SHARP-X1 Winamp Classic Skin

Kepstin · 23rd March 2019, 15:42

So, a while ago I saw this picture of a classic SHARP X1 desktop computer (16bit era computer using a Z80 cpu, storage was a cassette tape!) in iconic red colour, and I decided that the natural thing to do would be to turn it into a Winamp skin.

And, here is what I have so far. It’s just a main window, and it’s not quite complete, but you can get a good idea of the look that I’m going for.

Some details:

Matching the style of the CRT monitor covered with a flat glass pane for the time display and vis area
Fonts are accurate! I based the bitmap fonts for time display and title display off the actual font that this system uses in its BASIC text mode thanks to a YouTube video where someone dumped the character ROM.
The song title, volume/balance bars, monoster are designed based on the appearance of the tape deck on the front panel. Still todo: add a “reset button” to the bitrate display so it looks more like a tape counter.
Cbuttons are styled to look similar to the TV control buttons seen on the keyboard. This is still a WIP - I haven’t gotten the final shape or shading quite right yet, and there’s no pressed states yet.
I’ll add the winshade/minimize/close buttons… later.

You can download this WIP skin or preview it in Webamp. I’ll try to post updates now and then here, but you can also follow me @kepstin@glitch.social where I sometimes post minor updates as well.

Victhor · 24th March 2019, 02:14

Man, that's awesome, really looking forward to see it complete!

Kepstin · 10th April 2019, 03:14

Fun fact, the SHARP X1 series was also available in off-white. So, a possible colour variation? IMO, the red looks better and will be the main version.

Only other change here is that I tweaked the button spacing and shadows a little. Haven't had time to work on this recently.

Victhor · 10th April 2019, 03:21

If you know me, you'd know I love color themes, so I obviously like it, looks nice. Red, white and black would feel like all bases covered (but I know that's too much to ask heh).

garetjax · 23rd April 2019, 23:50

who is this victhor; does he make skins...never seen him around the forums before...

hmm.

Victhor · 23rd April 2019, 23:58

Yeah, why is he always lurking the skins section? Doesn't he have a life? Doesn't he have something better to do? What's wrong with him??

garetjax · 24th April 2019, 00:49

I live this game. But alas you win...

Victhor · 24th April 2019, 02:05

To live, to love, usually is all the same (?) XD :P

garetjax · 24th April 2019, 04:19

You....

Evil grins....

You...

XD

LuigiHann · 27th May 2019, 03:40

Nice look so far

Mr Jones · 27th May 2019, 07:05

People still use skins ? Let's party like it's 2001 again, crazy times.

Side note , slightly worrying I can still rattle off z80 opcodes from the dark areas of my brain....

kleopartitia · 28th August 2019, 11:19

Really nice job!

Kepstin · 14th October 2019, 22:33

Minor changes to the Vol/Bal bars, extended the underlying slider groove a bit so the balance doesn't look awkward at the extremes.

Initial proof of concept of the EQ bars - I was worried that I had shot myself in the foot with the vertical gradient background, but I think it's subtle enough that it works out ok in the end. The shape of the EQ slider thumbs still needs tweaking, I think they're a little too tall/narrow right now.

I'm probably gonna go with replicating the black "screen" style for the EQ display, and copy the cbuttons style for the EQ buttons.

Kepstin · 19th October 2019, 19:35

More EQ progress

Dr.Flay · 20th October 2019, 05:23

Very nice.
Clean and actually usable looking.
You should also submit this to the creator of webamp when finished.

Victhor · 21st October 2019, 03:27

23rd March 2019, 15:42	#1
Kepstin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada! Posts: 131	SHARP-X1 Winamp Classic Skin So, a while ago I saw this picture of a classic SHARP X1 desktop computer (16bit era computer using a Z80 cpu, storage was a cassette tape!) in iconic red colour, and I decided that the natural thing to do would be to turn it into a Winamp skin. And, here is what I have so far. It’s just a main window, and it’s not quite complete, but you can get a good idea of the look that I’m going for. Some details: Matching the style of the CRT monitor covered with a flat glass pane for the time display and vis area Fonts are accurate! I based the bitmap fonts for time display and title display off the actual font that this system uses in its BASIC text mode thanks to a YouTube video where someone dumped the character ROM. The song title, volume/balance bars, monoster are designed based on the appearance of the tape deck on the front panel. Still todo: add a “reset button” to the bitrate display so it looks more like a tape counter. Cbuttons are styled to look similar to the TV control buttons seen on the keyboard. This is still a WIP - I haven’t gotten the final shape or shading quite right yet, and there’s no pressed states yet. I’ll add the winshade/minimize/close buttons… later. You can download this WIP skin or preview it in Webamp. I’ll try to post updates now and then here, but you can also follow me @kepstin@glitch.social where I sometimes post minor updates as well. There used to be more stuff, but hey, links die over the years. Generic Plating: Red, Blue

24th March 2019, 02:14	#2
Victhor Late skinner & Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Argentina Posts: 1,627	Man, that's awesome, really looking forward to see it complete! · · Big Bento Modern

10th April 2019, 03:14	#3
Kepstin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada! Posts: 131	Fun fact, the SHARP X1 series was also available in off-white. So, a possible colour variation? IMO, the red looks better and will be the main version. Only other change here is that I tweaked the button spacing and shadows a little. Haven't had time to work on this recently. There used to be more stuff, but hey, links die over the years. Generic Plating: Red, Blue

10th April 2019, 03:21	#4
Victhor Late skinner & Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Argentina Posts: 1,627	If you know me, you'd know I love color themes, so I obviously like it, looks nice. Red, white and black would feel like all bases covered (but I know that's too much to ask heh). · · Big Bento Modern

23rd April 2019, 23:50	#5
garetjax Candyass (Major Dude) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Benton, AR Posts: 2,343	who is this victhor; does he make skins...never seen him around the forums before... hmm. 1001skins.net \| That's not a skin, it's some god awful piece of skinner gunk.

23rd April 2019, 23:58	#6
Victhor Late skinner & Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Argentina Posts: 1,627	Yeah, why is he always lurking the skins section? Doesn't he have a life? Doesn't he have something better to do? What's wrong with him?? · · Big Bento Modern

24th April 2019, 00:49	#7
garetjax Candyass (Major Dude) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Benton, AR Posts: 2,343	I live this game. But alas you win... 1001skins.net \| That's not a skin, it's some god awful piece of skinner gunk.

24th April 2019, 02:05	#8
Victhor Late skinner & Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Argentina Posts: 1,627	To live, to love, usually is all the same (?) XD :P · · Big Bento Modern

24th April 2019, 04:19	#9
garetjax Candyass (Major Dude) Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Benton, AR Posts: 2,343	You.... Evil grins.... You... XD 1001skins.net \| That's not a skin, it's some god awful piece of skinner gunk.

27th May 2019, 03:40	#10
LuigiHann Forum King Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: 80's Japan Posts: 3,449	Nice look so far Who is the milkman? What is the purpose of the goggles?

27th May 2019, 07:05	#11
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,091	People still use skins ? Let's party like it's 2001 again, crazy times. Side note , slightly worrying I can still rattle off z80 opcodes from the dark areas of my brain....

28th August 2019, 11:19	#12
kleopartitia Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 22	Really nice job!

14th October 2019, 22:33	#13
Kepstin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada! Posts: 131	Minor changes to the Vol/Bal bars, extended the underlying slider groove a bit so the balance doesn't look awkward at the extremes. Initial proof of concept of the EQ bars - I was worried that I had shot myself in the foot with the vertical gradient background, but I think it's subtle enough that it works out ok in the end. The shape of the EQ slider thumbs still needs tweaking, I think they're a little too tall/narrow right now. I'm probably gonna go with replicating the black "screen" style for the EQ display, and copy the cbuttons style for the EQ buttons. There used to be more stuff, but hey, links die over the years. Generic Plating: Red, Blue

19th October 2019, 19:35	#14
Kepstin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ottawa, Canada! Posts: 131	More EQ progress There used to be more stuff, but hey, links die over the years. Generic Plating: Red, Blue

20th October 2019, 05:23	#15
Dr.Flay Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Cornwall Posts: 197	Very nice. Clean and actually usable looking. You should also submit this to the creator of webamp when finished. My weekly radio show for nerds and wannabe nerds 15% Extra on Source FM every Friday

21st October 2019, 03:27	#16
Victhor Late skinner & Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Argentina Posts: 1,627	· · Big Bento Modern

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