FIRESTORM SKINS

Firestorm Skins class material based on our 4.5.1 beta release

Different skins not only have a different appearance but also may have some options in different places. We will go over the different skins and try point out the differences.

We will also go through a basic tutorial on customizing the CUI skins.

First however we are going to cover,,

MODES
****Viewer Modes & Settings

When you launch Firestorm you'll see a "Default Settings" drop down menu on the login screen, with the options Firestorm, Latency, Phoenix, V3 and Hybrid .

While Firestorm cannot look exactly like Phoenix, choosing the Phoenix mode will get you the nearest to it a V3 viewer currently can be.

Likewise, V3 mode will give you settings most similar to LL's V3, Latency mode logs you in on the Latency skin while Hybrid mode gives you a combination of various settings.

Firestorm mode gives you the settings that have become standard and default for the viewer, best described as V1-inspired settings in a customizable V3 skin.

Once you've logged in, you're free to change the settings however you like. The modes only affect what you start with. So let's cover some of the mode options, to help you choose the best for yourself.

You can view the basic list of mode differences at: http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/doku.php?id=fs_viewer_modes

Default Skin > Firestorm mode uses the Firestorm Grey skin.Latency mode logs you in on the Latency skin. Phoenix mode launches in Vintage Classic. Hybrid mode launches in Metaharper Modern. V3 mode launches using Starlight Original.

Location in Top Menu > Firestorm, Latency, Phoenix and Hybrid modes include the name of your current location, including parcel, region, and coordinates, in the menu bar, while V3 doesn't.

Navigation Bar > V3 and Firestorm modes include the navigation bar in the top bar, while Latency, Phoenix and Hybrid modes don't.

WASD Keys > In Latency, V3 or Hybrid mode, typing when there is no text space selected will move your avatar. In Firestorm or Phoenix mode, it will shift typing focus to the chat bar.

Mini-Map in Radar > The radar will contain a built-in Mini-Map in V3 and Hybrid modes but not in Firestorm, Latency or Phoenix mode.

Chat Console > In Firestorm, Latency, Phoenix and Hybrid modes, local chat will appear in the left-hand scrolling text instead of in chat toasts. In V3 mode, local chat appears in toasts.

Popups for Group & IM Chat > V3 mode includes group chat and IMs among chat toasts. In Firestorm, Phoenix and Hybrid modes, group and IM popups are disabled by default.

Chat Headers > V3 and Hybrid modes display chat headers -- horizontal bars including name, timestamp, and/or mini-icon -- in Conversations; Firestorm, Latency and Phoenix modes don't.

Mini-icons in Chat Headers > V3 and Hybrid mode includes these by default in chat headers. Since Firestorm, Latency and Phoenix modes don't use chat headers, they also doesn't use mini-icons there.

Multiple Chat Windows > Firestorm, Latency and Phoenix modes display chat in tabs in the Conversations window. V3 and Hybrid modes display chat in separate windows that dock only to the chiclets (not into Conversations).

No matter what the default settings for a certain mode are, you can always change settings to suit you after you've logged in. The mode options just give you different places to start.

If you need help finding where to change a setting, you can search the wiki (F1) or ask in the Phoenix/Firestorm Viewer Support group. Many are also covered in our menus and prefs classes

So lets get to the skins themselves.


You can choose your skin and color scheme in preferences on the skins tab.

Textures of the various skins and color schemes are attached for you to see the differences in appearances.


Firestorm mode logs you in on the Firestorm grey skin by default.

The Firestorm skin has four color schemes and was created to resemble a V1-style viewer with its inventory, profiles, friends, blue dialogs, etc.. This skin uses solid backgrounds on the bottom buttons and select other controls for maximum control clarity.

Firestorm Grey provides medium contrast that is not as harsh as darker backgrounds.


Firestorm Dark is similar to the grey color scheme but has white text on a dark background in some elements of the UI.


Firestorm Blue uses blue highlighting through various elements of the UI.


Firestorm High Contrast is similar to the grey color scheme but has more contrast for better visibility


Firestorm CtrlAltStudio uses the medium grey backgrounds and a purple for highlighting


This skin is a Phoenix-inspired variation on the Vintage skin that offers some new revisions of settings and UI elements.


Phoenix mode logs you in on the Vintage Classic skin by default.

The Vintage skin only has the classic color scheme.
It is designed to look and feel as close as possible to the original Phoenix skin. It includes a non optional section on the bottom toolbar that has buttons for playing music and media, volume controls, nearby voice, a talk button, an AO button and quick preferences.



V3 mode logs you in on the Starlight Original Orange skin by default.

The Starlight skin has six color schemes, They also include a draw distance slider in the Menu bar that is not in the other skins.

Original Orange has a dark background and uses orange highlighting.


Original Teal has a dark background and uses teal highlighting.


Mono Teal has a white background with dark text and uses teal highlighting.


Nostagia Blue has a dark background and uses blue highlighting.


Silver Blue has a light blue background with dark text and uses a darker blue for highlighting.


Silver Pink has a light pink background with dark text and uses a darker pink for highlighting.


The starlight CUI skin has two color schemes. That said these are the two most customisable schemes available as you get to choose the colors you see. When you are on a CUI skin there will be an extra tab in prefrences under the Colors tab named "Custom Colors"


Custom Dark has dark backgrounds with white text on the panels by default.


Custom Light has light backgrounds with black text on the panels by default.

Hybrid mode logs you in on the Metaharper Modern Coolocean skin by default.

The Metaharper Modern skin has three color schemes.


AppalachianSky color scheme uses natural mossy green and forest browns for accents


CoolOcean uses blue highlighting,


BlackGlass uses black windows and buttons


Tha Anastorm skin has two color schemes
Bright Blue has a bright blue highlighting


The classic brown uses brown for highlighting.


The Ectoplasma scheme uses bright green.

There are differences in the appearance of some panels with different skins.


Group Profiles is one example. The Starlight skins show the General, Roles, Notices and land sections in dropdowns while the other skins have them as tabs near the top of the panel.


People panel is another. The Vintage skin only has Nearby and Recent tabs, no Friends and Groupstabs such as you will find in the other skins. It also has tabs on the bottom for Options and the "blocked" list as opposed to the Gear icon that the other skins use.


The Inventory panel also looks different. The Vintage skin has no icons at the bottom but has the same options available through menus at the top of the panel. It also has a separate tab for the Marketplace folders.

The Anastorm skins have a mix of the two inventory styles. They have tabs for the options like the Vintage skin but have a "suitcase" icon for opening another inventory window, and a trash icon at the bottom for deleting selected objects or folders.

The starlight skins will show the inventory count at the top instead of the bottom.

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Nearby voice is different as well. The Vintage skin has a single slider at the bottom for adjusting an avatars volume while the others have a slider for each avatar.

I said we'd have a short tutorial on the CUI skins so here goes,,,

Open preferences, then the skins tab. from the drop down for the skin choose "Starlight CUI"

In the Colour schemes dropdown choose Custom Dark or Custom Light, the textures for this class are from the Custom Light.

Once you have selected the skin and scheme you will need to relog.

Once you have relogged open preferences and you'll see a new tab named Custom colors, click on it and you are ready to start.


This tab is where you control the color options. It has two sections, a Custom UI colors, and a general UI colors. This latter one is the same as on the colors tab.

Clicking on the color boxes will open the color picker where you can choose the color for that element of the UI.


Buttons, Scroll Bars etc > Set the color for UI elements such a buttons.

Emphasis Text > This is typically the colour that is used for 'loading..' and other interactive text.


Button Label - normal > The colour of the text on buttons when unselected (except new FUI buttons).



Button Label - selected > The colour of the text on buttons when selected (except new FUI buttons).



Panel Background - normal requires restart > The normal colour of panels and floaters.

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Panel Background - lighter requires restart > A slightly contrasting color for elements of panels and floaters so that it is easier to spot lists, title bars, etc.

You can adjust the colors for the Script Dialog Background and Foreground here as well.
If you're happy with what you have click "Apply" then "OK" and relog to make sure the settings stick and are not lost in a crash.

Information on how to customize is available at http://wiki.phoenixviewer.com/preferences_custom_colors_tab More information about CUI is on http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Viewer_Skins/Starlight/CUI Please note, that link does not show the Firestorm UI.