gerph.org


Introduction

This page gives some examples of the borders which I've done for RISC OS. This isn't all of them, and some of the modules can provide a lot more variation through configuration commands. Where possible I'll try to give some description of the module and the settings.

Where possible I've tried to use the same windows and settings to demonstrate the buttons. Where applicable, the 'highlighted' button (ie the one which is under the mouse) is the 'Cancel' button. Not all the borders support this as it is a recent feature of post 6.01 Wimps.


Plain

The Plain borders are exactly the same as those provided by RISC OS since RISC OS 3.1.

Plain and boring 3D buttons and sunk icons.


Round

The Round borders were the first real extension of the borders system, allowing rounded buttons and some limited functions for groups and sunken icons. Because this was the first real implementation, it is the most functionally complete and provides a good deal of configuration. The configuration is generally through the main !Configure tool.

Round buttons, with no other configuration selected.
Round buttons and sunken icons. The sunken icons are usually informational text, but in this example they provide a colour swatch for the user to select from.
Round buttons, with a fade between the 3D colours applied, making the button appear a little more 'round', or 'metalic'.
Both buttons and sunken icons have the fade applied. Personally I don't like this for real use, and it makes the colour swatches a little more difficult to use (it's the colour in the middle of the icon that is the selected), but it looks cute.
Round buttons with a rim applied to them, and a special background colour. The special colours mean that certain designs, in applications which use colour for particular meanings, won't look quite right. But if you accept that then it makes the buttons look rather nice.

The special colours can be chosen arbitrarily, and the text colour can be changed too, but the defaults you get when special is selected are the colours I settled on after much testing. Pastel colours work well, and full-bright colours do not.

As above, but also with the fade between top and bottom applied. My personal favourite.


Fob

The Fob buttons (named after a simple key fob with a name tag that it looks like) were developed as an experiment in non-symetrical design, particularly focusing on a much larger text inset. This is also the first border to force its colour scheme on the user - there is no merging with the button's colours at any point. It does, however, now have support for mouse-over and will highlight buttons by making the border lighter.

The fob is drawn with a circle segment on the left and four rectangles to make up the outside of the border.


DrawFile

The DrawFile group border module was written in order to test a module I've been working with (not my code - donated by another company and to be released by them when I get my act together and finish the thing). Rather than changing the buttons, it changes the group border. Sometimes it does a good job. Other times it doesn't, but you have much simpler configuration with a DrawFile than with code.

A solid outline is good; this borcder uses the corners to make a nice effect.
Thin, delicate shapes don't work quite so well, in general.
Shapes with patterns at the corners look good.
Blocky, continuous shapes work quite well.
Very intricate shapes are depressingly poor, but might appeal to some.


Skins

The Skins border module is very very experimental, and doesn't really work very well. It uses a bundled group of images to provide its buttons and does so in a way that is quite generic. However it definately needs more work.

Buttons taken from a well known browser.


Beveled

The Beveled buttons were the original idea when I wrote the Round button module, but before any of the bevel code had been started, I'd already got a working model for the round buttons. Eventually I returned to the idea of implementing a plain 3D button, but with 45 degree corners instead of 90 degree corners. It's actually harder than it looks to draw all those little octagons. Since I'd become too used to having the 'rim' on my buttons, I stuck that in too (only a little extra code).

These borders are actually more efficient in places than the Plain border implementation.


Loop

The Loop buttons were an idea I had. Originally I wanted rounded border with an open corner. Because it's being drawn so small, I settled for beveled corners - you can't really tell. I had intended to leave the entire icon unfilled, but because of the blended text, this caused problems and I found it had to be filled. The colour scheme matches that of Fob, partly because I know those colours work.

I think it's safe to say that this is the worst example of a border that I've done, which is a pity given the amount of time spent on it. At least I know what doesn't work now.

There are quite a few triangles used to make up the border shape.


Crossy

The Crossy buttons are very new. So new that they still have an odd name. This was a further experiment with the mouse-over effects. Previously, I've used colour changes (in the Fob buttons) to change the button, and added additional coloured borders (in the Round buttons - which was abandoned because it does not look good), and this was an attempt to change the style of the button when the mouse is over it. I rather like these buttons.

The effect here is to change the shape of the border when the pointer is over the icon. The coloured section changes green when selected.


This page is maintained by Justin Fletcher (gerph@gerph.org).