2013-04-29 [Schlachter]: Send what?

2013-04-29 [S3V3N]: I'm watching this page. Never allowed work to scare me off yet! ;) I just don't have any kind of idea of what would be wanted of me to do. :P

2013-04-29 [sammie h!]: Just be creative. :)

2013-04-29 [Stephen]: Well, I don't think telling her to make random artwork and hope for the best without any direction on anything at all that she's going to be doing with it, is really the best way to go about things. x3

2013-04-29 [Schlachter]: That's a good point...
[S3V3N] are you familiar with the process of how an Android application (or any application for that matter) is put together art-wise? I will try to explain what I mean in more legible terms (I'm usually very bad at that)...
So ideally, an application has 3 major parts:
1) The Engine (or application logic)
2) The Graphics/Artwork
3) Data & Storage (anything from networking to local databases)
1 & 3 I am taking care of... & to some extent 2, but I need to connect clicks with something... that something is usually an image or graphics of a sort. Basically, a frame, buttons, backgrounds, doodads, drop-down menu's... things like that are what is needed in the app. Logos as well... hopefully this makes a little more sense?

2013-04-29 [sammie h!]: So why can't we use the ones we have now? :)

2013-04-29 [Schlachter]: Well that would defeat the purpose now wouldn't it...? No?
Why would I make an app that acts exactly like the website when the whole idea of the app is to ease the use of the website?
Are we trying to improve Elfpack or just duplicate it into an app?
Because it is a lot of work to just make a minimized version of the site whose only purpose spares us the click on a bookmark in a web browser...

2013-04-29 [sammie h!]: True.

2013-04-29 [Stephen]: I would think an app, should pretty much remove all the junk.

Something that shows messages in a quick way.

View wiki pages, and wiki changes.

View profiles, button to send message right next to the username. No scrolling to bottom needed.


Maybe hide the badge slot and treasury, too. Those aren't super vital, overall.

2013-04-29 [sammie h!]: Very true, but I think [Schlachter] will make it look good. :)

2013-04-29 [S3V3N]: No, [Schlachter], I don't. I use a computer to access the Internet and do everything online from it. This is why I feel so clueless about what is needed in the line of artistically.

I have a little idea in my mind as far as buttons and dropdowns, and the rest, but sizes, shapes of, colour schemes? Is there any link or links where I could go to get an idea?

2013-04-29 [Stephen]: I don't like the new color of the comment box.

I think it has a slight pinkish tint, which doesn't really look good. If you wanna darken it, go for a darker tan color. (:

2013-04-29 [kittykittykitty]: You could try something like BlueStacks ( http://www.bluestacks.com/ ) to fiddle with some apps and get a feel for what visual components you need.

Is doodad a technical term? xD

2013-04-29 [S3V3N]: Thanks Sarah Kitty. I'll take a look at it. :)

lol

2013-04-29 [sammie h!]: Ok, I will try that now. :)

2013-05-02 [Schlachter]: Actually, [kittykittykitty] answered both your questions -- the one from the other wiki about using the apps on your computer AND about getting an idea of what type of graphics are needed in an app. Anything visual you see in the app we have to make from scratch. Think of it like your web browser:
the pages are made by their respective authors... but the frame of the browser, buttons, graphics... all that... that has to be made by the browser company. So by us in other words. But I am not building a browser in that sense, so we also have some dynamic elements to make as well...
Also, do you want to preserve commercial interests for your art, or are you okay with BSD style licensing?

Thanks a bunch [kittykittykitty]!

I don't know if doodad is a technical term XD are you not the native-English speaker here XD? I should be asking you that question XD!

2013-05-03 [S3V3N]: Okay, thanks Sarah and Schlachter. Stephen sent me a few images, too. I would rather not download and place something on my computer that I would not use, and therefore, do not need.

The app you're developing is specifically geared for Elfpack, correct? So, what would be incorporated would be the Elfpack features, I'm thinking, and so, the buttons, doodads, dropdowns, would be made to work for these features, right?

As far as any graphics or design, I am making them specifically for use on Elfpack, Elfpack's app, period. This way, whatever your stipulations are in regards to the use of the app you're developing, the rights of the graphics and design should match...

...except for the "Kang" by Mom. It's not something I've decided, but I thought it might be a nice "Elfpack" touch if her Kang was added. Any thoughts about this, anyone?

I'm viewing this anyway, as a learning experience, sorta', since I've never done this before and kinda' like trying to create with a blindfold on in a way. :)

2013-05-03 [S3V3N]: What are the "total" area measurements where everything has to fit into?

2013-05-04 [Stephen]: I like the Kang. (:

2013-05-08 [Schlachter]: Okay, thanks Sarah and Schlachter. Stephen sent me a few images, too. I would rather not download and place something on my computer that I would not use, and therefore, do not need.
Good idea.

The app you're developing is specifically geared for Elfpack, correct?
Exactly.

So, what would be incorporated would be the Elfpack features, I'm thinking, and so, the buttons, doodads, dropdowns, would be made to work for these features, right?
Exactly as well. Whatever you want to see as a tool in that app will need graphics. I'll worry about giving the art life...

As far as any graphics or design, I am making them specifically for use on Elfpack, Elfpack's app, period. This way, whatever your stipulations are in regards to the use of the app you're developing, the rights of the graphics and design should match...
It is going to be ENTIRELY Open Source. Meaning anyone can take the code I wrote later on and butcher it all they want as long as they recognize my original authorship (honestly, I don't really even care if they recognize it or not... unless it is [Hedda] XD). As for the artwork, you will maintain authorship... but as this is Open Source... you will have to create a restricting license if you don't like those terms. Or I will have to make the app closed-source, but that will be counter-productive because I don't have mountains of time to maintain it & I would like others to be able to either help out or take over at some point in time... there is a LOT more that needs getting done here. With FB going downhill and losing users by the day, I think the Elfpack philosophy might get it's chance to shine.

...except for the "Kang" by Mom. It's not something I've decided, but I thought it might be a nice "Elfpack" touch if her Kang was added. Any thoughts about this, anyone?
A "Kang"? What is it?

I'm viewing this anyway, as a learning experience, sorta', since I've never done this before and kinda' like trying to create with a blindfold on in a way. :)
:) Sure! Don't forget to put it on your CV too :) you can't go wrong :)

What are the "total" area measurements where everything has to fit into?
Because it is Android, there are no "exact" measurements like with the iPhone...
How familiar are you with scalable graphics? If you aren't, then no worries, it is but a minor thing. The graphics standards for the general Android phones are (width x height in pixels):
QVGA (240 x 320) SD
WQVGA (240 x 400) SD
FWQVGA (240 x 432) SD
HVGA (320 x 480) MD
WVGA800 (480 x 800) HD
WVGA854 (480 x 854) HD
HD: High Definition > 480p
MD: Medium Definition 360p-480p
SD: Standard Definition < 240p
To make your life easier, just work with 480 x 800 & I will scale your graphics for you after. Just remember not to down sample any images because most phones will stretch your graphics or re-sample them from the standards above (yes, most phones have by FAR bigger screens than that).
If you are daring & wish to try to do this yourself, then you should create either scalable templates & compile them for each graphics mode or you can just work with each graphics mode by hand & optimize (but this will take MUCH longer).

Graphics are starting to become needed now... I am completing the app.

2013-05-10 [kittykittykitty]: <-- Kang?