Some of you (cs.com users) might remember a project called NL-Cartexture-Creator I started a long time ago. This is the demovideo I once released.
Well I had a real bad hdd crash were I lost alot of data and files of this project. I also lost the motivation for this project. But since there is a nice new NL-community growing, i got motivated again. And started all over again.
- Load/Upload your own colorswatches and background pictures - Load/Save and Upload your theme -A new frontend for the site to make all the file activities possible -What to expect with the next update: some helpfiles on how to create your own colorswatch and themefiles offline.
For those of you who cant wait to create their own colorswatch and are familiar with xml-files, take a look at the x11-groups.xml swatchfile to get the idea of how the swatch file works.
What is new in Version 0.5 alpha (10/09/09):
-again a couple of bugfixes (still some on my list) -Background color is now showing correctly in the theme summary -I rejected the possibility to have all kinds of different tracks (way to time consuming) -Classic Looping Coaster is now a complete set( all views available) -You can now choose between different colorswatches for the colorpicker (currently 3 available, goto "Theme-Tab" to change swatch) -colorswatches can now have groups (compare x11-alpha with x11-group)
This was a mayor function I wanted to get to work correctly. This will give the user the possibility to upload their own colorswatches
-What to expect with the next update: upload and choose your own colorswatch & background picture.
What is new in Version 0.43 alpha (09/06/09):
-alot of bugfixes (still some on my list) -Coaster Navigation is working (although there is nothing to choose yet) -a new copy/paste function. hope you like it. -known issues: Background color sometimes not showing proparly when looking at the theme summary. -What to expect with the next update: front and back view of the CSL.
What is new in Version 0.4 pre-alpha (08/30/09):
-added Catwalks -copy/paste colors (click the copy icon left of the color box inside the coasterpart-button you wish to copy/paste) -A default set of custom colors to choose from (simply click on the color box inside the coasterpart-button you wish to change) -Left and Right view for CLS coaster available
Idea List (08/30/09): This list is just a summary of ideas I have in mind for the V1.0. This does not mean that they will be included since I am not sure if I can get them to work.
-create and load your own colorset files (xml-based) to choose from -load/save a colortheme as xml -show a complete track with the current colortheme (this may help o get a better impression of how the colors will look inside the sim) -upload and show your own background pic inside all views.
Well what else can I say, except for play arround a bit and have fun. Comments/Questions are welcome.
This looks helpfull, are you going to have a very in depth/easy way to to do custom car textures??
And, could you please add a presets color page ( Like a bit more complex then just regular blue,yellow,oarnge, like giving some off colors ) And labeling the colors?
Why? Well I'm color blind and I'm sick and tired of having my parents or friends to tell me if my track is blue or purple....... Just a thought.
The basic version will just have the ability to change all the default colors within NL. This is just a tool to help to get the right colors for the coaster quickly. Instead of changing colors in the editor and then start the sim to see if they fit here you get a tool to see and set them on one interface.
I already have ideas to make some sort of a pro/advanced version. Where you can create a complete cartexture for the coaster. Well you are not able draw anything with it. You will still need a graphics software to do them. But this will make live a lot easier. But this is still an idea. I know that flash is capable of doing the things I have in mind. Questions is if have the ability to tell flash to do it. LOL
Preset Color Page: well its hard to say what colors do users expect in the preset. would the websave color palette be good enough? Or other? Or more? Or...
But I do have another question is the color layout fine for you to read and see everything?
Websave? If you could give me a showing what it would have then I will tell you yes or no. Otherwise I do like this, I of course understand I would still need to have a photo editing program ( I use GIMP ), as long as there would be a easier way of making good custom Car textures. I am quite looking forward to this program, even though it is coming in a little late, maybe it will give you enough skills to make something helpful in NL2.
Ok now that list is exactly what I was suggesting, if that was implemented it would make it a lot easier for me ( Any others who aren't color blind ) Get a color they want a lot easier. Because solid colors in NL ( Like 255,0,255 ) Look really tack so off colors like in this list would be great!
And I think the layout is nice, but I think having a color wheel next to each setting would be better then selecting the color box then going to the same color wheel.
I skipped this because of not having enough space for a colorwheel next to each setting. Maybe a popup colorwheel would have been an option. The first idea was to have an colorwheel similar to Kuler. Here you can create complete color harmonys at once. Well that wa at least the inspiration for the NL-CTC but my programming skills are not that good. So I sticked with a simple colorwheel.
By the way you can enter the color by its numeral values as well RGB (top 3 boxes)or Hex (lower box) are excepted.
Here is the latest prealpha version. It has most of the main features up and running. The coaster clip now fits in size but you currently have only one view (left-view).
Currently I am still working on the main features of the program. Already have a copy paste function for the colors running and added catwalk view. (Not online yet) Some of the upcoming features:
- Choose from preset colors (Thanks for the suggestion). - Use your own background pictures. - Save & Load colortheme (online or as xml. Not sure if that will work. Last time I tried that, it didn't)
In the meanwhile I will try to complete the set for the Classic Steel Looping Coaster. That will be the time to enter official alpha-phase. And then I will start working on the other coaster types. The problem with the coasters is that it is a lot of work. It takes quiet some time to make all required pics. Thanks to Ole who gave me a little tool at hand that will save alot of time for getting the correct pics of the coasters. But editing them is still the biggest part.
I could not have Wished for a better Preset Color drop down box VERY VERY VERY nicely Implemented
Copy and Paste feature wasn't working correctly I tried pasting the track color to the rail color, and it was not letting me, It would change it back to the car color, which when I used it to copy the car color it let me copy everything.
There are a few bugs with the copy and past.
I like the addition of the catwalks
So far so great!
Once again I LOVED how you included the preset feature.
Hmm... That is strange. For me the copy/paste works fine. So you tried to paste the track color to the rail color? Did you click on the copy button inside the track field? Each coaster part has an individual copy button!
I was able to reproduce your problem. at least I was able to reproduce it once. But I am not sure what the issue is. Looked over the code and it looks good. Maybe I can reproduceit one more time to see if it conflicts with any other action. I will get into this. Thanks
Ok, Ya I was clicking on the Copy and Paste button within "track" section of the editor. Althought I just tried it again and it worked fine. Hmm possible bug. Nothing big as long as it doesn't happen all the time. And you could still just enter 3 numbers in. Nothing worth worrying over.
At least you letting the community test it as you go. If I were you
I would make a Wooden coaster one for us to demo next. (Woodies are my Main problem with color ) And it would be nice to mess with a Woodies colors)
I think I found and solved the problem. Could you please try again! Thanks in advance!
I am already thinkng about another version of the copy/paste function. There you will have two rows of buttons (car;seat;gear...) choose the color you want to copy from the left to the destiation on the right. So instead of having a seperate window for each color you can swap colors in just one window. What do you think about it.
Good job. Im really looking forward to this Best part is, when N2 comes out, as longs as we can change the colors in a RGB value way, this wont get ourdated
Another suggestion
Since some rides its hard to get the color scheme from that small view you have.
Maybe make the same model Wood coaster and Steel coaster ( Like a actualy coaster )
And take a shot of it so we can see what it would do to a whole layout. Don't know if thats implementable or not. Might not be, but then again it might be. I have no idea how to code so I do not know what is and what is not possible.
You are talking about the track colors in special? If thats the way I was already thinking about an option to show a whole track with the set colortheme. Or at least some trackparts in the background. Since the preview frame is only 450*450 this will be a limited preview of the whole track as well. Maybe some sort of scrolling and zooming options will do the job then. I know flash can do it but I am not sure if I can! LOL
How about to have one large pic with a complete track where all elements are shown, instead of having the ability to show wheels, breaks,lims and the different track types on all sides ? This would accelerate it alot. Currently it takes 4-6 hours to have a complete one sided view. It will go faster when I create the other coastertypes since alot of them use the same tracktypes. but at the moment this is really time consuming. Maybe I will first finish all coastertypes with just one tracktype and a complete track pic. And then I will go into the different track types.
Long time no updates. This was due to lack of time and I was working on some mayor functions. To get them to work proparly took some time. But after all here is V0.5 alpha.
And as always see first post for links and changes! Comments and bug reports are welcome.
We are now in beta-phase. All main functions are implemented. From now on I will get into some more coastertypes as well as some helpfiles on how to create your own colorswatch- and themefiles offline. For the latest development and changes made see first post.