[Semi-OT]: Tips and tricks for the Image List

[Peter2]

I tried to add icons to the Image List of a Tree-control. There is no problem to make it, but it looks ugly like hell - my fault, I'm no designer and no illustrator.

Question:
Are there tips and tricks and hints and workflow for a low-level-illustrator to create images with an acceptable quality, based  on screenshots?

E.g. I want to make an image for my tree-control, based on a screenshot


What's the best way?

Thanks in advance


EDIT:
Is there an "import of blockicons" from a drawing?

[owenwengerd]

I'm no image list expert, but I can tell you that all images you put in the image list must be precisely the correct size. It will deduce the image size based on the first image you add. Additional images must be exactly the same size, or you'll get strange results.

[Fred Tomke]

Hi, Peter2,

That won't work because all the OpenDCL controls only use images from the project's imagelist or the control's image list (tree, grid, listview).
The only control that supports image files is the PictureBox.
For the case you want to ignore the DWGList and the BlockList control, I recommend you to build an .NET dll component providing a lisp function to generate block preview images and export them to a cache folder. I used such a component for a preview of larger imagefiles in an OpenDCL form.
But I'm afraid you won't have a chance to show the thumbnail in a tree at runtime.

Here is a link to Keans sample.
http://through-the-interface.typepad.com/through_the_interface/2011/11/generating-preview-images-for-all-blocks-in-an-autocad-drawing-using-net.html

Regards, Fred

[Peter2]

...only use images from the project's imagelist or the control's image list (tree, grid, listview)...

This brings us back to the starting question:
Any workflow to create quick 16x16 icons without Photoshop, GIMP, Iconeditor and so on?

[Fred Tomke]

Yes, there is: click on the link of my last post :)
Fred

[Peter2]

..Question:
Are there tips and tricks and hints and workflow for a low-level-illustrator to create images with an acceptable quality, based  on screenshots?...

I found a great web service which creates icons in different size from an uploaded image:
http://www.generateit.net