Who else hates the aliasing on the emoticons?

[AtmaWeapon]

Ever since the upgrade of the forums we've been using a new set of emoticons. Now, each icon is a transparent GIF image so that the round appearance of the emoticons is preserved*.

However, anyone who has dealt with making transparent GIFs using high-end graphics tools has at some point encountered a problem with antialiasing a transparent GIF. Most programs let you set some background color as the transparency key, but when the anti-aliasing is generated it is calculated using that image. Thus, transparent GIFs antialiased against a light background display a "halo" against dark backgrounds and GIFs antialiased against a dark background display a dark halo against light backgrounds. PNGA solves these problems but is not universally supported (yet).

Now, the older batch of emoticons used a simple color scheme and had no antialiasing so they looked great against any background (for example, :evil: ). However, at some point the powers that be decided that emoticons needed a 3d look because kids just can't relate to the older, flat emoticons. With this 3d treatment came antialiasing. The antialiasing was done against a light background and displays an ugly "fringe" around the emoticons. For those of you burning your retinas out with the white theme, observe (http://www.atmaweapon.org/files/AGN/icons/originalcrap.png).

I've griped to myself about this from the beginning and I always meant to fix it, but I thought surely someone else would be less lazy than I and do it. That hasn't happened and I was bored today, so for at least the emoticons in the post box I have fixed them. Here's a comparison chart (http://www.atmaweapon.org/files/AGN/icons/example.html) of the old and the new. Could we please update the emoticons to look less like an 8-year old's Geocities page?





*Grammar nerds: Yes, "is" is the proper tense agreement, not "are". "Is" is performing the function of linking verb and is connecting "appearance" to "preserved". "emoticons" is in a prepositional phrase and therefore should be removed from the sentence when considering tense agreements.

[AtmaWeapon]

Ever since the upgrade of the forums we've been using a new set of emoticons. Now, each icon is a transparent GIF image so that the round appearance of the emoticons is preserved*.

However, anyone who has dealt with making transparent GIFs using high-end graphics tools has at some point encountered a problem with antialiasing a transparent GIF. Most programs let you set some background color as the transparency key, but when the anti-aliasing is generated it is calculated using that image. Thus, transparent GIFs antialiased against a light background display a "halo" against dark backgrounds and GIFs antialiased against a dark background display a dark halo against light backgrounds. PNGA solves these problems but is not universally supported (yet).

Now, the older batch of emoticons used a simple color scheme and had no antialiasing so they looked great against any background (for example, :evil: ). However, at some point the powers that be decided that emoticons needed a 3d look because kids just can't relate to the older, flat emoticons. With this 3d treatment came antialiasing. The antialiasing was done against a light background and displays an ugly "fringe" around the emoticons. For those of you burning your retinas out with the white theme, observe (http://www.atmaweapon.org/files/AGN/icons/originalcrap.png).

I've griped to myself about this from the beginning and I always meant to fix it, but I thought surely someone else would be less lazy than I and do it. That hasn't happened and I was bored today, so for at least the emoticons in the post box I have fixed them. Here's a comparison chart (http://www.atmaweapon.org/files/AGN/icons/example.html) of the old and the new. Could we please update the emoticons to look less like an 8-year old's Geocities page?





*Grammar nerds: Yes, "is" is the proper tense agreement, not "are". "Is" is performing the function of linking verb and is connecting "appearance" to "preserved". "emoticons" is in a prepositional phrase and therefore should be removed from the sentence when considering tense agreements.

[theplustwo]

In response to the question you posed in the thread title: Me (http://www.armageddongames.net/showthread.php?t=83465).

[theplustwo]

In response to the question you posed in the thread title: Me (http://www.armageddongames.net/showthread.php?t=83465).

[gdorf]

...great against any background (for example, :evil:). However, at some point the powers...
thats ironic, in a thread complaining about emoticons.


As a dark theme user, I wholeheartedly agree with you and hope the new emotes are put into place. Or even better, just give us the old ones again, they had more character anyway. :shrug:

[gdorf]

...great against any background (for example, :evil:). However, at some point the powers...
thats ironic, in a thread complaining about emoticons.


As a dark theme user, I wholeheartedly agree with you and hope the new emotes are put into place. Or even better, just give us the old ones again, they had more character anyway. :shrug:

[Daarkseid]

Emoticons are entirely frivilous and not worth the bother.

[Daarkseid]

Emoticons are entirely frivilous and not worth the bother.

[Cloral]

Most are, but I've always liked the :shrug: gdorf used in his post. Thankfully that one still has the old look, as I too am a dark theme user. It was the theme in place when I joined, so it says AGN to me.

Besides, if we're going to have them as a feature, we might as well implement them properly.

[Cloral]

Most are, but I've always liked the :shrug: gdorf used in his post. Thankfully that one still has the old look, as I too am a dark theme user. It was the theme in place when I joined, so it says AGN to me.

Besides, if we're going to have them as a feature, we might as well implement them properly.

[Sephiroth]

http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_shrug.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_whap.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_frown.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_evil.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

I have gotten these from the PZC smilie pack which is originally from phpbb2. :D

[Sephiroth]

http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_shrug.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_whap.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_frown.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_evil.gif http://www.zcworld.net/forums/html/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

I have gotten these from the PZC smilie pack which is originally from phpbb2. :D

[carrot red]

I agree with theplustwo. Though I rarely use smileys myself, I was more inclined to use them when we had the older set. The new ones are plain ugly.

[carrot red]

I agree with theplustwo. Though I rarely use smileys myself, I was more inclined to use them when we had the older set. The new ones are plain ugly.

[vegeta1215]

They don't really bother me :shrug:

[vegeta1215]

They don't really bother me :shrug:

[deathbyhokie]

I agree with theplustwo. Though I rarely use smileys myself, I was more inclined to use them when we had the older set. The new ones are plain ugly.

not ot mention the pirate one is broken :pirate: :(

[deathbyhokie]

I agree with theplustwo. Though I rarely use smileys myself, I was more inclined to use them when we had the older set. The new ones are plain ugly.

not ot mention the pirate one is broken :pirate: :(

[Master Ghaleon]

not ot mention the pirate one is broken :pirate: :(

yes, at least fix the ones that are broken

[Master Ghaleon]

not ot mention the pirate one is broken :pirate: :(

yes, at least fix the ones that are broken

[Breaker]

I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.

[Breaker]

I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.

[AlexMax]

I made a mention of this in chat a few days ago, but promptly forgot about it. That always bugged me as well.


I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.

Oh you http://img257.echo.cx/img257/1580/livestock011404whore0gd.gif

[AlexMax]

I made a mention of this in chat a few days ago, but promptly forgot about it. That always bugged me as well.


I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.

Oh you http://img257.echo.cx/img257/1580/livestock011404whore0gd.gif

[AtmaWeapon]

thats ironic, in a thread complaining about emoticons.


Nice catch, gdorf. I proofread but not closely and my mind was like "emoticon is supposed to be there, everything is OK!" when I hit that part.



I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.Oh hi Breaker I just made a post about you in NMF :). Would you like to join my little clique? Our motto is "Be careful or be banned" and we don't take no guff from squares!

Of course if you like the lacy emoticons feel free to keep using them. It's not like I don't have ways to use whatever emoticons I please, you big QT http://www.atmaweapon.org/images/emot/laugh.gif

[AtmaWeapon]

thats ironic, in a thread complaining about emoticons.


Nice catch, gdorf. I proofread but not closely and my mind was like "emoticon is supposed to be there, everything is OK!" when I hit that part.



I especially miss my favorite, the :whiningjews: emoticon, that looked suspiciously like theplustwo and atmaweapon walking into a gas chamber.Oh hi Breaker I just made a post about you in NMF :). Would you like to join my little clique? Our motto is "Be careful or be banned" and we don't take no guff from squares!

Of course if you like the lacy emoticons feel free to keep using them. It's not like I don't have ways to use whatever emoticons I please, you big QT http://www.atmaweapon.org/images/emot/laugh.gif

[Shadowblazer]

Crappy smilies replaced. Thanks, Atma.

[Shadowblazer]

Crappy smilies replaced. Thanks, Atma.

[AtmaWeapon]

i lubu SB :) You'll always be my Daddyblazer.

[AtmaWeapon]

i lubu SB :) You'll always be my Daddyblazer.

[Shadowblazer]

Oh that reminds me, I was going to change my avatar!

[Shadowblazer]

Oh that reminds me, I was going to change my avatar!