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how_to_create_custom_glcd_fonts_icons_bars_for_midibox_ng [2014/05/11 11:44] – john_e._finsterhow_to_create_custom_glcd_fonts_icons_bars_for_midibox_ng [2016/06/27 13:32] (current) – psykhaze
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 similar way. similar way.
  
-Before I begin I´d like to point out some limitations:+Before I begin I´d like to point out some **limitations**:
  
-First, the height of fonts and icons is limited to a multiply of 8 (so 8, 16, 24,...pixels are possible). The +**First**, the height of fonts and icons is limited to a multiply of 8 (so 8, 16, 24,...pixels are possible). The 
 width doesn´t seem to have limitations like this. width doesn´t seem to have limitations like this.
  
-Second, the main goal here is to replace regular fonts with whatever graphics you´d like. In consequence, to +**Second**, the main goal here is to replace regular fonts with whatever graphics you´d like. In consequence, to 
 use those graphics you have to point to a regular letter or a digit. So if you want to use a mute icon for  use those graphics you have to point to a regular letter or a digit. So if you want to use a mute icon for 
 example and this mute icon sits on the spot where the regular "A" would sit, then the label of the element  example and this mute icon sits on the spot where the regular "A" would sit, then the label of the element 
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 later. later.
  
-Third, this tutorial only aplies to graphical lcds.+**Third**, implementing custom fonts in the way it is presented in this tutorial is not and can´t be made part of the official midibox repository. So every time the firmware gets updated and you want to keep your custom fonts, all the changes in step 3 of this tutorial has to be repeated.\\ 
 +I can´t tell for sure, but I believe, if you update the repository the files changed by you don´t get updated. To assure that everything works after an update I recommend deleting all the changed files before the update and then getting all the new files again. 
 + 
 +**Forth**, this tutorial only aplies to graphical lcds.
  
 Ok, let´s get to down to business Ok, let´s get to down to business
  
 +
 +==== Disclaimer ====
 +
 +Creating custom fonts/icons/bars is not part of the official repository. Any use of this knowledge presented in this tutorial will be happening at your own risk. If your Midibox suddenly blows up or melts down, it won´t be my fault.
  
  
-=== Requirements ===+==== Requirements ====
  
 - GIMP (or any other graphics software that is able to export to *.xpm, Gimp is free) - GIMP (or any other graphics software that is able to export to *.xpm, Gimp is free)
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-=== 1. Creating a font image file ===+==== 1. Creating a font image file ====
  
 What we need is a font image that looks like this: What we need is a font image that looks like this:
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-=== 2. Converting and preparing the image file for MIOS32 ===+==== 2. Converting and preparing the image file for MIOS32 ====
  
 For the next step you have to move the image *.xpm file into the MIOS32 repository (//...\trunk\modules For the next step you have to move the image *.xpm file into the MIOS32 repository (//...\trunk\modules
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-=== 3. Implementing the font file into Midibox_NG ===+==== 3. Implementing the font file into Midibox_NG ====
  
 To implement the font file you have to modify several files in the repository. To implement the font file you have to modify several files in the repository.
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-=== Examples ===+==== Examples ====
  
 Here you can see the some custom fonts and icons I created in action. Here you can see the some custom fonts and icons I created in action.
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-=== Known issues ===+==== Known issues ====
  
 1. I had some issues with icons that fill out all four corner pixels, they caused visible artifacts on other GLCDs. You can read about that here (forum link!!!). I can´t tell if that problem only existed on my hardware, if it was a software glitch or if this has been straighten out in the meantime by newer firmware versions. Unfortunatly I don´t have nearly enough time for my Midiboxes as I wish. 1. I had some issues with icons that fill out all four corner pixels, they caused visible artifacts on other GLCDs. You can read about that here (forum link!!!). I can´t tell if that problem only existed on my hardware, if it was a software glitch or if this has been straighten out in the meantime by newer firmware versions. Unfortunatly I don´t have nearly enough time for my Midiboxes as I wish.
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 As a solution I avoided painting the four corner pixels and left them white. As a solution I avoided painting the four corner pixels and left them white.
  
-(Yes, I know! My examples here have painted corner pixels. They´re from a time when I wasn´t fully aware of that issue.)+(Yes, I know! My examples here have painted corner pixels 8-). They´re from a time when I wasn´t fully aware of that issue.)
  
 If you want to use only one GLCD, then this issue might not affect you at all. If you want to use only one GLCD, then this issue might not affect you at all.
  
 +2. Some special characters, which are already used by the midibox firmware to display certain elements (like "%" or "@") can cause the midibox to crash if they´re placed next to a font selector (like "&o@") or if they themselves are used as font selectors (like "&@"). I can´t totally explain why this is the case.\\
 +I recommend avoiding the slots in the font file where those special characters normally would sit and also using them as a font selector
 +
 +==== Custom fonts database ====
 +
 +Here some fonts made by other can be downloaded.
  
  
-=== Have Fun! ===+==== Have Fun! ====
  
 Ok, that´s it so far. If you have any questions, come across mistakes in this tutorial or have any other suggestions just contact me in the forum. Ok, that´s it so far. If you have any questions, come across mistakes in this tutorial or have any other suggestions just contact me in the forum.
 +\\
 +\\
 +Happy designing!
 +\\
 +Greets\\
 +John E. Finster
  
  
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how_to_create_custom_glcd_fonts_icons_bars_for_midibox_ng.1399808696.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/05/11 11:44 by john_e._finster