Image sources for the standard images such as NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate
-
Hello
Are image files for the standard images such as
NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate accessible?
I would like to have a slight variation on one of the templates
available.
I have read the HIG guide and now the caveats with regard to standard
use etc and possible changes to the standard images. However, a
slightly modified image would prove useful.
Jonathan -
What sort of change are you thinking of. Is it something that could be
composited yourself in code at run-time?
Mike.
On 18 Feb 2008, at 13:55, <jonathan...> wrote:> Hello
>
> Are image files for the standard images such as
> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate accessible?
> I would like to have a slight variation on one of the templates
> available.
>
> I have read the HIG guide and now the caveats with regard to
> standard use etc and possible changes to the standard images.
> However, a slightly modified image would prove useful.
>
> Jonathan -
Thanks for the reply Mike.
The change is small - removing the pupil from the centre of the
NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate eye.
My iconographic thinking is:
A complete eye represents a complete browse group in a table cell.
A pupil-less eye represents a partial browse group in a table cell.
An empty cell represents an empty browse group.
Not HIG standard stuff but comprehensible I think.
iTunes uses the eye for its browser button, so there is a slight
precedent.
I had thought that if the source images are not available (which is
what I suspect) that in memory compositing might be the solution.
Either that or another icon altogether. But the extra features of the
templates (auto inversion in highlighted row etc) are attractive,
though I'm sure the effect could be reproduced in other images with
appropriate masks etc.
Jonathan> What sort of change are you thinking of. Is it something that could
> be composited yourself in code at run-time?
>
> Mike.
>
> On 18 Feb 2008, at 13:55, <jonathan...> wrote:
>
>> Hello
>>
>> Are image files for the standard images such as
>> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate accessible?
>> I would like to have a slight variation on one of the templates
>> available.
>>
>> I have read the HIG guide and now the caveats with regard to
>> standard use etc and possible changes to the standard images.
>> However, a slightly modified image would prove useful.
>>
>> Jonathan -
I think the biggest danger is the possibility of Apple changing the
icon in a future release of OS X. The docs quite strongly point out
that you should NOT rely on an image remaining the same between
releases and that it should only be used for the intended purpose. So
in this case, I think you really should create your own icon, not
attempt to load in and modify the available image.
Mike.
On 18 Feb 2008, at 16:58, <jonathan...> wrote:> Thanks for the reply Mike.
>
> The change is small - removing the pupil from the centre of the
> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate eye.
> My iconographic thinking is:
>
> A complete eye represents a complete browse group in a table cell.
> A pupil-less eye represents a partial browse group in a table cell.
> An empty cell represents an empty browse group.
>
> Not HIG standard stuff but comprehensible I think.
> iTunes uses the eye for its browser button, so there is a slight
> precedent.
>
> I had thought that if the source images are not available (which is
> what I suspect) that in memory compositing might be the solution.
> Either that or another icon altogether. But the extra features of
> the templates (auto inversion in highlighted row etc) are
> attractive, though I'm sure the effect could be reproduced in other
> images with appropriate masks etc.
>
> Jonathan
>
>> What sort of change are you thinking of. Is it something that could
>> be composited yourself in code at run-time?
>>
>> Mike.
>>
>> On 18 Feb 2008, at 13:55, <jonathan...> wrote:
>>
>>> Hello
>>>
>>> Are image files for the standard images such as
>>> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate accessible?
>>> I would like to have a slight variation on one of the templates
>>> available.
>>>
>>> I have read the HIG guide and now the caveats with regard to
>>> standard use etc and possible changes to the standard images.
>>> However, a slightly modified image would prove useful.
>>>
>>> Jonathan -
You are probably correct Mike.
The following gives a good starting point for the customised icon
(though sans the nice template effects).
[[[NSImage imageNamed:@"NSQuickLookTemplate"] TIFFRepresentation]
writeToFile:@"/users/jonathan/desktop/eye.tif" atomically:YES];> I think the biggest danger is the possibility of Apple changing the
> icon in a future release of OS X. The docs quite strongly point out
> that you should NOT rely on an image remaining the same between
> releases and that it should only be used for the intended purpose. So
> in this case, I think you really should create your own icon, not
> attempt to load in and modify the available image.
>
> Mike.
>
> On 18 Feb 2008, at 16:58, <jonathan...> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the reply Mike.
>>
>> The change is small - removing the pupil from the centre of the
>> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate eye.
>> My iconographic thinking is:
>>
>> A complete eye represents a complete browse group in a table cell.
>> A pupil-less eye represents a partial browse group in a table cell.
>> An empty cell represents an empty browse group.
>>
>> Not HIG standard stuff but comprehensible I think.
>> iTunes uses the eye for its browser button, so there is a slight
>> precedent.
>>
>> I had thought that if the source images are not available (which is
>> what I suspect) that in memory compositing might be the solution.
>> Either that or another icon altogether. But the extra features of
>> the templates (auto inversion in highlighted row etc) are
>> attractive, though I'm sure the effect could be reproduced in other
>> images with appropriate masks etc.
>>
>> Jonathan
>>
>>> What sort of change are you thinking of. Is it something that could
>>> be composited yourself in code at run-time?
>>>
>>> Mike.
>>>
>>> On 18 Feb 2008, at 13:55, <jonathan...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello
>>>>
>>>> Are image files for the standard images such as
>>>> NSImageNameQuickLookTemplate accessible?
>>>> I would like to have a slight variation on one of the templates
>>>> available.
>>>>
>>>> I have read the HIG guide and now the caveats with regard to
>>>> standard use etc and possible changes to the standard images.
>>>> However, a slightly modified image would prove useful.
>>>>
>>>> Jonathan -
On Feb 18, 2008 3:34 PM, <jonathan...>
<jonathan...> wrote:> The following gives a good starting point for the customised icon
> (though sans the nice template effects).
>
> [[[NSImage imageNamed:@"NSQuickLookTemplate"] TIFFRepresentation]
> writeToFile:@"/users/jonathan/desktop/eye.tif" atomically:YES];
Be very careful with that. Copyright lawyers won't smile upon
extracting an Apple-provided image, modifying it, and distributing it
with your app.
--Kyle Sluder
