12 replies to this topic

[kmmcdan]

First I would like to say that if I new there was so little PRACTICAL support for creating new themes in Swishpix I would never have purchased it. I don't understand why it should be so difficult for the company to create a step by step tutorial on how to do this or at least a tutorial on something as simple as adding your own background. Yes people on the forum have tried to be helpful but it's always about 1/2 of what you need to know with just enough missing information to make it frustrating and ultimately gets me nowhere.

So here is my question. I have Swishpix, I have SwishAC and SwishTC and if it matters I also have Paint Shop and Photoshop to create my own graphics.

Can somebody PLEASE tell me how you create your own damn theme? Or at the very least import your own background? If you create a 600x400 background in a graphics program how do you get it into SwishAC & then SwishTC to use it Swishpix? When I insert such a graphic into AC it is horribly pixelated and who knows how I'm supposed to get my pixelated background into TC?

I think the convaluted way this has to be done is so ridiculous! I purchased Swishpix so I would not have to take the time to learn flash. It's beginning to look like that actually would have been the easier and perhaps shorter route!

Kathleen

[cmoore]

Kathleen,
I'm with you on this one, I havn't bought pix as of yet and not too sure I will. Just the idea that it takes three programs to do what I want is driving me nuts. All I wanted to do at first was change the background pics! But since that's so hard to do I can't imagine trying to do any interesting stuff like add movie clips!!! It's great that it's an easy program to use but I sure would like to have a few more features and a little more support. It's like we're the red headed step child if we're not smart enough to use Swishmax!

I had swish2 on my puter and had a crash that caused me to loose everything, I was just getting where I understood it now it's discontinued!!!

Is there anyone who could post a step by step? I'm not paying for this until I can figure out how to change things......

Thanks in advance for ANY help

Cmoore

[kmmcdan]

It's like we're the red headed step child if we're not smart enough to use Swishmax!


Cmoore
[right][/right]
[/quote]

It's not even a matter of smart, if I had time to learn flash I wouldn't need a program like Swishpix! Someone who is proficient at flash is not going to need a program like this, which is all the more reason why it should have more extensive support and options.

I'm not asking it to do anything out of the ordinary. I do not think it's unreasonable to expect that you be able to change the backgrounds and other embellishments.

I'm regretting spending the money.

Kathleen

[cmoore]

I’m sorry Kathleen, I didn’t mean to imply we don’t have the intelligence to do this, but max sure seem to get plenty of support and I sure miss Swish2.

Well after spending the whole day with TC and AC and pix I have finally figured a few things out, first and foremost how to change the picture in a theme background. I had to do everything backdoor and there must be an easier way but how I did it worked!
I used AC to make the swi’s with the pic I want to use as my background, then save it as index, title and photo. Open TC, create a new theme (based on an existing theme or the default) don’t forget to name it….then I cut and pasted the swi’s that I made in AC into the background folder of the new theme that I just made. Reopen the new theme and with the pull down “background” menu select the swi file that was pasted into the folder. Dah,Dah!

I guess if there is a will there is a way as long as you have an entire day, week or month to play with it. Anyway I still have a lot to figure out but for now I’ll share the albums I made today they are links on my son’s web site My Son's Webpage you’ll find them in the middle of the opening page under 2005 DAV Winter Sports Clinic media presentations. There are four of them, like I said I still have a lot to learn but it’s a start!

BTW: I went ahead and bought Pix, I think I will eventually have it figured out or they will make it easier.

Cheryl

[Nupac]

Hi Cheryl
like both of you i have struggled with SWiSHpix, I can't believe that they have not put these three items together under a more reasonable price as it does not appear that you can successfully use one withour the other.

I looked in on your son's web site, very impressed, how on earth did you run the finished article on the site. I have a website and have tried to run a simple SWiSHpic album on it but it will not run.
Two questions on this forum have not brought any answers

Bob

[David Petley]

Hi everybody...
I am sorry you all seem to be having problems making new themes. How to do it is pretty well explained (to my eyes) in the SWiSHpix Theme Creator Help files.

If you look at the Help section 'Fundamentals' it tells you what theme components there are, explains making theme components, and tells you where to put your theme components once created in SWiSHpix Artwork Creator or SWiSHv2.

The section titled 'Making Theme Components' covers each component.

For example on Backgrounds, it says -

Quote

You can make any Background you like. The Background will be scaled (without aspect ratio consideration) to the page size defined by SWiSHpix. If you're worried about aspect ratio changes, give your Background the same aspect ratio as your theme page.

When done, drop the file into the <Current Theme folder>/Background sub-folder, then press the 'S' button next to the Background selection button in SWiSHpixTC to update your list of available backgrounds.

If you have specific problems with any particular aspect of a new theme you are creating, then asking in this or the SWiSHpix forum should get you some more information without too many problems.

davidp.

[David Petley]

kmmcdan, on Jul 2 2005, 05:21 AM, said:

Can somebody PLEASE tell me how you create your own damn theme?  Or at the very least import your own background?  If you create a 600x400 background in a graphics program how do you get it into SwishAC & then SwishTC to use it Swishpix?  When I insert such a graphic into AC it is horribly pixelated and who knows how I'm supposed to get my  pixelated background into TC?

Kathleen

I am not sure why this would be happening for you if the image is the same size as the theme you are creating. Note that bitmap images will show signs of distortion/pixellation if resized.


davidp.

[Nupac]

David Petley, on Aug 2 2005, 10:16 PM, said:

Hi everybody...
I am sorry you all seem to be having problems making new themes. How to do it is pretty well explained (to my eyes) in the SWiSHpix Theme Creator Help files.

If you look at the Help section 'Fundamentals' it tells you what theme components there are, explains making theme components, and tells you where to put your theme components once created in SWiSHpix Artwork Creator or SWiSHv2.

The section titled 'Making Theme Components' covers each component.

For example on Backgrounds, it says -

Quote

You can make any Background you like. The Background will be scaled (without aspect ratio consideration) to the page size defined by SWiSHpix. If you're worried about aspect ratio changes, give your Background the same aspect ratio as your theme page.

When done, drop the file into the <Current Theme folder>/Background sub-folder, then press the 'S' button next to the Background selection button in SWiSHpixTC to update your list of available backgrounds.

If you have specific problems with any particular aspect of a new theme you are creating, then asking in this or the SWiSHpix forum should get you some more information without too many problems.

davidp.

[Nupac]

David
thanks for your very full reply but where are these files located
I have looked in the help file on SWiSHpix for SWiSHpix Theme Creator Help files.
but cannot see it. Neither can I find Fundamentals.
At the moment I am trying to cope with SWiSHpix, TC, AC and SWiSHmax.
I have the SWiSHmax bible but that doesn't appear to mention Themes for pix
Are the programmes linked in any way ie can you use things produced in one, in other programmes.??

Bob

[David Petley]

Nupac, on Aug 6 2005, 08:29 AM, said:

David
thanks for your very full reply but where are these files located
I have looked in the help file on SWiSHpix for SWiSHpix Theme Creator Help files.
but cannot see it. Neither can I find Fundamentals.
At the moment I am trying to cope with SWiSHpix, TC, AC and SWiSHmax.
I have the SWiSHmax bible but that doesn't appear to mention Themes for pix
Are the programmes linked in any way ie can you use things produced in one, in other programmes.??

Bob

The SWiSHpix Theme Creator help files are in SWiSHpix theme Creator. You should find them by opening the application and selecting Help in the main menu.

The files you make in theme creator can only be used in SWiSHpix. Files made for Theme Creator in SWiSHpix artwork creator are SWiSHv2 files (Artwork Creator is essentially SWiSHv2 without SWF export capabilities to make the .swi files you need for TC)

davidp

[seattlemanila]

what is swish AC?

I think it is somewhat inane to recommend using swish 2.01 and it cant be downloaded and used.

i pretty much feel ripped off at this point...

I am losing interest in purchasing any more swish products

seattlemanila, on Dec 31 2005, 01:32 AM, said:

what is swish AC?

I think it is somewhat inane to recommend using swish 2.01 and it cant be downloaded and used.

i pretty much feel ripped off at this point...

I am losing interest in purchasing any more swish products

my advice at this point would be to avoid swishpix unless they can answer these questions.

[peterg]

seattlemanila, on Dec 31 2005, 06:34 AM, said:

what is swish AC?
I think it is somewhat inane to recommend using swish 2.01 and it cant be downloaded and used.
i pretty much feel ripped off at this point...
I am losing interest in purchasing any more swish products

seattlemanila, on Dec 31 2005, 01:32 AM, said:

what is swish AC?
I think it is somewhat inane to recommend using swish 2.01 and it cant be downloaded and used.
i pretty much feel ripped off at this point...
I am losing interest in purchasing any more swish products

my advice at this point would be to avoid swishpix unless they can answer these questions.

seattlemanila, my advice to you is:

Try reading ALL the help files before you complain about a product

Try reading the Forum Rules and Information Posts before you hijack every post, just to show your annoyance at not being able to come to grips with such a good and easy to use programme

Use the Search facility a bit more intelligently to try and find your answers

Stop giving out useless advice and criticism, as this really does not help anyone, yourself included

Edited by peterg, 31 December 2005 - 07:55 PM.

[fscproductions]

I don't usually get into this, but I just have to say (especially to Peter) that the fact that someone is expressing frustration is no reason to try and flame or embarass them. Honestly, I work in Flash, and have found that the template integration is a little hairy. Of course I can make a gallery in Flash, but in the production world, sometimes you don't have the time to actually make a flash application. That is the main reason I purchased SwishPix.

All in all, I am happy with the program, I don't feel ripped off or anything, but I do think that the site owners try to market something as a little easier then it is to edit. Especially when you pay an extra $30 for a template and when you get into it you realize it is a nightmare to edit.

Basically to answer the original poster, I the first step is to open an existing template in TC, and get a feel for it. Then you go into the templates folder in the program folder for swishpix

ie:

SWiSHpixTC\Gallery\Themes\

make a new folder in there and name it whatever you want, then open an existing template folder that sorta does what you need to, that limits the learning curve because you are working with existing files. Then you edit it, copy the folders and paste them in your new template folder.

Then you can direct the AC to your template folder and play with the files (check out the buttons folder first)

Lesson learned here.....it may take a little more time to answer a question rather then say RTFM and flame somebody. Pete your post is more annoying then the original one, because obviously you have some knowledge, but you rather be negative. If you don't want to help them fine ignore the post and move on. But don't be little someone to make yourself feel better.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been spending the evening playing with it, and wanted to share my info with anyone else confused with adding a background image. You have to remember to save the graphic using AC. Basically make a background image to scale with your presentation, then open a new document in AC. Adjust the document to you measurements, then simply import the graphic. Save the file in your associated backgrounds folder in:

SWiSHpixTC\Gallery\Themes\[your theme]\background\

Then open up your template file in TC. choose which page you want to add it to, and click on the 'S' and it will update your available backgrounds created using AC. Choose the background and you are done.