Vector Based Reaper THeme Element

[X-Raym]

HI !

I recently see more and more plugins with vector based User Interface, such as MeldaProductions's VST and The Mangle, and I am really impressed by these.

Vector based element for UI have a lot of advantages :

• Light weight
• Easily customizable
• No scaling artifacts

It would be very nice if Reaper could take advantages of some of this, for example for buttons (when there are upscaled they become very ugly), but for other elements in the theme.


What do you think of that ?


I do understand that this will not happen soon cause it is a very different thing than actual theme structure, but I wanted to open the discussion on this

[Pashkuli]

I agree. Vectors are more reliable and customizable than bitmaps although they cannot represent textures quite good.
But textres are for fixed dimensions and suitable for certain resolutions.

[X-Raym]

You are totally right for textures,
and I loved them on certain UI, just see the Native Damage Kontakt Instrument interface, it is gorgious :P

But do wee need such textures for our Daw ?
If you take a close look at every new theme on Reaper stash, few of them have this kind of textures. Actually, they often use

• flat
• shades
• gradient

Things for which vector is meant to be


REAPER has always wanted to have a lightweight customizable and compatible with all kind of computer (low performance or high performance).
We could maybe have some places for Bitmap, and other for vectors... ?


Here is a Pro & Cons recap for Vector based GUI. I didn't find a lot of other resources about this subject.

[heda]

Originally Posted by adXok

I agree. Vectors are more reliable and customizable than bitmaps although they cannot represent textures quite good.
But textres are for fixed dimensions and suitable for certain resolutions.

google search images for "photorealistic vector art" and you will be amazed what vectors can do

[X-Raym]

@heda
That's totally true
but it take time, LOT of time :P

[Swamp Ape]

I'd love to be able to use vectors. They would be ideal for my theme and others of its type. I'm all about flexibility but as it stands now you can only do so much.

Of course, this is probably crazy difficult to implement as of now.

[X-Raym]

@Swamp Ape
That's for sure.
Talking about that, highlight the pro and cons, express our desire (or non-desire) is a first step

If someone find other great vector UI, feel free to share !

[reapercurious]

First, let me say that the default theme of Reaper is SVG.

Originally Posted by X-Raym

HI !

I recently see more and more plugins with vector based User Interface, such as MeldaProductions's VST and The Mangle, and I am really impressed by these.

Vector based element for UI have a lot of advantages :

• Light weight
• Easily customizable
• No scaling artifacts

It would be very nice if Reaper could take advantages of some of this, for example for buttons (when there are upscaled they become very ugly), but for other elements in the theme.


What do you think of that ?


I do understand that this will not happen soon cause it is a very different thing than actual theme structure, but I wanted to open the discussion on this

I posted a thread about this like some years back or something.

http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.p...ghlight=vector

[Fergler]

He may use vectors to create the images, but the final images are not .svg

The pink lines do allow a lot more SVG like behaviour but its not the same. There are no vector or even image masks (allowing textures, think CSS or blending properties in video game textures).

[X-Raym]

@reapercurious
I'm sorry but I dont see any SVG (or any vector based) file in Default_4.0.ReaperThemeZip, Default_3.0.ReaperThemeZip, Classic_4.x.ReaperThemeZip... Just .ico and .png. Did I missed something ? Maybe you spoke about the original project file for the graphic elements, which are surely design on a vector app ?
There is some "vector" place in theme, it is the color that we can adjust in Theme Options, but actually, a the Default_4.0.ReaperThemeZip contains 576 png files... We are far from a full vector based GUI ! :P

It is nice that the discussion already started in your other thread, I didn't find it when I make my research !

[X-Raym]

@Fregler
More blending options (or actually, more place where to choose blending mode) would be nice...
... and some easy color settings just like in CSS would be awesome !

[reapercurious]

Ask White Tie if the default theme is vector.

Version 5 can go ahead and be vector all the way, even for custom themes, that would be great.

[X-Raym]

No need to ask him, I read his Walter Themers Guide entirely, and there is no single occurence of the word "vector" on it. =/