New artwork for Classic Start

[DragoCubed]

thoughts?

[coddec]

Someone need to do the actual art work though...

[XenHat]

We're somewhat legally required to change the artwork. I'll pitch the idea to the artists I know.

[coddec]

We're somewhat legally required to change the artwork. I'll pitch the idea to the artists I know.

Yes, upon Ivo's previous reply. 👍

[coddec]

God, you guys are all-rounders...
@XenHat @ge0rdi 👍 👍 👍

[n9nu]

Count me in on anything that you guys could use help with.

Tim S Dickerson
RHCA - Linux LCFS-LCFE - CompTIA Linux+
ARS: N9NU ARRL: VE/OES/AEC Aircraft ID: N944LA

[n9nu]

Can someone tell me what images they want changed? Uncle Sam let me take a two week vacation and I need to get back on my machines here and do some good.

Thank you 'coddec' for taking this project over. I was going to, however, had to leave town for work and missed it. LOL.

Tnx

Tim Dickerson
RHCA - Linux LCFS-LCFE - CompTIA Linux+
ARS: N9NU ARRL: VE/OES/AEC Aircraft ID: N944LA

[DragoCubed]

What about the icons in the start menu? Startisback uses Windows 10 wireframe icons.

[XenHat]

We might want to put this issue on hold due to rebranding issues. I wouldn't want to have to ask the icons to be re-done twice. (#36)

[n9nu]

Hi Understood. I will stand by and see what evolves here. If ya need anything else worked on, fire off an email and I will do what I can. Tim

…

On Mon, July 9, 2018 15:22, Xenhat wrote: We might want to put this issue on hold due to rebranding issues. I wouldn't want to have to ask the icons to be re-done twice. (#36 ) -- You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/passionate-coder/Classic-Start/issues/31#issuecomment-4 03607743

-------------------- Business Information -------------------- Tim S Dickerson FutureNET Systems 900 Vincent Drive Suite C Sandwich, IL 60548-2096 Service/Support: services@digital-audio-pro.us Sales: sales@digital-audio-pro.us Web-site: http://digital-audio-pro.us (Temp Page)

-------- Personal -------- Email: n944la@gmail.com Home: 815.312.2193 - VoIP Cell: 815.508.8561 Amateur Radio Call-sign: N9NU Sandwich Airport ICAO IS65) Unicom: 122.800 ------------------------- AIM: n9nu kik: N944LA Snapchat: N944LA ICQ: 69881061 Skype: n944la - Messaging & VoIP Facebook: Tim S Dickerson (dapstudios) On-line Gaming ID: Reactor-Critical™ - Since 1998 --------------------------------------

[DragoCubed]

Why can't we use Microsoft's wireframe icons for the start menu? Do they have some copyright? Fingers crossed we can use the icons if we credit MS.

[yereverluvinunclebert]

No need to credit anyone for anything, just create artwork.
Have a look at the ReactOS project and see how/what they have created, there might be some inspiration there or at least a new approach that might stimulate. I have a lot of steampunk icons that might be fun to look at for inspiration but I have little faith in you using any of them 'straight' as it were, from the box. Those icons are here: https://www.deviantart.com/yereverluvinuncleber/gallery/59981272/orbs-and-icons

[VanillaCold]

I've tried to make an icon.
It's not complete yet, but please tell me what you think of it.

[XenHat]

I agree with preserving the "Shell" design, but I would prefer to avoid the classic colored frames from the old Windows Logo.

[VanillaCold]

Updated my icon.

Please tell me what you think of it now.

[VanillaCold]

I've made a start button for if my icon is used.

[ge0rdi]

@Galaxy5151
I know OS in the icons stands for Open Shell, but when I saw it, I immediately read Operating System 🙂 May be a professional deformation.

I was just thinking that now the project is named Open-Shell. So what about base icons/images on actual open shell? Like the actual seashell that is opened (just google images for "open shell").
Or is that crazy?

[jboutin]

Like the actual seashell that is opened (just google images for "open shell").
Or is that crazy?

It's not crazy. The original logo for classic shell was an image of a shell... which I always thought was misleading and awkward as it was a different use of the word than they used in the name of the product.

I never called Classic Shell 'CS', nor will I call Open Shell 'OS'. It's just Open Shell.

[AveYo]

That's.. too much psychedelic colors 💃
The concept is solid ("an open shell") but it needs to be simple just like the original.
Also the text is redundant, and what happens if the name changes again? 🗡

[XenHat]

I have to agree with Aveyo. I think the logo needs a more appealing feel, not try to exude how egdy we might be.
This is mostly subjective, but I prefer:

• clean, but soft edges
• smooth transitions of colors
• softer colors, closer to pastel.

I'm also affected by http://disorders.eyes.arizona.edu/category/clinical-features/blue-light-sensitivity. The current logo gives me a headache.

[XenHat]

Do you want me to take my designs and shove it?

Not exactly. We appreciate all input and effort, and you've done a lot. But I think you should leave the art work to artists. I hate to say that and turn you down but the concepts aren't really up to par.

[Ibuprophen]

@XenHat, please don't think that I've got no experience in this field but, if your looking for a professional, that's okay with me and NO hard feelings my friend! :-)

~Ibuprophen

[XenHat]

Wasn't invalidating your experience. I'm just not happy when the concept.

[VanillaCold]

I know I'm a bit late, but here's the text-less version of my logo thingy.

[XenHat]

I've been using that one for a while as my start meny icon, with the text. Could you post a menu version without the text?

The animation could be improved but this works.

[VanillaCold]

Sorry about being late again, but here it is:

Experimental version using different colours:

[david-rahrer]

Would there be any desire to go more flat as seems to be the trend now? The 3d button look seems a bit dated, though I'm no expert on creating graphics. I'm just noting the current state of GUI design. I'm glad there is an effort to modify the graphics for this new stage of the project. Thanks.

[bonzibudd]

I might be able to whip something up for this. I haven’t done graphics work in a while though, and Adobe keeps rearranging everything. Is this still a legal issue?

[bonzibudd]

I was thinking glyphs might be a good idea. I made a quick mockup for 16x16, just black-on-white. Not sure if it would work everywhere, but it would help look less tacky than the current design.

[bonzibudd]

I made a more functional icon from raster art. Here it is in case anyone is interested.
OSM Glyph.zip

There would definitely need to be a colored icon as well. I think that a glyph icon would work best for the Classic Start button and sub-menus or context menus. Hopefully it's possible to account for dark/light backgrounds as well.

While I'm at it, here's a mockup with filled color:

Additionally, if we're focusing on design in general, we could consider simplifying the installer background as well.

[bonzibudd]

I made a couple more refined icons just to try out. Here's a simple one with the classic color scheme:

Here's another one with a Windows 10/Fluent color scheme:

I'm personally leaning towards something like the bottom one, with the drop shadow and blue/gray border.

[bonzibudd]

Here's an alternative with more in-between colors:

This one looks a bit better at smaller sizes.

[bonzibudd]

I tried another alternate one with the old colors and the drop shadow, but that combination doesn't look too good at size 32 and 16. I think the last one I posted will be the best in terms of color combination.

@XenHat @coddec any thoughts/suggestions?

[coddec]

I tried another alternate one with the old colors and the drop shadow, but that combination doesn't look too good at size 32 and 16. I think the last one I posted will be the best in terms of color combination.

@XenHat @coddec any thoughts/suggestions?

I agree with you I think :)

[bonzibudd]

I made another one with a colored border, tried to make a balance between pastel and keeping a similar look to the original. I think this is one of the best so far. I also thickened the border slightly so that size 16/24 retain a sharper edge.

In terms of the design, we would probably want to change the default orb as well, but I'm not too worried about that as it still has a similar look in terms of color/shape.

[XenHat]

This is nice

[bonzibudd]

I think I will end up using the blue/gray one instead of the orange border, as I was never able to get that one looking exactly how I wanted. I’ll start working on the installer artwork soon.

[bonzibudd]

Here's an updated version of the icon I posted earlier here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q70YwDm03yDBN60I2EX6d9jKjFLoYeFA/view?usp=sharing
It's about the same as the earlier ones, but I had to restore it because I had saved the file incorrectly. It may or may not be the final design, as it's still a draft.

I think it's appropriate to consider updating the icon now, especially since there's a bigger distinction between Classic Shell and Open-Shell at this point.

[bonzibudd]

I think this will be the final color scheme, ignoring minor edits I may make in the future. After having some time to consider my older designs, I think this does a better job at balancing the saturation without being too tacky. I think my first few attempts felt a bit too dull/dark in context of the rest of Windows.

[ge0rdi]

@bonzibudd
Just wanted to say that I like it :)

You can submit PR once you are satisfied with it.
I guess you want to replace Src/Setup/OpenShell.ico (and also web.ico) file. Because that one is the used in every component.

Also note that there is this shell icon used in Src/Setup/*.jpg pictures that are used in installer screens.
Not sure how hard would be to replace it there too.

Also, have you considered to create aero button replacement in similar fashion?
I guess it would make sense to modernize it and make consistent with the new icon style as well.
Though no need to rush, one step at a time :)

[Ibuprophen]

Very nice @bonzibudd! 👍

~Ibuprophen

[bonzibudd]

@ge0rdi
I’m glad you like it! Hopefully I’ll be done with it very soon.

For the installer art, I’ll probably make a slightly updated version of the whole screen for the sake of consistency. That shouldn’t take too long.

I’ll definitely make an Aero button at some point, but that may take more time, so I’m not going to prioritize that yet.

[Gittyperson]

Thanks for the new artwork and brilliant 4.4.190 release! Just a curiosity: when opening the Open-Shell Menu settings, the standard Windows Explorer icon appears in the taskbar. Could that be replaced with an Open-Shell icon?

[ge0rdi]

Could that be replaced with an Open-Shell icon?

That's good idea.
Explorer's icon is probably shown because the settings dialog comes from Explorer process.
I'll try to look into it.

[ge0rdi]

Hmm, I don't know how to change taskbar's icon for our settings dialog (it seems that taskbar always uses icon from main process).

Though it is possible to add overlay to the icon. So it could look like this:

I guess it is quite nice.

[ge0rdi]

It seems that there is a way to make separate taskbar button for Open-Shell settings dialog:
https://stackoverflow.com/a/24195594/1508446

This way there is new taskbar button added (not grouped with existing Explorer buttons) and it uses nice Open-Shell icon.

I will change it this way.

[Gittyperson]

Great, even better! Many thanks.

[ge0rdi]

You can check it out with build from #1636 PR.