VectorConverter [V 0.1.3]

[jsmorley]

Yeah, I don't think the Antialiasing in Rainmeter is optimal.

Part of the issue is that in reality, EVERYTHING in Rainmeter is an "image".

[Brian]

Just to be clear, there are 2 kinds of anti-aliasing that Rainmeter can do (at the moment). Both are D2D sub-pixel anti-aliasing. For text (aka the String meter), Rainmeter uses a GrayScale anti-aliasing, which is a better equivalent to its GDI counterpart for text. There is even a better alternative called ClearType anti-aliasing, but it doesn't play well when blending with transparent areas, which is why we don't offer it. The rest of Rainmeter uses what is called per-primitive anti-alias, which just basically makes sure the edges of what is being drawn blend better to whatever is behind it. This isn't quite as good as its GDI equivalent, but is close.

In a few cases, we have actually force the meter to draw with AntiAlias=1 since the default D2D version was not good enough.

We may be looking to add some anti-alias options in the future, but it will most likely require a new option. These will probably effect mostly images used in Rainmeter.

Part of the issue is that in reality, EVERYTHING in Rainmeter is an "image".

Huh? This is somewhat misleading. We don't really work with images directly (except for the loading "real" images and displaying them). What really happens is we draw onto a canvas, which is then "presented" to the screen. D2D/D3D uses an image as a backbuffer to "flip" our canvas onto the screen. We don't directly work with the backbuffer too much.

-Brian

[jsmorley]

Huh? This is somewhat misleading. We don't really work with images directly (except for the loading "real" images and displaying them). What really happens is we draw onto a canvas, which is then "presented" to the screen. D2D/D3D uses an image as a backbuffer to "flip" our canvas onto the screen. We don't directly work with the backbuffer too much.

Yeah, I shouldn't have gone down that road, as the semantics get pretty murky pretty fast. It was my assumption that meters are at the end created into a "bitmap" that is then drawn onto the canvas.

[raiguard]

I have discovered that 99% of the failed conversions with this tool can be worked around by first converting all path coordinates to absolute. You can use this tool to do so. Open the SVG code, copy the path definition, paste it onto the website, convert it and replace the string in the SVG. Refresh the vectorconverter skin and hopefully it will work!

All of the icons in this skin are shape meters, there is no image in sight. It's beautiful.

2019-05-03 21_48_30-D__Caleb_Development_Rainmeter_Testbench_Skins_ModernGadgets_NetworkMeter_Networ.png

[F!.OW]

This tool worked great in the beginning with SVG files I created in Affinity Designer, but sadly, something has changed (in AD) and is no longer the case. With some tweaking, sometimes it works, but not like it once did.

Here's to hoping further development on this tool picks up, it's invaluable for shape creation.

[MultiPotent]

Okay first off this tool is highly underated for how much time it can save you! But if you dont understand some basics about it, it can be frustrating.

Here is how to use the app without issues:

Tip 1: If you add your file and hit convert and nothing happens. It means your file's contents are incompatible. But the app still works you just have to fix your SVG file! (Instructions below)

Tip 2: If your file does convert correctly you need to Left Click the provided code and it will instantly copy to your clipboard. You can now paste the output anywhere you like. There will be no indicator or alert that the output has now copied to your clipboard; it does it in the background only after left clicking on the code provided. You can not select the provided code like "input text". Just click it.

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SOLUTION IF SVG NOT WORKING:

How i solved it:

• If you have an SVG that is not working in VectorConverter [V 0.1.3], First convert your SVG to a PNG File. If you dont know how to do this properly you can use this easy tool here: https://convertio.co/SVG-PNG

• And then you simply convert that PNG back to an SVG using the opposite version of the tool here: https://convertio.co/PNG-SVG

The final result is an SVG file that works in VectorConverter [V 0.1.3].

Note/Tip: If you're getting bad output from convertio.co/PNG-SVG try to increase the size of the PNG so it has enough data to trace. Also sometimes it has trouble reading light colors. If possible convert to a black color and than update the color once in rainmeter.

• if the convertio.co solution stops working just try different vector programs i guess.

I actually got better results using the Vector Magic windows app for creating vectors for VectorConverter [V 0.1.3], but i think thats a paid app.

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HOW TO RESIZE YOUR NEW SHAPE:

Example:

Code: Select all

[Variables]
; Comment: Sizing Tip: 1 = full scale | 2 = double scale | 0.5 = half scale | 0.0554?? = add more numbers to scale in smaller increments.
ScaleThisSVG=0.532

[ConvertedShape]
Meter=Shape
X=0
Y=0
H=0 ;important or will have invisible margins
W=0 ;important or will have invisible margins
Shape = Path Path1 | fill color 43, 46, 58 | StrokeWidth 0
Path1 = 200, 0 | LineTo 200.32, 0 | CurveTo 207.5, 10.52, 203.01, 3.29, 205.14, 6.99 | CurveTo 338.54, 191.44, 247.67, 73.31, 295.23, 130.87 | CurveTo 378.82, 257.07, 353.31, 212.44, 367.45, 234 | CurveTo 400, 326.99, 389.8, 278.92, 397.99, 302.48 | LineTo 400, 348 | CurveTo 385.02, 406.09, 398.56, 368.05, 393.57, 387.88 | CurveTo 359.19, 446.19, 378.35, 420.59, 369.22, 433.83 | CurveTo 278.62, 501.55, 337.27, 470.72, 309.36, 489.85 | CurveTo 180.96, 514.99, 247.67, 513.46, 213.96, 517.89 | CurveTo 57.73, 463.21, 135.81, 511.35, 91.79, 493.19 | CurveTo 4.74, 377.95, 32.17, 440.9, 12.95, 410.98 | CurveTo 1.38, 319.05, -0.16, 358.76, -0.61, 338.68 | CurveTo 31.3, 229.25, 4.37, 287.34, 15.17, 256.63 | CurveTo 78.55, 163.49, 44.93, 205.9, 61.31, 184.28 | CurveTo 131.27, 99.22, 96.14, 142.08, 113.72, 120.67 | CurveTo 177.74, 35.72, 147.66, 78.73, 163.3, 57.63 | CurveTo 200, 0, 185.7, 24.15, 192.57, 11.9 | ClosePath 1
; Comment: Transform the size of the Shape using above Dynamic Variable
TransformationMatrix=#ScaleThisSVG#;0;0;#ScaleThisSVG#;0;0
DynamicVariables=1

Special thanks to: https://forum.rainmeter.net/viewtopic.php?f=138&t=32423&p=162682&hilit=VectorConverter+Icons#p162682

[balala]

Okay first off this tool is highly underated for how much time it can save you! But if you dont understand some basics about it, it can be frustrating.

Here is how to use the app without issues:

Tip 1: If you add your file and hit convert and nothing happens. It means your file's contents are incompatible. But the app still works you just have to fix your SVG file! (Instructions below)

Tip 2: If your file does convert correctly you need to Left Click the provided code and it will instantly copy to your clipboard. You can now paste the output anywhere you like. There will be no indicator or alert that the output has now copied to your clipboard; it does it in the background only after left clicking on the code.

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

SOLUTION IF SVG NOT WORKING:

How i solved it:

• If you have an SVG that is not working in VectorConverter [V 0.1.3], First convert your SVG to a PNG File. If you dont know how to do this properly you can use this easy tool here: https://convertio.co/SVG-PNG

• And then you simply convert that PNG back to an SVG using the opposite version of the tool here: https://convertio.co/PNG-SVG

The final result is an SVG file that works in VectorConverter [V 0.1.3].

Note/Tip: If you're getting bad output from convertio.co/PNG-SVG try to increase the size of the PNG so it has enough data to trace. Also sometimes it has trouble reading light colors. If possible convert to a black color and than update the color once in rainmeter.

• if the solution above stops working just try different vector programs i guess.

I actually got better results using the Vector Magic windows app for creating vectors but i think thats a paid app.
DynamicVariables=1[/code]

Special thanks to: https://forum.rainmeter.net/viewtopic.php?f=138&t=32423&p=162682&hilit=VectorConverter+Icons#p162682

I agree with you when you say this is a highly underrated tool. Unfortunately it is, even if I suppose the author have invested a lot of effort and work in creating it.
Mayn thanks for this description of what is going on when nothing is going on. In past I experienced this kind of problems a few times and since I was not sure on what is going on, I usually quickly renounced. Now having this description next time I'm gonna know what to do.
So thank you again.

[RicardoTM]

It's good! It works on Illustrator, but only if your shapes don't have any kind of gradient nor stroke and you save them trough "Save as" instead of Export.