanel versions (original, FX, EX and XL) are now part of ThaPanel Pack (http://www.zshare.net/download/289561619b2319/).
if you have downloaded the pack already from one of the other ThaPanel topics, you can ignore this one.

...

NOTE:
- CD Art Display 1.0 Preview 2 Build 13 or above is required. get it here (http://closetosoftware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=341)

- before you apply the skin you should close CAD and install the included font first!!!

- to get some extra track info click the upper panel area and watch the cool animation to show the "extended panel area" text lines.

"ThaPanel-EX" takes use of the most recently added features:
-repeat & shuffle buttons
-mixed progressbar
-volume control
-unique ratings to hover over
-slick cover transitions
-simple but nice looking nocover images designed to be 70% opaque
-a cute slide animation to show some additional track info on the extended panel area
-panel background is now slightly transparent (changed on june24 2007)

once again....
....i hope you'll enjoy this new skin!!

thx! :)


....OtisBee


P.S.: please check out "ThaPanel" (http://closetosoftware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=327&sid=160f5ec677f1a4aa7da99c386537d57e) and "ThaPanel-FX" (http://closetosoftware.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=328&sid=160f5ec677f1a4aa7da99c386537d57e), too!!

[swe]

Hello!

OtisBee! :)

master off make skin is back!!!! :wink:
really really nice
thanks!!
:D :D :D

[Operator]

Really nice skin, good job!

What about *cough* 180°-Version? *cough* ;)

[OtisBee]

@ swe:

thx! :wink:

@ Operator:

something wrong with your throat?
perhaps you're too greedy for those 180's!!!
i'll see what i can do for your relief.

...maybe a cough drop or something ??!
:lol:

thanks anyway!! :wink:


....OtisBee

[Operator]

@ OtisBee:

Thank you for taking care of my health :D. Maybe some Fisherman's Friends could help [besides the 180°-versions] ;).

Once again: Great skins, I love all three of them :)


Edit: I have one little suggestion: How about making the background with all the text-elements and player controls semitransparent so that the Wallpaper is visible and the skin fits even better to someones current Desktop?

If you do so, there could possibly occur some difficulties with reading the text [depending of the used Wallpaper] but you could counter them with adding some blur-effects to the background. That should work.
Well, at least in my mind ;)

[OtisBee]

I have one little suggestion: How about making the background with all the text-elements and player controls semitransparent so that the Wallpaper is visible and the skin fits even better to someones current Desktop?

what an excellent suggestion, man!!!
8) 8) 8)

i thought about having no panel background at all in the first place, but then i decided to have one to match most of the walls out there. :)
i wonder why i haven't thought about a transparent background.
kinda missed that. :wink:

your idea is looking oh so lovely on "ThaPanel-EX" and it's 180°!!!
just fantastic!

thank you so much!!! :D

@ all:

please download "ThaPanel-EX" again!
-i've also tweaked the overall appearance so that panel and cover fit together even better.
-in addition i made the nocover images as transparent as the panel background.
so go ahead and check out the initial post. :wink:

thx!! :)


....OtisBee

[OtisBee]

...and hey,
cool that you like "ThaPanel" and "ThaPanel-FX", too!!
:D :D :D

[Carlos]

@ OtisBee & Operator

I liked the new ThaPanel-EX!! 8)

Operator suggestion was very well implemented!!

:D

PS: do you think you can increase the rating size an keep a nice skin overall looking?

[OtisBee]

@ OtisBee & Operator

I liked the new ThaPanel-EX!! 8)

Operator suggestion was very well implemented!!

:D

PS: do you think you can increase the rating size an keep a nice skin overall looking?
thanks, my friend!!
:D :D

...i've tried.
believe me, i have really tried to have larger ratings.
it's some sort of a waste to configure them that small, i know.
they look very nice in a larger scaling, indeed.

when i set everything together for the release, i tried all sorts of configs but in the end i came to the conclusion that the actual setting is the best, IMHO.

the good thing is, that CAD is providing so much customizing features so everyone can tweak the skin to his/her needs. :wink:

anyway, if you find a nice and decent setting yourself, then please let me know and perhaps you'd like to post a screeny to show the result.

...thanks for always supporting me!! :)


....OtisBee

[Operator]

@ OtisBee: The new updated version looks so pretty, very well done! And thank you very much for the 180°-Version :D.

Wait, here's a screenshot for you:

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4143/thapanelevote7.jpg


Edit: I think I've found a bug. I use "Pin to Desktop" and after clicking ony my Desktop [the focus is no longer on CAD], the skin looked like this:

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/302/thapanelevobugmh8.jpg

[swe]

Edit: I think I've found a bug. I use "Pin to Desktop" and after clicking ony my Desktop [the focus is no longer on CAD]

same here!

winXp sp2

[Carlos]

This is not a bug.

Pin to desktop breaks CAD elements order (tech stuff).

The only way to avoid that is to create only one big element but it'll limit most of the new CAD features.

In resume, some skins are not pin friendly.

Vista does not even support pin.

[Operator]

@ Carlos: It's not a bug, it's a feature ;)

Thanks for explaining me the circumstances. I've disabled "Pin to Desktop" now :)

[OtisBee]

@ Operator:

i've hoped that you would post a screenshot.
thanks, bro!
the skin is looking really cool on your wall.
again:
thank you so much for your transparency suggestion!!!
:D :D

nevertheless i would like to suggest that for better readability, you should set textline4's font color to 45/45/45 (RGB) on your background.

thanks again!!!
:D


....OtisBee

[Operator]

@ OtisBee: Thanks for your suggestion. I wanted to play around with the colors on that line a bit, but haven't found the time. Your suggestion saved some time and tries for me, thanks again :)

And YES, the skin looks indeed really cool on my wall :D

[OtisBee]

anytime!
:wink:

[OtisBee]

@ all:

CD Art Display 1.0 Preview 1 Build 919 or above is required to run the skin.
that's why i've updated the skin.
so, please check the initial post!!! :wink:

thx! :)


....OtisBee

[Operator]

@ OtisBee: Thanks for the update, you're really quick! :)

Edit: Forgot the new play/pause-button: Looks really cool and much better than the old one. Really nice!

[OtisBee]

thanks Operator!

cool you like it!!
:D :D