Creating artwork online

[warthogweb]

I have a client who sells eight-panel umbrellas and would like visitors to be able to design their own umbrellas online by allocating colours to any of the eight panels from supplied swatches.

Any ideas on how to do this on a web page anyone??

Martin

[1840dsgn]

I imagine a flash application, or a java applet.

How you'd go about it...not a clue!

[warthogweb]

The images only have to be simple line drawings but there are too many combinations to create individual samples (27 swatches). Home decor software adds paints/fabrics to household things but I have never seen this technique in real time online.

[1840dsgn]

So you mean like a sort of paint application online where users can fill the drawings with the colours they want?

[warthogweb]

Yes, quite simple.
The only thing that occurs at the moment is somehow to use the javascript/css background change routine but I am not even sure how I would implement that.

[pa007]

I think you'd be best doing this in flash. It would probably open up your options a bit. Post in the flash forum someone will be able to get you started over there, I don't think it's gonna be simple though.

Pete.

[1840dsgn]

Yea flash seems the way to go, you could also look into doing it in java but you might be a bit restricted with what you can achieve.

Java is different to javascript by the way, just to make sure your aware of that.

[karinne]

Moving thread to Flash & Multimedia forum.

[Sgaspar11]

Indeed flash is a good way of making a visual representation of what you want.

Where it gets tricky will be sending that data to an email address to record the specs for the umbrella...it is definately doable - but will take some thinking and some decent understanding of flash/php.

So, to get you started in creating the user interface please check out this:

For the umbrella....

http://www.kirupa.com/developer/acti...t/dragdrop.htm

For sending it to an email...

Post again with any questions, combining the two of these will take some thinking...

http://www.kirupa.com/developer/acti..._php_email.htm

Cheers,

Scott

[pa007]

At a guess you are allowing the user to colour each individual segment of the umbrella unless there is more to it. If this is the case could you not assign an id number to each segment and somehow log the colour, then pass the info to a db or an email script to process.

The data would be logged:
1 - red
2 - blue
3 - green
...

If you're allowing them to actually draw their own graphics or use their own photos then a similar system would be used but the implementation would be far more complex. Or so I guess.

Just some thoughts,

Pete.

[Sgaspar11]

Yep, it's just a matter of combining the two links above to work. You are on the right track Pete. Just assign each part of the Umbrella a name using Actionscript, and depending on what color is used on the specific part of the umbrella set that to the color name. (i.e. part1 = green)

Then send it on using some php or asp and voila!

Again, this is assuming the colors are all pre-determined.

[warthogweb]

Thanks for all the help folks.

Each panel can be allocated an id and coloured from a swatch. The finished picture does not need to be emailed at this point. A simple diagram with completed panels with associated swatch numbers could be faxed to the umbrella manufacturer, reassembled as a simple graphic, emailed to the customer to check it is correct and then manufactured.

I'm not a Flash expert and would appreciate a starting point resource?

Thanks again,

Martin

[Sgaspar11]

Check out the Resources For Learning Flash link at the top of the Flash forums, and the two links I gave you above are two tutorials to accomplish what you are wanting to do.