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Yorky
Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Boston, UK
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 12:19 am Post subject:
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Does anyone have any tips please on how to make 'pro' looking front panels.
I'm making 10-step sequencers in a 1U rack and a decent front panel is important as I intend to sell them.
These are CV/gate out and 1 to 10 steps, voltages on pots.
Thanks, John _________________ Lots of new albums at Ambientlive |
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slave to this
Joined: Oct 23, 2005 Posts: 93 Location: nyc
G2 patch files: 7
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Uncle Krunkus
Moderator
Joined: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 4761 Location: Sydney, Australia
Audio files: 52
G2 patch files: 1
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zonkout
Joined: Oct 12, 2006 Posts: 33 Location: ozztin, teggsitz
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Yorky
Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Boston, UK
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:21 pm Post subject:
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Thanks guys, I'm going to try Lazertran
Any suggestions on layout s/ware ? _________________ Lots of new albums at Ambientlive |
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Uncle Krunkus
Moderator
Joined: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 4761 Location: Sydney, Australia
Audio files: 52
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject:
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There are dedicated panel design programs, but I like Photoshop. Mostly because I've just gotten to the point where I know how to do what I want to do and I don't have time to learn another program. I also use Photoshop for image manipulation in general, and website design, so it makes sense for me to use it alot. Plus, Adobe just bought Macromedia, so I think we're all going to be using Photoshop (or something like it crossed with Flash) for a while yet. _________________ What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there. |
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Yorky
Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Boston, UK
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:39 pm Post subject:
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Indeed, I use Paint Shop Pro.
I could use Visio as well, it has the symbols.
But I se PSP instead, because I'm happy with it for all my artwork, not just panels. _________________ Lots of new albums at Ambientlive |
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Mikmo
Joined: Dec 01, 2005 Posts: 150 Location: Copenhagen - Denmark
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Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:47 pm Post subject:
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Check my site (mentioned above) www.mikmo.dk
I use a program called front designer (not to be confused with front panel designer)
It's really good
demo downloadable here www.abacom-online.de _________________ Stay Cool
Mikael
http://www.mikmo.dk |
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bugbrand
Joined: Nov 27, 2005 Posts: 846 Location: Bristol, UK
Audio files: 1
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Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2006 2:34 am Post subject:
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In the past I've used Front Panel Designer and then printed it to file (maybe by printing it as a pdf document - you can get a free demo software called Virtual PDF). This PDF can then be taken into Photoshop (or other editing software) for the final tweaks and whatnot.
Its a shame that the www.cncpanels.co.uk guy has had to stop doing his service 'cos it looked very good and well priced. _________________ http://www.bugbrand.co.uk
http://www.bugbrand.blogspot.com |
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Yorky
Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Boston, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:48 am Post subject:
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I've got Front panel designer but it's a bit much, all I want to do is lay out some pot dials and switch legends.
I could do that in Word or Paint Shop Pro or Visio.
All I need is the 'dials' images etc ... any ideas please ? _________________ Lots of new albums at Ambientlive |
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jksuperstar
Joined: Aug 20, 2004 Posts: 2503 Location: Denver
Audio files: 1
G2 patch files: 18
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 11:21 am Post subject:
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Do the dials really need to be fully labeled with a ring & numbers to scale? or will simple markers or numbers suffice (such as just labeling full swing and minimum)? Maybe add an extra marker for the midpoint, or wherever zero db is? That might end up with a cleaner looking panel, rather than printing & grahpics all over the place, which also probably has more chance of failure (during baking, transfer, etc). The kno
I think a lot of it depends on the size of knobs you use also (big old fashion style, or small ones). |
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fluxmonkey
Joined: Jun 24, 2005 Posts: 708 Location: cleve
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject:
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Yorky wrote: | I've got Front panel designer but it's a bit much, all I want to do is lay out some pot dials and switch legends.
I could do that in Word or Paint Shop Pro or Visio.
All I need is the 'dials' images etc ... any ideas please ? |
nifty tool for creating dials: http://stiftsbogtrykkeriet.dk/~mcs/Scale.html. use it to create an HPGL image, which costs a LOT less than laying out multiple lines in frontPanelDesigner.
there's also a ModularSynthPanel yahoo group--http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ModularSynthPanels/.... they've got lots of FPD files in the file section which make good starting points.
bbob |
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Yorky
Joined: Feb 14, 2005 Posts: 244 Location: Boston, UK
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:35 pm Post subject:
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yes it's for a sequencer, so the dials do need a full set of numbers
bbob - many many thanks for that scale-o-matic link, it's just what I need _________________ Lots of new albums at Ambientlive |
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Uncle Krunkus
Moderator
Joined: Jul 11, 2005 Posts: 4761 Location: Sydney, Australia
Audio files: 52
G2 patch files: 1
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Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 7:11 am Post subject:
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For dials in Photoshop I just draw a line, and then copy it onto itself. Then I go into the rotate tool and set the centre of rotation in the middle of the line. Then rotate it in 30deg increments leaving a copy as you go. Then add a circular mask and wipe out the middle and the outside.
I know it sounds daunting, but you only need to do it once. You'll be surprised how professional it will look with only a minimum of practice. _________________ What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there. |
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