Thanks for the comments folks. I prefer the outline version myself, and not just because I know what I'm going to type in below!
I've actually been working on this (going through every screen) but hit a big problem with it last night, so this is the latest mockup of just the Loco control screen. It's based on a really cool controller I get to use at work. It's been doctored from the white outline one previously posted (couldn't post a new one... that big problem).
I've done a 2px wide outline and a 1px wide outline mockup to see the difference. I like the 2px version better.
2px wide outlines
1px wide outlines
Now, here's the thing about how this would all work.
Turning a whole button green (like the front light in the previous mockups) is not going to happen unless we want to give up a lot more space. To turn a whole button green, or any other colour for that matter would require a duplicate button in the colour you want an active button to be. There are currently 73 buttons you can assign to functions so that would make 146 buttons would be required; and no RP doesn't support Alpha channels as far as I know.
Turning the button outline green as in this posts mockups should be doable but may be a programming PITA. This would require 4 extra images (top, right, bottom and left of the outline) and these would simply be overlayed over the blue outline. This is how the current method of indicating an active button works with that little green dot.
The little green dot could also stay, and would be the easiest (and the green dot is more visible on the dark grey than the dark blue). A red dot could also be part of the button and the green dot simply overlays it.
In the mockups, I moved some of the buttons to what I think are better positions however the position of buttons on the controller as of today probably won't change.
I really think this UI makes for a much more modern and pleasing look to the controller, and I'll keep working on it so I can take it to Tim Ring. If anyone has other comments I'd like to hear them.
- Tim