Looking for a kind, sefless Crestron dealer/installer... Options

[ph0n33z]

Well, I am currently designing a GUI for my dedicated home theater remote (7" touchscreen). I was browsing around, looking for ideas, and came across this website: www.guifx.com They have some great designs, and one in particular stood out: http://www.guifx.com/store/products/1087

If you notice, their smallest version is FREE! with one caveat........you need Crestron's VisionTools Pro-e software to use it.

Here is where you, the kind, selfless, sharing Crestron dealer come in. Would it be possible to extract the images from the GUI for personal use? It would save me a lot of design time. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Indebted to you

[AnthonyZ]

Well, I am currently designing a GUI for my dedicated home theater remote (7" touchscreen). I was browsing around, looking for ideas, and came across this website: www.guifx.com They have some great designs, and one in particular stood out: http://www.guifx.com/store/products/1087

If you notice, their smallest version is FREE! with one caveat........you need Crestron's VisionTools Pro-e software to use it.

Here is where you, the kind, selfless, sharing Crestron dealer come in. Would it be possible to extract the images from the GUI for personal use? It would save me a lot of design time. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Indebted to you

Best bet would be to contact 39centstamp at either RC or AVS or try either of his sites, wiremunky.com or GUIjaboard.com. He is a very classy, helpful guy and may be able to help you. That same GUI was also just used as an example at CEPro.com in an article by GUIFX on using Photoshop in GUI creation.

[39 Cent Stamp]

Hey thanks for the kind words AnthonyZ.

ph0n33z,

I would be happy to help but i dont know what the authors of the templates intent is. Originally the template was available for free with the icons in separate folders. Now when you download those icons are not available. This may mean that they changed their minds about how they want to distribute the freebie.

I don't know which of the authors created that template but im sure a quick email to http://www.guifx.com/support will get your question answered for you.

Also.. im not sure if you are set on designing this yourself or not but if you tell me what touchscreen you have and what your theaters theme is i might be able to come up with something for you. If you visit http://www.guijaboard.com you can see an example of a TPMC-8X i recently designed a template for.

Updated Links.. Thanks Dan!

This post has been edited by 39 Cent Stamp: Jun 25 2009, 05:28 PM

[BraveSirRobbin]

PM me any links and I'll place them in your original post.

Regards,

BSR

[Neurorad]

Good to see you here, 39centstamp.

I enjoy your photochops! And I appreciate all your helpful posts - hope you stick around here, at CT.

[Dan (electron)]

Welcome to CT! I upgraded your access, you should be able to post links now.

[ph0n33z]

Thanks for the help guys! I will contact GUIFX and see what they have to say. I certainly don't want to abuse their intent for distributing that template for free to Crestron dealers.

I will send you a PM shortly, 39cent. Thank you very much for the response.

[ph0n33z]

I decided to just post here instead of pming you.

My Dedicated Home Theater thread is on AVS here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1097777

I have not updated it with the most recent pictures, however. School and work has me quite busy! The look is reminiscent of an Old World style Theater. Not exactly art deco, but similar era. Think of red velvet, ornate gold fixtures, etc.

I really liked the layout for a few of the GUIFX designs. This is a theater for my parents, so the buttons need to be easy to read (think big!). As for the touchscreen itself, I am using an Advent 7" widescreen tablet pc. The native resolution is 800x480, but it can do higher.

I don't know how much you charge, but let me know if you would be interested in helping out. It would be GREATLY appreciated!

[39 Cent Stamp]

I decided to just post here instead of pming you.

My Dedicated Home Theater thread is on AVS here: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1097777

I have not updated it with the most recent pictures, however. School and work has me quite busy! The look is reminiscent of an Old World style Theater. Not exactly art deco, but similar era. Think of red velvet, ornate gold fixtures, etc.

I really liked the layout for a few of the GUIFX designs. This is a theater for my parents, so the buttons need to be easy to read (think big!). As for the touchscreen itself, I am using an Advent 7" widescreen tablet pc. The native resolution is 800x480, but it can do higher.

I don't know how much you charge, but let me know if you would be interested in helping out. It would be GREATLY appreciated!

Give me a list of sources & devices you want to control. Blu-ray, lights, screen masking etc. This list will help me come up with a navigation menu.

800X400 is fine. I usually have control system (URC, RTI, Crestron etc) design software for the user interface file. What sort of control system are you using? Is there design software that your using? Alternatively i can simply create image folders that you can add yourself.

I saw the AVS thread and i have an idea for the GUI. If the walls are finished would you please post pics so i can color pick from them for the color scheme. If the walls are not finished i will use the renderings you have posted and we can tweak color later.

Thanks

[ph0n33z]

Give me a list of sources & devices you want to control. Blu-ray, lights, screen masking etc. This list will help me come up with a navigation menu.

800X400 is fine. I usually have control system (URC, RTI, Crestron etc) design software for the user interface file. What sort of control system are you using? Is there design software that your using? Alternatively i can simply create image folders that you can add yourself.

I saw the AVS thread and i have an idea for the GUI. If the walls are finished would you please post pics so i can color pick from them for the color scheme. If the walls are not finished i will use the renderings you have posted and we can tweak color later.

Thanks

1) 800x480 (not 400)
2) I use Promixis Netremote (although that may be changing soon). I would hate to make you learn a completely new software, but if you want to, there is a free trial at www.promixis.com
3) Devices/Sources

I was thinking of going with an Activities approach, rather than a device approach. (Think Logitech Harmony remotes, not URC). I created a layout of the "scenes" or activites I would like to have. I will pm it to you.

Devices:
Lights (stage lights, sconces, art lights, riser rope lighting, crown rope lighting, star ceiling)
Blu-Ray player
Xbox 360 (games, possibly WMC)
Onkyo TX-SR876 AVR
Epson 6500UB Projector


Sources:
HD Radio
DISH TV (FiOS when it comes)
Blu-Ray
360 Games
Music Server

I will leave this up to you, but I would like to be able to use this for controlling the Whole House Audio as well. So being able to select which room would be great. (Library, Game Room, Theater, etc.)

Here are the most recent pictures I have. I chose the ones that look the closest to real life. All of them are a little oranger/browner than in real life.

Carpet:

[39 Cent Stamp]

Looks great. I will probably have something basic for you to look at by the weekend. Get me your layout examples as soon as you can.

I normally go the Device/Source route because its easier to keep the main navigation consistent IMO. Other than that.. its completely up to you how we do it. I stay away from layouts that force you to hide or change the main navigation. The goal is that no matter what page your on.. you can always go anywhere else because the menu never changes.

As far as controlling other rooms in the house. The best way to do this is to have buttons on the home page named "Theater" "Library" "Game Room". Depending on your control system's capabilities you can have logic drive a single set of pages or you can create a full set of pages for each room.

I would like to focus on the Theater for now. Once its done you can basically copy it for the other zones.

[39 Cent Stamp]

This is a rough draft. Right now im just playing with colors. Any thoughts?

[ph0n33z]

It is looking great! I love the black pattern. Nice find!

As far as the other colors, I think the tan borders should be a little more gold(ish). The other colors look fine.

Non-color comments:

1) The font of the activity buttons on the left needs to be bolder. Think "screen for blind people" and you will probably be heading in the right direction!

2) The transport buttons seem to be in a strange layout. Is that the normal order? Maybe going with a stacked button layout (3x3) rather than straight across would be easier. I love the actual buttons, though.

3) The d-pad design is great! Looks like it is easy to press. Nice and big.

I am sending you the activity list now.

[39 Cent Stamp]

Is this what you had in mind for selecting an activity? I thought by putting them all on one page creating an old school "home page" type menu (think iphone) it would make the system easy to use. Right now this is what a user would do..

Wake up touchscreen.. Home Page appears..

Select something from Movies TV or Music..

System Turns On.. page flips to whatever source was selected..

If the user wanted to select something else they would press the Home icon in the top left corner. If they wanted to shut the system off they would press the Off icon in the top right corner. System would shut off and page flip back to the home page.

I started on DirecTV. Not even sure if that was one of the sources you listed . I am working out of town on a tight schedule and internet access is down where i am staying. Dont pay attention to the icons or buttons right now. They will change as i go. Right now i am just trying to lay the whole thing out.





This post has been edited by 39 Cent Stamp: Jul 6 2009, 09:23 AM

[ph0n33z]

It is really looking good! A few comments:

1) The resolution of the tablet is 800x480, not 400

2) The volume buttons could be a little more prominent, as they are the ones most often used when watching a movie.

3) I will never need both numbers and the 4 360 colors on the same page. That should free up some room.

Other than that, I think it is fine!