This may be a really stupid question .... but ....
HELP
Sunday, February 17, 2008 by RickyMaveety | Discussion: Docks
OK ... so I just started using Object Dock, and the other products by Stardock. I've sort of gone nuts regarding Tiggz K-TEK skins, and I've been creating tons of icons for it (which I will gladly share when I've finished them).
Now, here's the stupid question. I would also like to create a steel dock to match the rest of the skin. Tiggz mentioned that he doesn't generally use a dock, and so I guess that's why he's never created one. But I use the docks like crazy ... so I really need one.
I looked at the tutorials about creating your own dock, and it sounds as if all I need to make is two png files and one ini file and put them all in the "backgrounds" folder. Then, theoretically, I should be able to find my dock background in the Object Dock drop down menu.
However .... my new background does not show up at all. So, any ideas as to what I might be doing wrong? I'm putting the folder in My Documents/Stardock/Objectdock Library/Backgrounds ... should the location be different? Or, should I not have subfolders?
Thanks.
Ricky
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RickyMaveety
Reply #22 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 7:36 PM
Reply #22 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 7:36 PM
I'm not so sure it's all that important really. Honestly, I was just being lazier than all hell. I wanted to use one of the Rubik's Cubes in Mic Controller's RC trash indicator.
However, I realized that probably no one else would be using the Andrea program (which was what I am using it for on my computer) and so, I really don't need to add it to a dockzip. And, I really could build and render a rubik's cube of my own ... I do have the technology .... like I said ... just lazy.
I have put in a request to Stardock to allow me to use the bundled images in my renders. And, I sent a PM to Tiggz to let me borrow his rivet. Yes, I could make a rivet, but gee .... I want the rivet to look just like HIS rivet so the theme all ties together.
Lazy lazy lazy ..... no excuses.
However, I realized that probably no one else would be using the Andrea program (which was what I am using it for on my computer) and so, I really don't need to add it to a dockzip. And, I really could build and render a rubik's cube of my own ... I do have the technology .... like I said ... just lazy.
I have put in a request to Stardock to allow me to use the bundled images in my renders. And, I sent a PM to Tiggz to let me borrow his rivet. Yes, I could make a rivet, but gee .... I want the rivet to look just like HIS rivet so the theme all ties together.
Lazy lazy lazy ..... no excuses.
RickyMaveety
Reply #23 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:39 PM
Reply #23 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 8:39 PM
OK ... finally figured out a way to post an example (old website space I haven't used in years). So, the rivet is by Tiggz ... the rest of the image is original by me. It's part of a recycle bin set that I'm doing.
So, I ask permission for the rivet and pray that I get it?? I hope that Tiggz is a giving sort of person, cause it's really going to suck eggs if I have to make a rivet that is original, but looks like his.
So, I ask permission for the rivet and pray that I get it?? I hope that Tiggz is a giving sort of person, cause it's really going to suck eggs if I have to make a rivet that is original, but looks like his.
messiah1
Reply #24 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:53 PM
If the rest of that is yours, why use someone elses rivet...looks like you could do one on your own. IMHO.
Reply #24 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:53 PM
So, I ask permission for the rivet and pray that I get it?? I hope that Tiggz is a giving sort of person, cause it's really going to suck eggs if I have to make a rivet that is original, but looks like his.
If the rest of that is yours, why use someone elses rivet...looks like you could do one on your own. IMHO.
RickyMaveety
Reply #25 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:09 PM
Reply #25 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:09 PM
Because I want the images to match the K-TEK wallpaper exactly. Yes, I could make a rivet that looks exactly like Tiggz ... not a problem ... but it is faster to just take a snap of his rivet and stick it in the piece. It looks exactly the same either way, but I tend to be honest about things like this, and to be honest, I grabbed a shot of his rivet rather than make my own.
I'm trying to make a set that really (really) works with the K-Tek theme, and if the rivets don't match, it simply doesn't look as good.
And that's why. It's because I want it to match, and I don't want to take the hours (yes, hours) that it will take to get the silly thing textured and lit so that it's perfect. Each render takes me about 5 minutes, then I have to tweak the lighting or the texture ... and then do it again ... and again. It takes about 10 minutes for each tweak ... and after about 8 passes it just gets old. Especially since I don't have Cinema 4D, so I don't have access to the lighting parameters that Tiggz has (the lucky man). That makes it even harder to match it.
I probably spent a good 8 hours just getting the steel to be as close as I could to Tiggz ... and I'm still not happy with it, but at some point I have to consider the limitations of my program and stop bashing my head against a wall.
I'm trying to make a set that really (really) works with the K-Tek theme, and if the rivets don't match, it simply doesn't look as good.
And that's why. It's because I want it to match, and I don't want to take the hours (yes, hours) that it will take to get the silly thing textured and lit so that it's perfect. Each render takes me about 5 minutes, then I have to tweak the lighting or the texture ... and then do it again ... and again. It takes about 10 minutes for each tweak ... and after about 8 passes it just gets old. Especially since I don't have Cinema 4D, so I don't have access to the lighting parameters that Tiggz has (the lucky man). That makes it even harder to match it.
I probably spent a good 8 hours just getting the steel to be as close as I could to Tiggz ... and I'm still not happy with it, but at some point I have to consider the limitations of my program and stop bashing my head against a wall.
messiah1
Reply #26 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:50 PM
Reply #26 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 10:50 PM
Well, that said, I guess you have your answer. Ask him for permission. Ask the others for permission. 
Hope it works out for you.
Hope it works out for you.
RickyMaveety
Reply #27 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:31 PM
Reply #27 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:31 PM
Me too. I'd hate to have a single rivet keep me from posting my dock icons, but if that's the way it goes, then ... oh well ... I'll just post the ones that are completely original (and I won't post the dock background).
I'm hoping I'll have my answers (from Stardock and from Tiggz) in the next few days. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
I'm hoping I'll have my answers (from Stardock and from Tiggz) in the next few days. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
RickyMaveety
Reply #28 Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:51 PM
Reply #28 Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:51 PM
And, .... yippee .... Tiggz said it was ok to use his rivet. Not I just have to figure out the dockzip part of things .....
ZubaZ
Reply #29 Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:56 PM
Reply #29 Thursday, February 21, 2008 2:56 PM
RickyMaveety
Reply #30 Thursday, February 21, 2008 11:44 PM
Reply #30 Thursday, February 21, 2008 11:44 PM
Nah, not so much. I just need to know which of the many Stardock programs I am supposed to use to create the dockzip. That thread seems more of a discussion of how to improve the process ... but not the basics of how to actually go about it.
messiah1
Reply #31 Friday, February 22, 2008 12:15 AM
Reply #31 Friday, February 22, 2008 12:15 AM
You use ObjectDock to create the dockzip file. On Themes, you want to select "Package Files", it'll open up a packaging window and then you can open a folder and just drag the files into the box under Artwork / Files to Include, then click "Create Package".
RickyMaveety
Reply #32 Friday, February 22, 2008 2:34 PM
Reply #32 Friday, February 22, 2008 2:34 PM
Thank you.
You know, I don't think I'll need quite as many permissions as I thought. The only images I wanted from the bundled ones were the ones that duplicated the original icons anyway. I don't need the ones that have been manipulated much.
Here's what I'm doing. I'm going to post it in a separate thread for comments. I upped the size to 256 because I'm realizing that there are people who need dock icons that size.
The original icon is in the lower left corner, and the rest of the image is what I'm doing with them. I'm hoping to get some good critical comments before I take the project much further ...
You know, I don't think I'll need quite as many permissions as I thought. The only images I wanted from the bundled ones were the ones that duplicated the original icons anyway. I don't need the ones that have been manipulated much.
Here's what I'm doing. I'm going to post it in a separate thread for comments. I upped the size to 256 because I'm realizing that there are people who need dock icons that size.
The original icon is in the lower left corner, and the rest of the image is what I'm doing with them. I'm hoping to get some good critical comments before I take the project much further ...
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Reply #21 Wednesday, February 20, 2008 3:35 PM
Maybe we can help. WC really is as much about the community as it is about the "stuff". It just happens that we all came here because of the "stuff".