06-03-2012, 06:52 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-03-2012, 07:40 PM by Robert Darwent.)
Thanks Gary, Tony and David for your very kind comments.
I would agree Gary, that is impossible to know for certain what the exact colours/shades of a 'pristine' original dial were like back when the set came off of the production line. We are only left with what sunlight, etc has transformed them into 60+ years on.
My intention was simply to produce something that was visually pleasing and acceptable, and approximated the dials commonly seen on sets today. In fact, some of my artworks incorporate selective fading and other faults to make them appear 'aged' in an attempt to make them look more authentic.
I found the use of the colour swatches most helpful. They certainly narrowed down the field when it came to finding the best shade for the dial background. Also, being able to do a large part of that 'virtually' speeds up the process no end and saves on time and printer consumables as well.
Nothing that modern or sophisticated I'm afraid. I wrote a simple BASIC program via an emulator of the old Atari ST computer on my laptop. Back in the late 80s to mid 90s I used the STOS BASIC programming language on the Atari ST extensively and I'm very familiar with it still.
Although it is archaic by modern standards it is still fine for doing such things as coil calculations. Plus knowing the software back to front, as it were, I simply can't see the point not using it in favour of something more up-to-date when it still performs admirably.
I have a similar attitude towards the graphics package I use, Micrografx Picture Publisher. It too is a 'dinosaur' compared to more recent offerings, but I'm loathed to change and go through the learning process again when it does all I ask of it.
Regarding your articles in The Bulletin, Radio Bygones and the like, of which I'm only too well aware and read with eagerness. I can only share David's sentiments and add they form the 'benchmark' standard in terms of excellence, thoroughness and quality that the rest of us strive to emulate. Consequently, I was quite humbled to read your earlier comment that you find some of my work "inspirational". That is very kind of you Gary, and very much appreciated!
Best regards
(05-03-2012, 09:49 AM)Radio Fixer Wrote: I found the use of colour swatches most interesting as I too have created dials... ...Of course how much have the colours changed with time but you can only match to what you have.
I would agree Gary, that is impossible to know for certain what the exact colours/shades of a 'pristine' original dial were like back when the set came off of the production line. We are only left with what sunlight, etc has transformed them into 60+ years on.
My intention was simply to produce something that was visually pleasing and acceptable, and approximated the dials commonly seen on sets today. In fact, some of my artworks incorporate selective fading and other faults to make them appear 'aged' in an attempt to make them look more authentic.
I found the use of the colour swatches most helpful. They certainly narrowed down the field when it came to finding the best shade for the dial background. Also, being able to do a large part of that 'virtually' speeds up the process no end and saves on time and printer consumables as well.
(06-03-2012, 10:09 AM)Radio Fixer Wrote: I wonder what computer prog he used? Maybe Excel? You can do a lot with that.
Nothing that modern or sophisticated I'm afraid. I wrote a simple BASIC program via an emulator of the old Atari ST computer on my laptop. Back in the late 80s to mid 90s I used the STOS BASIC programming language on the Atari ST extensively and I'm very familiar with it still.
Although it is archaic by modern standards it is still fine for doing such things as coil calculations. Plus knowing the software back to front, as it were, I simply can't see the point not using it in favour of something more up-to-date when it still performs admirably.
I have a similar attitude towards the graphics package I use, Micrografx Picture Publisher. It too is a 'dinosaur' compared to more recent offerings, but I'm loathed to change and go through the learning process again when it does all I ask of it.
Regarding your articles in The Bulletin, Radio Bygones and the like, of which I'm only too well aware and read with eagerness. I can only share David's sentiments and add they form the 'benchmark' standard in terms of excellence, thoroughness and quality that the rest of us strive to emulate. Consequently, I was quite humbled to read your earlier comment that you find some of my work "inspirational". That is very kind of you Gary, and very much appreciated!
Best regards
