View Full Version : 2019 Software used to create AutoCAD toolbar buttons
omorah
2020-02-19, 09:07 PM
I create my custom buttons in the CUI's Button Editor.
How are the original, well defined, toolbar graphics buttons created (with what graphic software)?
Thanks
Tom Beauford
2020-02-20, 03:57 AM
Draw a square in AutoCAD, Zoom Extents, drag the edges of the screen together to fit the square shape, and draw your graphics filling the square using polylines thick enough so they'll still be visible when shrunk down to icon size.
Put the square on a frozen layer, save the drawing as you may need to modify it later, use the PNGOUT command to save it as a PNG file, open the Free Online Photo Editor https://www7.lunapic.com/editor/ Upload the PNG file, click Transparent, switch the Mode to Transparent Color, pick the area whose color you want to be transparent, click [Apply], and click Save below the image. Use colors that will display on either light or dark backgrounds.
dbalogh
2020-03-23, 05:40 AM
Autocad Toolbars use bitmap graphics, so you can create any bitmap.
Things to bear in mind:
- Button graphics are scaled down so make sure they "look good" at low resolution (16x16,24x24,32x32... pixel)
- you can use any graphics SW, I prefer paint .net (about $10, or so via Microsoft Store for Win10), but there is e.g. Gimp as well.
- save your graphic as png with alpha-channel (background transparency)
BlackBox
2020-03-23, 05:56 PM
... use the PNGOUT command to save it as a PNG file....
Reminds me that I still haven't published the PNGOUTT (PNGOUT Transparent) app we worked on. :Oops:
... open the Free Online Photo Editor https://www7.lunapic.com/editor/ Upload the PNG file, click Transparent, switch the Mode to Transparent Color, pick the area whose color you want to be transparent, click [Apply], and click Save below the image. Use colors that will display on either light or dark backgrounds.
I actually use GIMP, which is also free, to create 1000x1000 PNG images with transparency and let AutoCAD re-size the icons automagically for me.
Tom Beauford
2020-03-23, 06:37 PM
Reminds me that I still haven't published the PNGOUTT (PNGOUT Transparent) app we worked on. :Oops:
I didn't mention it, but now that you've brought it back up people are going to be looking for it. You're going to have to publish it now.
I'll be the first to give it a top rating. Love how it's a quick one step process that even knows to save it in the Custom Icon Location saved in Options.
BlackBox
2020-03-23, 07:28 PM
I didn't mention it, but now that you've brought it back up people are going to be looking for it. You're going to have to publish it now.
I'll be the first to give it a top rating. Love how it's a quick one step process that even knows to save it in the Custom Icon Location saved in Options.
Thanks, Tom; for those that want some point of reference to what we're talking about, I had developed a .NET app to grant this wish and Tom was incredibly helpful in testing it out, before we got to a usable product:
https://forums.augi.com/showthread.php?172533-PNGOUT-with-transparent-background-option&p=1338367&viewfull=1#post1338367
[Edit] - Having a kid really cut into my free time; lil' BlackBox Jr has been a handful since he was born a month early as a 7lb-7oz preemie (perfectly healthy; no NICU, just early). :shock::mrgreen:
spsluka
2020-03-25, 01:21 PM
I have been using Photoshop to create my icons and save them out to BMP files and when creating the commands in the CUI import the image. See attached PNG file. You can find images on the web to use and/or create your own and they come out looking a lot sharper than using the default icon editor in CAD.
Tom Beauford
2020-03-25, 03:49 PM
I actually use GIMP, which is also free, to create 1000x1000 PNG images with transparency and let AutoCAD re-size the icons automagically for me.
IT installed GIMP on our previous PCs, I've tried many free image editors over the years including paint.net (https://www.getpaint.net/) but the free online ones like OIE (https://www.online-image-editor.com/) and LUNAPIC (https://www3.lunapic.com/editor/) that don't require having someone from IT with permissions to install it for me or justify the cost satisfy my needs since I'm most comfortable drawing them in AutoCAD anyway.
[Edit] - Having a kid really cut into my free time; lil' BlackBox Jr has been a handful since he was born a month early as a 7lb-7oz preemie (perfectly healthy; no NICU, just early).
Congratulations🎈🧠While working a four day week I spent Fridays assisting in my son's kindergarten class, coached him in flag football, baseball, and soccer more seasons than I can count and even helped coach his high school baseball team. Enjoy every moment, plenty of us will always have fond memories of being where you are now.
BlackBox
2020-03-25, 04:53 PM
IT installed GIMP on our previous PCs, I've tried many free image editors over the years including paint.net (https://www.getpaint.net/) but the free online ones like OIE (https://www.online-image-editor.com/) and LUNAPIC (https://www3.lunapic.com/editor/) that don't require having someone from IT with permissions to install it for me or justify the cost satisfy my needs since I'm most comfortable drawing them in AutoCAD anyway.
Ahhh... I always forget to mention that I am our IT Admin here, so I give everyone local admin rights... err, enough rope to do what they like. Haha
If they come up with something better, great - I encourage them share it, under the pretense that disagreement is good, as right or wrong, we all learn something from it - if they goof off, drunk with too much freedom, they hang themselves.
Congratulationsí ¼í¾ˆí ¾í· While working a four day week I spent Fridays assisting in my son's kindergarten class, coached him in flag football, baseball, and soccer more seasons than I can count and even helped coach his high school baseball team. Enjoy every moment, plenty of us will always have fond memories of being where you are now.
Thanks, Tom! :beer:
With this virus situation, I'm actually still working remotely from home, which is really nice being that mama is on maternity leave. To try and give mama a break, I'll work whilst lil' guy is strapped to me in my TBG (https://tacticalbabygear.com/products/tbg-tactical-baby-carrier?variant=13704468398170) Haha (#DadLife; Go Army, Beat Navy!)... He's fast asleep as soon as I start humming along to the music I listen to. :mrgreen:
Cheers
BIG-AL
2020-09-16, 01:55 AM
Dont worry about prem my son was 4 weeks early he is now 36 and 6' 2" tall and not a little guy.
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