Re: [Tuxpaint-dev] different layouts
On Sat, 2005-01-01 at 23:20 -0500, Albert Cahalan wrote: > I think that's more of a problem when painting near the > edge of the canvas. > > In any case, I have a solution for this: have the edges of the > buttons ignore mouse clicks. Two to four pixels should do. Sounds good. > I think that one is fairly nice looking (almost the best, > but not quite) and easy to code. It also will look good > when the screen is larger -- the gap below is not half as > ugly as the one that would form when a lovely layout with > perfect-fitting 2x2 controls is made taller. > > For widths of 912 and up, the buttons follow the color > buttons in shape and size. For widths of 912 and below, > the buttons are square. At 1728, they can go back to > being square (half a color button at that size) again. I'll take your word for it. > The button face font can be used. (either it is readable, > or it isn't -- either way, it's in use right now) No, I think you missed my meaning. The more real estate you give to those buttons, the less there is for messages on the bottom. It looks fine with the latin alphabet and English, but is it fine for others? > How about if those buttons were on the other side, with > a similar arrangement, instead of wrapped around Tux? Yes, that might work. But a few different possibilities spring to mind, then. Maybe the font style buttons on the top, flush right, and the size buttons underneath, also flush right, in a 180 degree rotated capital L arrangement. Then the colors would start flush left and span to the edge of the font style buttons, making room for 18 colors. Ben ___ Tuxpaint-dev mailing list Tuxpaint-dev@tux4kids.net http://tux4kids.net/mailman/listinfo/tuxpaint-dev
Re: [Tuxpaint-dev] different layouts
On Sat, 2005-01-01 at 22:45, Ben Armstrong wrote: > On the other hand, now that I look at it again, won't kids miss when > pressing the black or grey color chooser buttons, and accidentally hit > print or quit instead? I think that's more of a problem when painting near the edge of the canvas. In any case, I have a solution for this: have the edges of the buttons ignore mouse clicks. Two to four pixels should do. > Most of your layouts have this problem, except > for number two (four small square buttons in a row at bottom right) and > number four (four small square buttons in two rows at bottom right). Of > these two, I think I'd choose number two, by virtue of having larger > color chooser buttons, I think that one is fairly nice looking (almost the best, but not quite) and easy to code. It also will look good when the screen is larger -- the gap below is not half as ugly as the one that would form when a lovely layout with perfect-fitting 2x2 controls is made taller. For widths of 912 and up, the buttons follow the color buttons in shape and size. For widths of 912 and below, the buttons are square. At 1728, they can go back to being square (half a color button at that size) again. > although I worry that in some languages, the loss > of extra text area space may be a problem. The button face font can be used. (either it is readable, or it isn't -- either way, it's in use right now) > (Oh, I see number three also > doesn't have that problem, but I really really don't like the font style > & size button placement in that one.) How about if those buttons were on the other side, with a similar arrangement, instead of wrapped around Tux? ___ Tuxpaint-dev mailing list Tuxpaint-dev@tux4kids.net http://tux4kids.net/mailman/listinfo/tuxpaint-dev
Re: [Tuxpaint-dev] different layouts
On Sat, 2005-01-01 at 20:54 -0500, Albert Cahalan wrote:
> Well anyway... what do people like?
> (usable, pretty at all sizes, easy to code...)
I think usability suffers with smaller font style & size buttons, and in
layouts where those buttons are not adjacent to the font choice buttons.
For these reasons, I initially thought the last one ("Things line up
better with Tux being 48 high") is the best balance of usability and
space. I can't say about pretty at all sizes or easy to code, as I
haven't really looked at either.
On the other hand, now that I look at it again, won't kids miss when
pressing the black or grey color chooser buttons, and accidentally hit
print or quit instead? Most of your layouts have this problem, except
for number two (four small square buttons in a row at bottom right) and
number four (four small square buttons in two rows at bottom right). Of
these two, I think I'd choose number two, by virtue of having larger
color chooser buttons, although I worry that in some languages, the loss
of extra text area space may be a problem. (Oh, I see number three also
doesn't have that problem, but I really really don't like the font style
& size button placement in that one.)
Ben
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[Tuxpaint-dev] different layouts
When considering the layout, remember to think about where excess vertical space should go. Currently, the canvas height is the largest multiple of 48 that fits. Any leftover space (up to 47 rows) goes to the Tux area. Some of the proposed layouts work naturally with this. Some will require that buttons grow to fill ugly gaps, and this may cause alignment problems or non-square control buttons. It's nice if the layout still looks good with the tool option area (right button bar) consumed by a dialog. Imagine the "Open" dialog being a bit wider, extending to the right by 96 additional columns. Well anyway... what do people like? (usable, pretty at all sizes, easy to code...) ___ Tuxpaint-dev mailing list Tuxpaint-dev@tux4kids.net http://tux4kids.net/mailman/listinfo/tuxpaint-dev
