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Author Topic: jmills' Fan Art  (Read 7757 times)

Offline jmills

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jmills' Fan Art
« on: June 28, 2013, 06:33:00 PM »
Hello There!

I have been programming for a little over a year now, and am currently in the process of making an XL v.1 emulator (not a powerpoint, but a real program). I am now in the process of making all the graphics (all in 1440 x 900, to fit my monitor).

The current task is to get the top bar as correct as possible. Not finished with it yet, but I would like some constructive criticism.

The font is Coolvetica converted to a raster layer (using GIMP) and then playing around with it till I get the right look.

---Jason



Offline Zach

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #1 on: June 28, 2013, 06:46:23 PM »
Not bad for a first start! :)

However, I have some tips, if you don't mind.. :P

• Try going with 720x480. That's XL's native resolution.
• The fonts used on the XL are Akzidenz Grotesk and Helvetica Neue. They're both commercial fonts, though.
• Try taking stills from videos of the real thing (there are lots of those on TWC Classics and TWC Today) and align the text/icons to have a much more authentic look.

Hope these tips help, and best of luck on the development of your program.  :hi:
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Offline toxictwister00

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #2 on: June 28, 2013, 07:00:09 PM »
Awesome work and good luck on your project! I really like how you chose to make a background from scratch instead. :thumbsup: I don't really have any suggestions outside of the ones Zach already mentioned especially the last one. It helps a lot if you're not sure if you're scaling/aligning certain things (up or down) at the right size.


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Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2013, 07:25:55 PM »
Thanks for the tips!

I'm going to for right now stick with the aspect ratio I have, as I really don't like the black bars on the tops and sides, however if I ever release it to the public (I plan on it, although it will be at least Christmas before that happens), I will re-work the graphics to the native resolution.

@Zach, I really don't have the money on anything commercial right now, so I will stick with my modified Coolvetica, I think I have gotten pretty close.

Keep the comments coming please!



Offline Zach

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2013, 09:06:11 PM »
You could always make your emulation to be Windowed like the 4000 emulator, and not fullscreen :yes:
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Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #5 on: June 29, 2013, 04:06:28 PM »
Here is the completed CC screen minus the text.

All animation will be done procedurally inside the code once I get to that stage.



Offline curtjr4

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2013, 06:00:07 PM »
Sweet, I hope this project takes off! I can put it to some use...  :biggrin:

Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2013, 02:19:36 PM »
I would like to ask a favor of anybody out there that is talented in animation...

Would you consider creating the animation for the program, it would be much appreciated, as I can't think of a better way than to just make it as a short .avi or .mov  and then overlay the data on top of it. E-mail me at jmjmills04@gmail.com if interested.



Offline curtjr4

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2013, 04:23:25 PM »
Just curious, did anyone reply to that email? I'd love to see this program become a reality.

Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #9 on: August 28, 2013, 05:48:06 PM »
No, never was responded to, but I still have some interest in the program.

I have spent the last few months learning C++, and will program the emulator in it using the Allegro game/multimedia library.

After I gather all my art work, I will program a tool that will export each frame as an image, I can then use the wide variety of tools available to stitch these into a movie file.  Once that is completed, I will have all the animations, then customization will be easy, just see what file to play and when, then display the parsed data.

---Jason



Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2013, 11:20:35 PM »
This is a map test for the Birmingham, AL area (where I live), the amount of work that went into this is exhaustive, but I am confident that I may be able to create a nationwide map, the only way I know of to get a map for everybody.



Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2013, 11:21:29 PM »
Here is the version with the rivers



Offline toxictwister00

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2013, 03:11:52 PM »
The maps look awesome Jason, very much realistic to that version of the XL. :cool3:

I hope the project continues to go smoothly for you, I'm really impressed! :biggrin:


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Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2013, 03:44:12 PM »
Thanks!  :thumbsup:

I was not initially impressed on the maps, but the more and more I look at them, the more and more I like them.

I will continue to expand the map and then add the interstates, counties and cities for the radar version of it.



Offline jmills

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Re: jmills' Fan Art
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2013, 10:29:15 PM »
Just want to remind you that my XL emulator project isn't dead, but in the meantime here is an IS background I whipped up real quick last night.