Author Topic: Mala layout/theme request, it's been done, WOW (Read 12698 times)

squirrellydw · « **on:** January 15, 2007, 11:30:43 am »

If anyone is good at making layouts for Mala and would like to make one for me here is what I would like.

Would like it to do all the fancing stuff that Mala supports, rotating is a must and have it look similar to Apples Apple TV/Front Row/CoverFlow application. I have attached a picture to give you an idea. Would like to have the games listed on the left and the snapshots/video on the right and maybe the title on the top right. I like the way this looks color wise, I think it looks very clean and professional.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2007, 09:19:23 am »

since no one seems to be interested I guess I will have to try this in a week or so. This is possible right?

BamBam · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2007, 10:34:50 pm »

If you have Photoshop, you are golden.
Open an existing layout folder and grab a copy of the .jpg file. Open it in Ohotoshop and overwrite the image with what you want and save as the same name as the .jpg file you took from the layout folder.
I am far from being a pro, but this was the easiest way for me to do it. I searched the net for some nice artwork and plugged it in where I wanted.
If you haven't used Photoshop, you can pick up how-to books on it for about $20.00.
Cheers and good luck.

John

CM · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2007, 10:50:45 pm »

You could certainly copy the overall look in a skin, but the rotating/animation would really need to be built-in to the FE itself.

I personally would love an FE that had a CoverFlow and FrontRow look with customizable graphics. I put together working versions of these that looked slick in Blitz3D in about 2 nights, but it did not include the other 99% of mame/emulator FE functions. Hopefully a FE dev will get bored one night with some of the new Vista options coming down the pipe.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2007, 11:28:48 pm »

Well, I simply modified the default layout and it worked OK. I have no idea out to make the selected game out lined in a blue box though.

Yes, I think a coverFlow theme would kick ass. I wish I had the talent to do that. I would gladly pay $20 for that.

Take a look here if you don't know what I mean
http://www.apple.com/itunes/jukebox/coverflow.html

youki · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2007, 09:20:20 am »

You can trick for the rotated snap. You could with photoshop (i guess) make a macro (or script) that rotate all your snapsaccording to what you want in your layout and save it.

Then point the snap folder of your FE to that new snaps.

If you use this trick to rotate the snap , you could do exactly the kind of layout you show on your first post.

shock_ · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2007, 11:03:42 am »

Like this?

That's at 1024 x 768 but can resize it if you want.

The font is Century Gothic which is pretty close. Substitute something if you don't have it.

You'll need to specify your Titles folder as Definable 1 in the Mala GUI options.

I just remembered I forgot to lay out the video over the snap - but that'll only take you a second.

Caveats you probably already know:

You won't get the reflection effect on the snaps etc themselves, since they're dynamically added to the screen at runtime.
Due to the way Mala works, the list will scroll around the selection cursor box; the selector won't slide up and down the list.

Here it is. MaLa layout and background PNGs (37KB .zip)

Photoshop .PSDs if you want to mess with the colours, dimensions, layout, whatever - or just see where I cheated for the reflections

Source PSD files (117KB .zip)

I don't want your $20 by the way. Nice choice of inspiration, I might use it myself!

squirrellydw · « **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2007, 12:43:07 pm »

Quote from: shock_ on January 19, 2007, 11:03:42 am

Like this?

That's at 1024 x 768 but can resize it if you want.

The font is Century Gothic which is pretty close. Substitute something if you don't have it.

You'll need to specify your Titles folder as Definable 1 in the Mala GUI options.

I just remembered I forgot to lay out the video over the snap - but that'll only take you a second.

Caveats you probably already know:
You won't get the reflection effect on the snaps etc themselves, since they're dynamically added to the screen at runtime.
Due to the way Mala works, the list will scroll around the selection cursor box; the selector won't slide up and down the list.

Here it is. MaLa layout and background PNGs (37KB .zip)

Photoshop .PSDs if you want to mess with the colours, dimensions, layout, whatever - or just see where I cheated for the reflections Source PSD files (117KB .zip)

I don't want your $20 by the way. Nice choice of inspiration, I might use it myself!

WOW

, that is awesome. That looks perfact, just what I wanted. So I just have to layout the video over the snap then correct? And I do that just by picking video and sizing it correctly. Does that mean it will play the video and if I don't have the video for that game it will show the snap? This is great, thank you so much

Havok · « **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2007, 12:49:32 pm »

Nice layout!

loadman · « **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2007, 03:30:59 pm »

Quote from: shock_ on January 19, 2007, 11:03:42 am

That's at 1024 x 768 but can resize it if you want.

The font is Century Gothic which is pretty close. Substitute something if you don't have it.

You'll need to specify your Titles folder as Definable 1 in the Mala GUI options.

I just remembered I forgot to lay out the video over the snap - but that'll only take you a second.

I don't want your $20 by the way. Nice choice of inspiration, I might use it myself!

Sexy...

I wish I had the skills to make nice layouts.

You and gamecreature should work together on something

anyway...

Please consider sending to the MaLa Website for all to enjoy..

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layout_upload.html

shock_ · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2007, 05:25:56 pm »

Quote from: squirrellydw on January 19, 2007, 12:43:07 pm

So I just have to layout the video over the snap then correct? And I do that just by picking video and sizing it correctly. Does that mean it will play the video and if I don't have the video for that game it will show the snap?

Exactly. Was 1024x768 going to be okay by the way?

Quote from: loadman on January 19, 2007, 03:30:59 pm

You and gamecreature should work together on something

not... worthy...

gamecreature's stuff is art; I am a big fan.

Quote from: loadman on January 19, 2007, 03:30:59 pm

Please consider sending to the MaLa Website for all to enjoy..

Yeah I can do that, but I'll pre-render a few different sizes first, swap in a font I have actually checked is legal, and tidy up the .mll(s), otherwise it's just not something I'm happy sticking up on the fridge for mum and dad to see :-)

On fonts, my own current Mala WIP is using Square721 Extended - I have also converted this to ui.bdf so it's my MAME tab menu font also, I love it so much

Thanks for kind words of support - especially considering what an untrained hack I am.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2007, 06:23:17 pm »

1024x768 is fine but I will need some smaller ones. I am going to be using it on a multisync monitor. Any chance you can make it a Scalable layout? Scalable layouts will scale to your selected screen resolution automatically. The only thing you have to consider is the ratio of your screen resolution.

• 1.33 (4:3): 320x240, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960
• 1.25 (5:4): 400x320, 640x512, 800x640, 1280x1024, 1600x1280
• 1.6 (16:10): 480x300, 960x600, 1280x800, 1920x1200
• Free aspect ratio

That means a layout for 800x600 will also work on 640x480 and so on.

This was taken from the Mala site

loadman · « **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2007, 07:11:23 pm »

Quote

Thanks for kind words of support - especially considering what an untrained hack I am.

It works so it's cool. ...

I've just been coding for six months and it is pretty ugly/inefficient in parts (but I'm getter better). I get away with it as I'm just making small plug-ins and test aps.

Whatever works ... Have Fun!

FYI: Your layout appeals to my personal taste 'simple and sexy' .. Just like my wife.

(OK I just got a smack for that

)

..... To my wife" Honey what I meant by 'simple' is not too much make-up"

shock_ · « **Reply #13 on:** January 23, 2007, 06:53:24 am »

I've almost finished a tidy up of this... 6 colour options, and 640x480,800x600,1024x768 and 1280x1024. Worth posting any of that up?

edge · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2007, 09:04:46 am »

Quote from: shock_ on January 23, 2007, 06:53:24 am

I've almost finished a tidy up of this... 6 colour options, and 640x480,800x600,1024x768 and 1280x1024. Worth posting any of that up?

yes x 6.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2007, 11:43:28 am »

Quote from: shock_ on January 23, 2007, 06:53:24 am

I've almost finished a tidy up of this... 6 colour options, and 640x480,800x600,1024x768 and 1280x1024. Worth posting any of that up?

sweet, as long as it works on my billabs multisyc monitor I will be happy.

Thanks

shock_ · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2007, 04:50:57 pm »

Broken into two parts to ensure filesize fits as an attachment here.

No readme yet, etc. but font included. Very un-user friendly at the moment, but this is pre-alpha release stuff

Add font (.ttf) file to your windows\fonts directory.
Change colour by opening the relevant view in malalayout, doubleclick the background and change the image to the relevant colour. Do this for both horizontal and vertical variants, then re-save the .mll file.
Make sure you've ticked "Use layout names for directory names" under Mala Options > GUI > Layout, assuming you've left the directory structure in place.

applesque-small includes 640x480 and 800x600 versions, in blue, azure, green, orange, red, purple.
applesque-big includes 1024x768 and 1280x1024 versions for same colours.

shock_ · « **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2007, 04:52:17 pm »

and the bigger version (edit: nb there is an attachment here !!)

squirrellydw · « **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2007, 08:30:49 pm »

Quote from: shock_ on January 23, 2007, 04:52:17 pm

and the bigger version

??

edge · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2007, 08:36:28 pm »

Quote from: squirrellydw on January 23, 2007, 08:30:49 pm

Quote from: shock_ on January 23, 2007, 04:52:17 pm
and the bigger version

??

applesque-big includes 1024x768 and 1280x1024 versions for same colours.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2007, 09:22:52 pm »

oh, didn't see the attachment at first....my bad

Quote from: shock_ on January 23, 2007, 04:50:57 pm

No readme yet, etc. but font included. Very un-user friendly at the moment, but this is pre-alpha release stuff

So this is the final version yet, correct?

shock_ · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2007, 09:47:52 pm »

Quote

So this is the final version yet, correct?

I'm guessing it's close. I'm new at this MaLa layout thing!

I'm not 100% on the font yet. Once I sort that and do a bit more testing and write a readme, I'll probably post it to the MaLa layout submissions page.

I'd like to perhaps package it up a bit better too, like perhaps pre-save layouts for each of the different colours to save ppl having to go in and manually change the background themselves in MaLalayout. As someone who does web interface / usability stuff for a living, that irks me. I just want the skin to be a "download-unzip-select in MaLa" sort of thing.

I haven't even explored the scalable ratio thing yet, which, once I understand it, will probably bring down the sheer number of files I'm generating.

I also don't know what is best for arcade monitor users like you - but again the ratio thing might solve it.

Feedback appreciated once you've had a crack at using them.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2007, 10:37:57 pm »

"I just want the skin to be a "download-unzip-select in MaLa" sort of thing."
I agree

"scalable"
This would be great, nice work. Thank you again for doing this. This will finish off my cocktail table nicely.

audiomidiman · « **Reply #23 on:** January 24, 2007, 03:53:37 pm »

Wow, that looks sweeet. Know if it would work w/ AtomicFE which seems to be working very good on my Windows 98 box.

Bill

squirrellydw · « **Reply #24 on:** January 24, 2007, 04:15:38 pm »

Shock, I forgot to ask, did you inclued the Video over the snap in the latest download?

shock_ · « **Reply #25 on:** January 24, 2007, 06:50:26 pm »

Quote

did you inclued the Video over the snap in the latest download?

Yes, I did !!

Quote

Know if it would work w/ AtomicFE

No, I don't! The backgrounds are just PNGs and they're very undercomplicated layouts, so it isn't much overhead to rebuild them for whatever FE. I've got Atomic at home but haven't had much call to play with it yet.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #26 on:** January 24, 2007, 08:24:44 pm »

great, thanks man

youki · « **Reply #27 on:** January 25, 2007, 04:28:47 am »

Quote from: audiomidiman on January 24, 2007, 03:53:37 pm

Wow, that looks sweeet. Know if it would work w/ AtomicFE which seems to be working very good on my Windows 98 box.

Bill

Not "as is" , but it is really easy to port it to Atomic FE. If layout authors give me the authorization i can port it for you to AtomicFE very quickly and even do a variant.

shock_ · « **Reply #28 on:** January 25, 2007, 06:09:45 am »

Hey Youki - go nuts. I forgot to specify a licence, but this one as far as I care can be full blown public domain - with the exception of the font which isn't mine (its licence is in a readme within the zips)

Ohhh the rush that just gave me

youki · « **Reply #29 on:** January 25, 2007, 09:31:18 am »

That shock_

audiomidiman , as i don't have time to do all the version there is in the zip.

what resolution you want ?
What orientation?
What color version you prefer? (blue, red, green, purple,orange, azure?)
Do you prefer have the selection Fix at one position and only items moves or you prefer having the selection that moves?

Let me know what you prefer, i will do it.

Havok · « **Reply #30 on:** January 28, 2007, 12:49:52 am »

Hey Youki -

When you're done, can you post it to your download site? That looks like a really slick layout! Great job shock!

shock_ · « **Reply #31 on:** January 30, 2007, 08:26:02 am »

I think this is done now.

One package including a new [free] font, and the layout is 4:3 scalable.

More info in the readme.

Over to you, youki!

Go nuts!

youki · « **Reply #32 on:** January 30, 2007, 08:55:17 am »

Thanks shock_

I'm waiting some confirmation about resolution and color choice from audiomidiman by mp.

then i will port them.

shock_ · « **Reply #33 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:09:02 am »

Quote from: youki on January 30, 2007, 08:55:17 am

Thanks shock_

I'm waiting some confirmation about resolution and color choice from audiomidiman by mp.

then i will port them.

Which reminds me - squirrellydw if you have a specific colour to match your cab that you want, find it and tell me what it is so I can do you up a matching one. red,green,blue values should be fine, or hex, or whatever you can find.

squirrellydw · « **Reply #34 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:16:46 am »

Thanks shock_, I will test this out tonight when I get home from work. I like that you made it scalable. And thanks for putting me in the credits, you didn't have to do that.

I like the color blue that you used in the original one, so as long as it's the same I will be using that. Thanks

shock_ · « **Reply #35 on:** January 31, 2007, 07:32:53 am »

Cool! I don't have a CRT handy to test it with, and my LCD hates messing about with resolutions so hopefully it works for you.

Love your cab, by the way. Good luck with the rest of the build!

squirrellydw · « **Reply #36 on:** January 31, 2007, 10:41:42 am »

wow, even looks better than the first one. nice work. Can't wait to get my cab done and my monitor in.

Thanks

shock_ · « **Reply #37 on:** February 05, 2007, 06:39:26 am »

So does it have any obvious bugs? If not I can send it up the official Mala upload pipe

Feedback from anyone who has used it please!

squirrellydw · « **Reply #38 on:** February 05, 2007, 10:15:45 am »

I have it installed on my laptop which is what I am using to test everything out with. I haven't had any problems with it. Nice job

loadman · « **Reply #39 on:** February 23, 2007, 05:27:08 am »

FYI

This layout is now posted on the MaLa Website

http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/layouts.html#applesque


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