Colour Icons

[WolfUK]

Martin Guthrie (author of Clock5 amongst other things) is currently carrying out a project to colourise application icons. This is being covered in the EPOC Digest (issue 178 ... soon to be available at http://www.psioneering.co.uk/digests/index.html hopefully for those of you who want to catch up with all of the details) but essentially he has created a zip file containing updated icons for some application and will be adding to this as he converts more icons.

From the digest ...
I've uploaded the initial version of the file to: http:\\www.pscience5.net\freeware\colour_icons.zip Currently it contains: BusyView, Collins EF, Crypto, EBook, EnRoute (aka Route), FileSwitch, FrotzS5, Macro5, Phrase, Porfolio, RMRZip (+ patch), SysBack, and TasMan. As I mentioned above, I'm travelling right now (until the middle of next week) so for the next couple of weeks I'll just upload an updated version of the file as and when I can and post the latest list of 'converted' icons here if that's okay with everyone. At some point later this month I'll generate a proper page on my website that anyone can access.

To use these, simply copy the AIF file into the application's directory, over-writing the existing one. As Martin says, you can find the .aif file for any given application (let's call it 'MyApp') in either c:\System\Apps\MyApp\ or d:\System\Apps\MyApp\ - depending upon whether you installed MyApp to the c: or d: drive.

[wanman]

How sad am I? I was so fed up of black and white icons on my colour machine, I went ahead and added colour to all applications myself.

Typical, after going to all that effort proper coloured icons are then released. At least it was still worth it for the apps which were not included in that zip file. If anyone wants 'unofficial' coloured icons for apps not included in the ZIP, then PM me or post your requests here.

What do you mean get a life ??? lol

Regards
Si

[WolfUK]

Si,

As far as I know none of these icons are official, Martin is just acting as an enthusiast like you (this was, I think, prompted by him getting a netBook recently). Why don't you email Martin and see if he wants to include your icons in his collection? His email address is martin@pscience5.net

Simon

[wanman]

Will do.

Regards
Si

[Kennygza]

I thought of doing my own colour patches as well, In fact i tried one. I used MBM view to change the image to a sketch image i edited with some colour in the sketch program, i then saved it.
Then i converted the image back to *.mbm and copied it over to the directory where it belongs,overwriting the existing one.

I then opened my extra bar to see that the image was still in grey scale. hmmmmm

I double checked that icon that i had edited and it was in colour.
I then browsed through all the directories to see where the icon was for the extras bar as i thought i must have edited the wrong image file~~~ Damn i could not find any other icon to edit.

Can anyone help

Maybe i'm doing something really stupid

:rolleyes:
Hope you can enlighten me

Regards
kennygza

[hammera]

Kenny,
I find the same sometimes happens when loading on new software (greyscale icon instead of colour). A soft reset sorts it out.

Adam

[MartinG]

Unfortunately it's not quite as simple as that Kenny.

I'll be writing up an explanation of how anyone can do it (entirely on their netBook/Series 7 to boot!) in a forthcoming edition of FoxPop (and probably mirrored on my website). Until then I'm busy trying to catch up with demand for the various icons... :)

Cheers,
Martin Guthrie

[WolfUK]

Hey Martin ... welcome to the forums! :)

[netBookBabe]

Originally posted by MartinG
Until then I'm busy trying to catch up with demand for the various icons... :)... and doing a fine job, too, Martin. Did you realise the floodgates you would be opening?? :D

Julie

[Kennygza]

Yeah i didn't really think that it would work but i had to see for my self.
I did my first lessons in OPL programing yesterday - The lotto program on the 3lib website. It definately is not as easy as one would think but i'm managing to get to grips with it- the real basics i mean ;)

It's gona be a long process:D

I look forward to the colour icons being released.
Regards
kennygza

[MartinG]

Originally posted by netBookBabe
... and doing a fine job, too, Martin. Did you realise the floodgates you would be opening?? :D

Julie

Heh, heh... Yes, I had a feeling this might be a fairly popular idea. It was one of those 'lightbulb' moments when - just for an instant - something becomes unusually clear...

Just so long as people don't mind being a little patient - I can only deal with the flood one bucket at a time!

Oh, and thanks for the welcome Simon. Somebody mentioned that you'd posted an announcement here so I thought I'd better come have a look. :)

Martin

[wanman]

Hi Kennygza,

As MartinG confirmed, the .mbm file, which accompanies most applications, IS only half the story. In addition to this, a .aif file also is required by all apps. The .mbm file is used within the application for buttons and backgrounds. The .aif file is the one that contains the icons used by ER5 on the extras bar and file system. You can view these files within MBMView but you have to perform a 'file open' rather than just double tapping on it. If you have plOpen, you can associate .aif files with MBMView which will allow double tapping.

Now, colouring the icons within a .aif file is not as easy as the .mbm files as you need the OPL SDK to recompile the file so that it is recognised by the application and ER5. This is done using AIFTOOL and it combines a .rss and .mbm file to create the .aif.

I can email you full instructions if you need them. I have already added a bit of colour to most of my applications so let me know which ones you need and I may be able to send you the .aif/.mbm files. If not I can send you what you need to do this for yourself.

Just let me know.

Regards
Si

[netBookBabe]

I added a couple more requests to Martin's ever-growing list during EpocChat last night, namely SafePlace and Collins English-Spanish.

Poor guy - he must be a glutton for punishment! ;)

Julie

[MartinG]

Originally posted by wanman

Now, colouring the icons within a .aif file is not as easy as the .mbm files as you need the OPL SDK to recompile the file so that it is recognised by the application and ER5. This is done using AIFTOOL and it combines a .rss and .mbm file to create the .aif.


Actually there's a far simpler method Si - which I'm going to write up as an article for the April edition of FoxPop (already finishing off a different article for the March edition). Consider that I've been travelling more or less solid for the past 2 weeks and all the colour aif files have been generated on my netBook... ;)

[MartinG]

Originally posted by netBookBabe
Iadded a couple more requests to Martin's ever-growing list during EpocChat last night, namely SafePlace and Collins English-Spanish.


Hi Julie,

SafePlace already done - will be in tonights upload / tomorrows posting in the Digest. Collins E-S may be added if I get time...

Martin

[wanman]

I can't wait to read your article. The problems I have had installing the EPOC SDK do not bear re-living and to think I could have done it all on my trusty 7book !!!......B*###+KS lol

btw, I have emailed you those icons I created.

Regards
Si

[MartinG]

Originally posted by wanman
I can't wait to read your article. The problems I have had installing the EPOC SDK do not bear re-living and to think I could have done it all on my trusty 7book !!!......B*###+KS lol


LOL :D Yep, 'fraid to say it takes about 15-20mins per aif on your Psion (some more, some less depending upon the complexity of the icons and/or how arty you want to be)

Originally posted by wanman

btw, I have emailed you those icons I created.


Ahah - wondered if you were the same 'Si' - now I know <grin> Took a wee while to download on my nB (~700Kb!) and it'll take me a few days to wade through but it looks like there's some useful stuff there. I'll eventually try to connect your mbm's (and aif's if appropriate) with my own (if I've already done them) and upload as an aif+patch zip within the main zip file. BTW, flFinger already has a colour icon on my machine (and no, I didn't touch it! ;) ) - did you install the latest version?

The version of PhoneMan.aif I uploaded last night is a little different from yours - take a look and let me know what you think?

Good job I've still got a couple of (otherwise) boring flights ahead of me. Greetings from a chilly Copenhagen...

Martin

[wanman]

Hi Martin,

That's strange about FIFinger. You got me thinking there as I was sure I had to add my own colour for this and and FIWorld5. I have just downloaded both apps and reinstalled them and checked both the .mbm and .aif files. Both are black and white when viewed in MBMViewer. Very Strange. Not to worry though, you could always put them in your zip file, just in case someone downloads the B&W version like me.

Re Phoneman, I had a look at your .aif file and quite liked the colours you used. Have kept mine for the time being as it matches the .mbm file I have also added colour to. Looks like you will need some extra boring flights !! :rolleyes:

Apologies for the size of the .zip file. I forgot you don't get much compression out of these picture files (especially all the art work on Zheros). Glad you got them ok though and good luck wading through them !! :D

Kind Regards
Si

p.s. can you let me know when you add that article to Psioneering.co.uk, thanks. At this rate you will need to get yourself a paper round or something, to keep you busy with all this free time on your hands !!! ;)

[MartinG]

Originally posted by wanman
That's strange about FIFinger. You got me thinking there as I was sure I had to add my own colour for this and and FIWorld5. I have just downloaded both apps and reinstalled them and checked both the .mbm and .aif files. Both are black and white when viewed in MBMViewer. Very Strange. Not to worry though, you could always put them in your zip file, just in case someone downloads the B&W version like me.


Odd. I'm almost 100% sure that I didn't play around with that particular aif. My guess is that - if I know Dave Rushall - he'll have done what I did for Clock5 (and Malcolm Bryant did for EpocSync, etc., etc.). When a program is first installed on your machine, there's no way (that I know of) to determine the type of machine it's being installed on during the installation process itself. Hence what we do is initially install the program with b/w icons. When the program is run for the very 1st time, it checks to see whether it's on a colour machine and then swaps the icons around if it is; replacing the normal aif with a colour one (and deleting the old one). Might be worth deleting the app (and .ini file(s) and trying again - running it once or twice once installed.

Originally posted by wanman
Re Phoneman, I had a look at your .aif file and quite liked the colours you used. Have kept mine for the time being as it matches the .mbm file I have also added colour to. Looks like you will need some extra boring flights !! :rolleyes:

Yeah - although this has dropped down the priority list now. There's plenty of others to do first!

Originally posted by wanman
p.s. can you let me know when you add that article to Psioneering.co.uk, thanks. At this rate you will need to get yourself a paper round or something, to keep you busy with all this free time on your hands !!! ;)

Well I've only got 'free time' 'cos I'm sitting on an airplane a lot these last couple of weeks. Get home tonight (one more flight!) and then I've got about another 10 days or so before I'm in the air again - so I might go a bit quiet for a while... :)

Cheers,
Martin

[wanman]

Hi Martin

When the program is run for the very 1st time, it checks to see whether it's on a colour machine and then swaps the icons around if it is; replacing the normal aif with a colour one (and deleting the old one). Might be worth deleting the app (and .ini file(s) and trying again - running it once or twice once installed.

Yep, that is what happens !! So no need to use the .aif files I sent you. You can still use the .mbm files for each application as these are still in black and white on the downloads. If nothing else it adds a bit of colour to the application buttons!!

Regards

Si

[MartinG]

Just a note to add that all the colour icons / patches (including a full set of updates for SimCity) are now available for download on my website: www.pscience5.net

Cheers all,
Martin

[wanman]

Hi Martin,

I checked out the excellent changes to your website, but note you have not included the instuctions for compiling the .aif files on the netbook. Will these be added to your website in the future? If not, can you post them here or email them to me.

Kind Regards

Simon

[MartinG]

Originally posted by wanman
I checked out the excellent changes to your website, but note you have not included the instuctions for compiling the .aif files on the netbook. Will these be added to your website in the future? If not, can you post them here or email them to me.

Hi Simon,

As it says on the page, "Instructions are included in the file"...

Although on hindsight, I should a) really have highlighted this more, b) included the instructions on the page anyway. Will modify this weekend.

BTW, no 'compiling' required - just some cutting & pasting of files... ;)

Cheers,
Martin

[wanman]

No probs Martin,

I will wait for you to update the download. I am now very intrigued by the fact that you can edit these .aif files by merely cutting and pasting. I can feel the rage brewing again as I remember the hassle I went through installing OPL SDK!!! ...........lol

Regards
Si

[MartinG]

Ahh - my misunderstanding Simon. I thought you meant that I hadn't included the instructions for installing the aif files.

Yes, you're right that I haven't included the instructions for creating the aif files. As I (think) I mentioned somewhere, I'll be writing an explanation for how this is done to be published on the FoxPop website - and I don't want to steal their thunder so I won't prempt that anywhere else. Also, because I've already got an article being readied for publication by them this weekend, it'll be April before the Colour Icon one gets done I'm afraid...

Sorry for the delay and cause of any frustration!

Martin

[MartinG]

Just to update everyone, there are now more than 75 colour icons and 12 colour patches (plus a full colour patch for SimCity) available for free download. Generally more added on a weekly basis. :)

See www.pscience5.net for details.

Cheers,
Martin

[MartinG]

FYI the article I wrote explaining how they are created has now been published on FoxPop and on my own website as promised. I'd welcome icon contributions for publication from anyone who fancies creating their own. :-)

www.pscience5.net
http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/EPOCcover.htm

Best regards,
Martin

[wanman]

Whilst we are on the subject, does anyone know of an application for the 7 or netbook which would enable colouring large areas of a picture with the same colour (similar to the paint can functionality on MS Paint).

The reason for this is that although Zheroes is a great game, some of the backdrops are black and white and could do with a bit of colour. It is all very well colouring in pictures pixel by pixel using Sketch, but not when the picture is complex and large.

I have tried converting pictures and editing them using MS Paint or Paint Shop Pro, but every conversion looses picture quality and colour. Photo5 used to be excellent (albeit in greyscale) but a Photo7 was never coded/released.

Regards

Si

[Schrobby]

hi Martin

I wondered if you have done the coloured version of rmr file already?
Because it's not in the zip file yet.

Roel

[MartinG]

Originally posted by Schrobby
I wondered if you have done the coloured version of rmr file already?
Because it's not in the zip file yet.

Hi Roel,

Not yet. It's on the list - but it's a long list. ;) Or feel free to create one yourself maybe?

Cheers,
Martin

[Schrobby]

Is that possible for a beginner in programming? :confused:
I don't now anything of it yet.:( :confused:

[MartinG]

No real programming skills required - honestly. Just follow it through, step by step... :cool:

Martin

[MartinG]

Just to update this (now somewhat outdated) thread:-

1) There are now in excess of 175 replacement colour icons and 35 colour application patches available - for free - at the www.pscience5.net website :)

2) There is a complete explanation of how to generate your own colour icons on your S7/nB/mB/nP/etc. at the FoxPop website: http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/hintstips/icons_01.htm :D

3) FoxPop have just uploaded their May edition and I've also published an explanation of how to get ExtraBars working in colour on your machine: http://www.foxpop.ndirect.co.uk/hintstips/extrabars_01.htm :cool:

Best regards,
Martin

[MartinG]

Originally posted by wanman
Whilst we are on the subject, does anyone know of an application for the 7 or netbook which would enable colouring large areas of a picture with the same colour (similar to the paint can functionality on MS Paint).

The reason for this is that although Zheroes is a great game, some of the backdrops are black and white and could do with a bit of colour. It is all very well colouring in pictures pixel by pixel using Sketch, but not when the picture is complex and large.

I have tried converting pictures and editing them using MS Paint or Paint Shop Pro, but every conversion looses picture quality and colour. Photo5 used to be excellent (albeit in greyscale) but a Photo7 was never coded/released.


Hi Si,

I can't claim credit for this tip but I vaguely remembered you asking the question! In fact, all credit has to go to Lewis (aka epoc head in this forum) for highlighting it:-

You can select any portion of a block colour and drag it to fill a space. Just highlight the section of the sketch you want to extend using the dotted selector tool. Release the pen so that the section shows as selected. Now either drag the edge-marking mini-pixel or the corner marking mini-pixel and drag out. The selected section will extend in the direction(s) you drag to. Not quite a 'fill' command - but certainly useful for large areas of real estate that you want to fill! :)

Cheers,
Martin

[wanman]

Cheers Martin,

Definitely a handy tip, although not still a bit tricky on the organic areas of Zhero's backgrounds. Excellent place to start though. Looks like I have got a few hours of colouring in to do !! lol

Kind Regards

Si

[cshandley]

A "fill" command is the one MAJOR missing feature of Sketch, and it has always shocked me that Psion could write such a nice paint program and then totally fail it include one essential feature!

If I had the time, then I expect I could write an OPL program to allow filling, however I don't see it happening any time soon (additionally it might be a very slow program...).

Anyone else care to take up the programming challenge?
---
Chris Handley

[MartinG]

Well, funny you should say that...

Not working on that particular essential feature just yet (since the tip above takes you most of the way there) - but maybe another associated with it... :rolleyes:

Something will probably be along in due course... ;)

Martin

[Lewis]

;) ;)

[MartinG]

:D

[MartinG]

Just to update this (now somewhat outdated) thread:-

Thanks largely to the efforts of Fritz Waechter, there are now in excess of 300 replacement colour icons and more than 90 colour application patches available - for free - at the www.pscience5.net (http://www.pscience5.net ) website.

Cheers,
Martin

[osg]

Re: FILL command

Anyone tried ImageJ on netBook? There is WAND tool, which makes selection of area filled with picked colour. This selection can be filled, outlined, copied and pasted.... You can apply number of filters on the selection (soften, sharpen, convolve...etc), you can rotate image by any angle, change pallette of the image....

See my thread "Image processing on the Netbook". There is also SIS file for download.

You should have netBook, it's quite hungry. But it's far better than any application written for EPOC so far. Internally it is multithreaded = you can work on more images in the same time. One image is in progress with some filter and on the other image you can still paint and make changes.

I am still impressed of this application and I'm glad to make it running on EPOC.

[MartinG]

Agreed, yes I've tried it, and yes; it's staying on my nB in the 'Graphics' section!

Martin

[fwaechter]

I'm still not able to download ImageJ. I wrote in the other thread:
"I've tried to download the program. ImageJ.app is no problem, but I can't access the other links (of the Java program). On PC (with IE 6) comes 'Site not found', on my netBook 'Network problem'."
I can only suppose, that there is a problem with my internet provider.

Is there another possibility to get the Java Program (perhaps per Email)?

Cheers
Fritz