Image help for new forum widget

[StevieG]

In anticipation of 2+2 moving to vBulletin, I'm writing a widget that monitors one or more vB logins and identifies when there are unread Private Messages or new posts in subscribed threads.

If you're an artist and want to contribute to this project, I would love your help.

It's still buggy right now, but one thing I would like to do while working on those last few issues is to improve the visuals (gratuitous "tighten up the graphics" link).

So far it is based on Tom LeBlanc's site status widget and so it looks like this:



In this image, there are three configured logins. StevieG shows 1 unread PM, and 1 subscribed thread with a new post.Monk has no new content, and BLT can't login. The pencil and X icons let you edit and delete the entry, respectively, and the + icon lets you add a new one.

I think it can be better. At the minimum I would like to replace using the labels "PM: " and "Threads: " and instead have icons for those. I think an envelope icon and some sort of reminder icon (a bell? string tied around finger?) might do, but I am open to suggestions. A size of 32x32 and a smaller one of 16x16 (for use in the Dock) would be great.

The next priority would be to replace the simple pencil, X, and + icons with somethings prettier, in the same style as the PM and Subscribed Thread icons. Again 32x32 would rock.

Lastly changing the background from the plain gray to something sleeker like a glass bubble would be very cool.

Please don't point me to clipart or other free image places unless you have already searched and found the icons. I'm not interested in looking through page after page of sub-par images surrounded by banner ads.

[holdme]

when are we switching to vb?

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
when are we switching to vb?

[/ QUOTE ]

A timetable only emboldens the insurgents.

[holdme]

what does that mean? is that good?

[*TT*]

Stevie: Widgets for Google Desktop or Vista also expected, or is Yahoo the only platform you will be developing for? Have you thought about developing for?

[StevieG]

TT,

For now, Yahoo! Widget.

It's possible I might do a Google Gadget later.

[StevieG]

Here is an image I found that I would prefer to use as the background for each image. The problem is it is not transparent on the edges, and I suck at making it both transparent and smooth.

If anyone can help me out with this it would be a huge help.

[ZeTurd]

I can probably help you out. But it would be helpful to know in what kind of surroundings the widget will be featured to find a suitable design. If the background color will vary depending on user-defined skins it will be impossible to make it BOTH transparent and smooth without adding several images with different mattes for the various skins. It will also require CSS customization.

Feel free to send me a PM with more info.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
I can probably help you out. But it would be helpful to know in what kind of surroundings the widget will be featured to find a suitable design.

[/ QUOTE ]

The end result is widget for the Yahoo! Widget engine. They end up being placed on a user's desktop, so thereis no telling what the background color is.

[Josem]

[ QUOTE ]
when are we switching to vb?

[/ QUOTE ]

about two-three dayss before switching back