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Topic:
Accurate location of text on buttons
This thread has 3 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Thursday July 8, 2010 at 04:34
leemcg
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
16
Hello

I used to hang around here when I had the original Pronto programmed them myself, but now I have an installer because there were too many wife-unfriendly moments! Glad to see my old log-in works!

My installer has provided me with his Pronto Pro files to enable me to edit them for asthetics. He doesn't have the same obsessive focus on the look and I'm happy to have a play around. However that isn't relevant to my query - but if the answer is scripting, it's going to be outside my current comfort zone.


My question is this: Is it possible to define the location of text on buttons more accurately that just the obvious alignment options? Well rather, I know it is possible - I can create an icon for every button and put the text on it in my drawing program - what are the options and the easiest way to do things?


The problem arises because most of the button designs (or at least the ones I'm using) have a shadow as part of the bitmap, so the centre of the bitmap doesn't correspond to the centre of the actual button part. Also, I have been experimenting with pressed states that seem to actually press down (the button graphics move a couple of pixels to the right and down, closer to the shadow), and then I'd need the text to be 2 pixels lower and to the right on the pressed version.


My ideas at present are
1. Create lots more bitmaps with the text on them (and the pressed versions with the text moved too). This will obviously look best, but will take ages to draw and them import.

2. Just have blank buttons with text boxes on top. This seems like half a solution, and there are a few issues that I'd like to know more about: Can I make it so that presses on text boxes are ignored (somehow passed through), or do I have to copy the actions to the text box itself (I think that's possible). Also is there any way to move text boxes when the main button is pressed - assume this would definitely need scripting.


Has anyone encountered the same problem, and what are your solutions?

Thanks in advance

Lee
Post 2 made on Thursday July 8, 2010 at 05:53
alpha
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2003
258
I had a similar issue with a drop shadow that threw off the text. Since the image was created I put a clear text box on top. Sometimes if you play with the font size and use something other than the center justification, it works out with a couple of blank lines and spaces strategically placed above or below.

Pronto edit sees all graphics as rectangles when it comes to adding text. The center of the rectangle is the center of the text. If you are creating fresh graphics that are not perfectly symmetrical , create a larger than usual canvas to start or expand it afterward. Then offset the crop it to accommodate the center of text. If you are using a drop shadow or highlight it is possible to use it as a separate image underneath.

For older graphics you can re-edit them by creating a new larger transparent image and paste the old image as a layer inside the new.

One trick you can use for 3-D text. Label a button with a large black bold text. Then create a transparent text box with the same text size and style but use a lighter color like yellow. Place it directly above the button text , then move it up 3 pixels and left 3 pixels. Depending on the colors used and the placement, the text could look like a cut-out or a block-letters. Swap the colors and it could look like a it has a highlight . Project Boredom has an example of this with an animation. [Link: remotecentral.com]
Project Boredom 2 is here. [Link: mediafire.com]
------------------------
Check Version 1 & 2 out in the files section.
OP | Post 3 made on Thursday July 8, 2010 at 09:55
leemcg
Founding Member
Joined:
Posts:
August 2001
16
Thanks alpha. The idea of putting some transparent pixels to the top left is a great one.

I don't think I could use that to have text "moving" on a press, could I. I think if I use different sized bitmaps, then it stretches the bitmap, so the text would be in the same place?
Post 4 made on Thursday July 8, 2010 at 16:00
Lowpro
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2004
2,081
Using a transparent text panel allows for pixel perfect placement of your text over a given button or panel. I use this method as well in cases where, irrespective of the graphic used the alignment options do not align the text properly. I even use this method where the alignment options won't align the text properly on a simple colored text panel where no graphic is used. During the beta test for the TSU9600 and PEP I submitted a couple bug reports with respects to the alignment functions. Unfortunately those issues persisted through all releases of PEP v1. I don't use PEP v2, so I can't speak to that. I even remember commenting during the beta test on the stock graphics which came with the editor as no attempt was made to ensure (when feasible) that the text would actually be displayed on the actual area of the graphic intended for the text. It's not rocket science. If you have a button for instance which contains a drop shadow simply ensure there is an equal amount of fully transparent area above the actual button part of the graphic. This will ensure that the center of the entire graphic is actually the center of the button area of the graphic where text is intended to go. But it digress.... :-(

Last edited by Lowpro on July 8, 2010 16:29.
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