Helpful ReplyShiny New Themes: Gran Vista & Carbon [Updated to 2018.11]

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Canopus
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2018/09/28 22:56:55 (permalink)

Shiny New Themes: Gran Vista & Carbon [Updated to 2018.11]

Update Oct. 5 2018.
Some users found the gloss in the original Gran Vista theme distracting and in particular the gloss in the Pro Channel modules. Because of that I’ve now created two variations of this theme with a more matte finish.  Click here to jump to the post where the different variants of Gran Vista are outlined in more detail. You will also in the same post find a new separate theme called Carbon, which comes with an even darker appearance and a non-glossy control bar.
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As part of my never ending music creation procrastination project I recently did something I’d promised myself never to do: a SONAR/CbB theme. I’ve called it Gran Vista Black & Blue in reference to a long forgotten operating system, as some of the design elements are inspired by that shiny, black plastic once found in Windows Vista. Some would say that look is dated, but hey – so am I.


I actually began making this theme about a year ago but stopped when The Announcement was made in November 2017. As things started to look brighter again this spring I finally decided to finish the theme. It has been tested with CbB 2018.08 and also works with the last version of SONAR Platinum. However, any design element that has since been added to CbB is of course not available in SONAR (such as the dark PRV).

In Track View some gloss were added and all meters changed to blue, but I decided to keep the grey rubber buttons because I like them.

 
In Console View I added plastic panels to some Pro Channel modules and I made plastic buttons knobs as well just because I could.


I even made a plastic Quadcurve EQ flyout, but maybe I’d started to go overboard there. All other views have been updated as well.


If anyone would like to download this theme it can either be found in the Software forum’s Resources and Utilities thread or directly from here: https://app.box.com/s/drlmh4wpe0evqft7n7ym583f9mu1gnl3 (thanks Mudgel and Elffin).
 
Edit: This link was targeting the original theme which has since been superseded. The links to the latest version of any of the two themes Gran Vista and Carbon, or indeed theme variants, can be found in this post.
 
Edit: Changed the header to also include Carbon.
post edited by Canopus - 2018/12/13 07:36:05
#1
BENT
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/28 23:07:03 (permalink)
Nice
 

I have empirical evidence this is true... (Bender told me!) 
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#2
S.L.I.P.
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 13:26:23 (permalink)
Thanks!
#3
oxrabidus
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 14:10:19 (permalink)
I downloaded the theme, but how do I get it to show up on my themes list in Cakewalk?

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Rbh
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 14:17:36 (permalink)
That's clever work, nice contrast and detail.
 

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TheSteven
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 16:11:26 (permalink)
oxrabidus
I downloaded the theme, but how do I get it to show up on my themes list in Cakewalk?


Via the Cakewalk Theme editor - installable from BandLab Assistant under Cakewalk on Apps tab (use dropdown arrow by Open button).
 
 
You can run Theme Editor from desktop icon or
from within Cakewalk:
Go to Edit > Preferences > Customization - Themes, select the theme you want to edit, then click Edit.
 
To copy/install theme in correct folder:
Run Cakewalk Theme Editor, click on Open icon - that will open the Cakewalk Themes folder and you can drag n drop theme file directly from downloaded zip into folder.
 
To install theme you want
Go to Edit > Preferences > Customization - Themes, select the theme you want.

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#6
TheSteven
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 16:12:20 (permalink)
Btw - theme looks very nice.
 

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#7
scook
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 16:19:48 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby TheSteven 2018/09/29 16:27:23
TheSteven
oxrabidus
I downloaded the theme, but how do I get it to show up on my themes list in Cakewalk?


Via the Cakewalk Theme editor - installable from BandLab Assistant under Cakewalk on Apps tab (use dropdown arrow by Open button).
 

Or copy the theme into the "Cakewalk Themes" folder under "Cakewalk Content." The default path is "C:\Cakewalk Content\Cakewalk Themes"
 
There is no need to install the theme editor unless you want to create or make changes to a theme.
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TheSteven
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 16:28:05 (permalink)
much simpler...

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#9
Skyline_UK
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 16:46:31 (permalink)
Many thanks, using it now!


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#10
Anderton
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/29 18:00:07 (permalink)
I think "elegant" is a good description 
 
Nice work!

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#11
Euthymia
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 01:38:20 (permalink)
As an unrepentant themeslut, I applaud and thank you. This is a sharp one.
 
Also, it's the first one I've seen with the new program's name in the Tools module, so big ups for that.

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#12
Kamikaze
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 02:04:24 (permalink)
Euthymia
 
Also, it's the first one I've seen with the new program's name in the Tools module, so big ups for that.




 
I snuck my name into my control bar name

 

 
#13
jeremy@cominginsecond.com
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 03:39:30 (permalink)
I love it! I think it's going to be my new go-to.
#14
Canopus
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 07:01:00 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby Skyline_UK 2018/09/30 19:15:05
Thanks for all the kind words, guys. I really appreciate it!
On a side note and in the unlikely event that Noel or somebody else from BandLab sees this post, I might mention that while working on this theme I spotted a small issue in Tungsten. The button “Cell MIDI Trigger Enable” in the Matrix view lacks the menu drop-down indicator in the lower right corner, so it’s easy to miss that it’s not only a toggle button but also works as a MIDI channel selector if the lower right corner of the button is pressed.

Maybe someone has already reported it, I don’t know. Oh, well. Not a biggie. And of course I've put it there in Gran Vista.
#15
soens
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 10:45:00 (permalink)
Just what I need. More shiny black plastic stuff. I'd be afraid to touch it for fear scuffs & scratches would sully the shiny surface...
 
#16
Kamikaze
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 11:13:52 (permalink)
soens
Just what I need. More shiny black plastic stuff. I'd be afraid to touch it for fear scuffs & scratches would sully the shiny surface...
 


When you install it, it comes with a thin layer of clear plastic, you have took to peel off.

 
#17
Canopus
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 11:43:37 (permalink)
Not only that, I actually predicted this problem and came up with a working solution: in front of the shiny, blast plastic I’ve set up an additional plastic screen which I think people in the know call an LCD screen. With this setup, no matter how many bags of potato chips you’ve been eating, the black plastic will always stay impeccable. However, in case you often feel compelled to touch the theme (and c'mon, who doesn't?), you'd have to clean your LCD screen once in a while with some window cleaner.
 
#18
Zargg
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 11:49:12 (permalink)
Thanks!
Looks very good.
All the best.

Ken Nilsen
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 13:54:03 (permalink)
Looks really good!
 
Excellent work

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#20
MarianoGF
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 14:11:10 (permalink)
I'm a bit tired of the dark GUI tendence of the latest DAWs versions, but I have to recognize that you did a great job and I will download it. It's beautiful, the best I saw. Congratulations.

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#21
rcklln
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 14:36:28 (permalink)
Looks very nice Canopus thank you I am still using 2017.01 but once I get to installing CbB I'll be sure to use this theme.
 
Edit: Decided to try it on 2017.01 - looks good and works fine - thanks again
post edited by rcklln - 2018/09/30 16:03:16
#22
subtlearts
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/09/30 17:43:07 (permalink)
I like it! It's funny how these trends come and go - 2D, 3D, skeumorphism, flat, material... hard to keep up. But since I basically ignore all trends in music itself, I think I can safely ignore trends in software design, and just use what looks good to me at any given moment... and this looks pretty good!

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#23
chris.r
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/01 00:36:37 (permalink)
Kamikaze
soens
Just what I need. More shiny black plastic stuff. I'd be afraid to touch it for fear scuffs & scratches would sully the shiny surface...
 


When you install it, it comes with a thin layer of clear plastic, you have took to peel off.


yeah can make a hard time for those with touchscreen, when trying to avoid leaving any finger marks
#24
Brian Walton
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/01 23:30:51 (permalink)
I couldn't use this for "real world" due to the way it basically simulates glare on plastic (and my eyes wouldn't be able to take starting at that all the time).  But as an art piece, extremely well done!
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Sidroe
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/02 00:45:02 (permalink)
Thanks, Brian!! I thought it was just me. I really love this theme but for some reason the simulated glare is really distracting to my eye. I can't explain why other than maybe it's the angle in relation to the eq window above it. I would absolutely use this as my goto if you make a version without the glare area on it. I am using this one and can't tell you enough what a great job was done on this theme. I hope he considers doing a version without the glare on it.

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clintmartin
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/02 00:47:57 (permalink)
I like it. It's pretty!
Maybe just a little less glare?

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#27
Canopus
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/02 08:40:03 (permalink)
Brian Walton
I couldn't use this for "real world" due to the way it basically simulates glare on plastic (and my eyes wouldn't be able to take starting at that all the time).  But as an art piece, extremely well done!


Sidroe
Thanks, Brian!! I thought it was just me. I really love this theme but for some reason the simulated glare is really distracting to my eye. I can't explain why other than maybe it's the angle in relation to the eq window above it. I would absolutely use this as my goto if you make a version without the glare area on it. I am using this one and can't tell you enough what a great job was done on this theme. I hope he considers doing a version without the glare on it.

 
clintmartin
I like it. It's pretty!
Maybe just a little less glare?


I hear you. And I take it that it's the Pro Channel modules you are mainly talking about and not the more diffuse gloss on e.g. the control bar and buttons?
 
I felt when doing it that it might have been a bit over the top and I can appreciate why some would consider it a distraction. However, it’s no problem for me to either completely remove the Pro Channel glare or make it less visible, as that plastic gloss is placed in a separate Photoshop layer that either can be easily hidden or have its opacity reduced. Removing the glare altogether I personally think would make it a bit boring, while reducing the opacity would make the effect more subtle but still keep somewhat of a plastic look-and-feel.
 
But who am I to say how much gloss would be the right amount of gloss? I think I’ll let the end users decide. Here are a few options. To the far left there’s no gloss at all and to the far right you can see how it currently looks. So what do you say? Let the voting begin!


As a side note I may add that none of the glare in the current theme spills into the upper display area of the Pro Channel modules as I didn’t want to lower the contrast by adding glare to the “glass”. It’s only the area with the buttons and knobs that’s got that extra gloss.
 
#28
TheSteven
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/02 09:31:25 (permalink)
I wouldn't mind have 2 versions 0% and 60%.
If I had to go with only one I'd go with 0%.
The 100% is just too distracting for me.

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optimus
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Re: A Shiny New Theme: Gran Vista Black & Blue 2018/10/02 09:54:46 (permalink)
Canopus, Love the new theme, but have you noticed that on bounce to track, the progress window goes black with no indication of progress.
 
Cheers
 
 
 

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