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.NET Forum / Windows Forms / Drawing / August 2004

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Any GUI Design Guide?

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Y - 27 Aug 2004 21:56 GMT
I am looking to spice up my app with rich controls and eye-catching
color depth, but I am not a graphic designer (I am programmer who
can't even color coordinate my own clothes). Are there any books out
there like a GUI design guide?

GDI+ and DirectX allow for some great looking gadgets, but if you
can't put it together in an appealing way, you end up with an app.
that looks like a bad modern painting. I get GDI+ and DirectX9, but
it's my my graphics skills I don't trust.

For a good looking GDI+ app, check this out:
http://www.myxaml.com/misc/vgdotnet/samples/dials.htm

That's not useful for my app because I am writing a bond protfolio
calculator (on mortgage backed securities). It will have 10-20 label
boxes (which I am looking to use my own controls for). Some of the
numbers will have to be refreshed 2-3 times a second (as the
calculation progresses). I'm looking to make it sexy, user friendly
and color-coordinated.

Any books on that?
Frank Hileman - 27 Aug 2004 22:59 GMT
You might want to ask at the VG.net forum:

http://www.vgdotnet.com/forums

I designed that app, and I am no graphic artist, but if you use VG.net, I
can provide enough tips on the VG.net forum or blog so you can create nice
label boxes. Or maybe I'll just make one for you. Those are fairly easy. By
the way, did you see the description of the Transparent buttons on the blog?

http://weblogs.asp.net/frank_hileman/archive/2004/05/10/129387.aspx

That shows you can create nice effects without much effort. It is easier
with a graphical designer.

We are working on some path gradient enhancements that will make 3D effect
components even easier to create. Plus we will include more samples like
that dials demo.

I imagine books discussing Photoshop or Firefox techniques might be useful.
Some of the inspiration for the look of that demo, and the 3D knob controls
you see on the VG.net blog, came from hardware devices -- specifically
musical hardware.

Regards,
Frank Hileman

check out VG.net: www.vgdotnet.com
Animated vector graphics system
Integrated Visual Studio .NET graphics editor

> I am looking to spice up my app with rich controls and eye-catching
> color depth, but I am not a graphic designer (I am programmer who
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Any books on that?

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