Help! Need Testers for new Layered Image/Document Layout/PDF/Preview creation Tools
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We are looking to get some feed back on a new toolset we are creating thats
aides developers in the creation of drag/drag document/layout editors
(including rtf/image layers), PDF Generation tools, easy to use Preview
Windows (WYSWIG with one line of code- just send the designer object and
wham! previews save out in .pdf, .png,.tga, .tif, .jpg, and .bmp formats).
Here is a very basic summary of what these tools consist of:
Image layer -lets you create layered documents in vb. each image layer has a
built in editor that allows you to edit and load files such as
.psd,.png,.jpg,.lbm,.pcx,.tif, etc.. in the vb6 ide or at runtime by your
users. each image layer also has built in effects such as opacity levels,
hue, saturation levels, rotation, chrome, mosaic, transparency, airbrushing,
and texturing, and a whole host of other effects.
TextLayer - Essentially a beefed up ImageLayer that allows you to write
wordwrapped text over a backlayer(complete with editor). New enhancements to
the TextLayer include Databinding to a DataConnection Control (see below).
ShapeLayer - An Enhanced VB Shape Control
Horizontal/Vertical Ruler - Scalable rulers that are accurate when you are
zooming in and out. Supports two scalemodes currently: inches and pixels
Canvas - The canvas is the real workhorse of these tools. All you need to do
is set the current tool and the user can draw ImageLayers, TextLayers,
ShapeLayers, and DataConnections with no programmatic intervention. You can
also use many canvases within a ReportDesigner control to build a report
that has selectable Headers/Details/Footers. Canvas support the same
functionality as the ImageLayers so all the effects/tools/brushes are
available to the user for painting and drawing on the backlayer. A zIndex
above the backLayer a user can enter RTF text that supports all the
functionality of a standard RTF Control.
XPButton - shadows, colorshifts make this a great button for your UI's
DataConnection - Just set the connectionstring and away you go...coming soon
will be a dataGrid Component that can be bound to the dataConnection object.
Layer:List - A basic layer list component similiar to that found in
photoshop, fireworks, complete with thumbnailing and easy to connect to any
designer!
XP Progressbar - just like in XP but in 6 flavors
too much to say here so check it out at:
http://www.vibrantinnovations.com/vibrantlayouttools.asp
NOTE: If you wish to test or contribute to these components, let us
know!!!!!!! We are currently looking for someone to build some custom layer
components for this toolset!