Built a handy block today, wondering if it's worth packaging up
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Howdy people,
Today I hacked together a custom block to solve a particular problem I was having on a site. A client wanted to be able to pick a series of images to create a banner, but because the images were all different sizes, there wasn't really a nice way to set it up.
Normally you would use an image editor to create full banners, but it thought it might work if I created a block where you could specify the width and height of the banner, pick some images and have automatically resize and crop them.
This has worked out pretty well and I've attached a screenshot of it in action.
(I really just picked 5 random images from the file manager and that was it)
I've attached a screenshot of the block editing interface. It's pretty rough, but it does the job for now. It would need some work for 5.5.
So I'm just wondering, would anyone else find this useful if I packaged it up for the marketplace? I'd release it for free, but I'd really only do it if someone thought it would be useful.
For development, I've just called it 'Image Banner', but I'm open to suggestions.
Cheers
-Ryan
Today I hacked together a custom block to solve a particular problem I was having on a site. A client wanted to be able to pick a series of images to create a banner, but because the images were all different sizes, there wasn't really a nice way to set it up.
Normally you would use an image editor to create full banners, but it thought it might work if I created a block where you could specify the width and height of the banner, pick some images and have automatically resize and crop them.
This has worked out pretty well and I've attached a screenshot of it in action.
(I really just picked 5 random images from the file manager and that was it)
I've attached a screenshot of the block editing interface. It's pretty rough, but it does the job for now. It would need some work for 5.5.
So I'm just wondering, would anyone else find this useful if I packaged it up for the marketplace? I'd release it for free, but I'd really only do it if someone thought it would be useful.
For development, I've just called it 'Image Banner', but I'm open to suggestions.
Cheers
-Ryan
Ryan,
I could see needing this!
- John
I could see needing this!
- John
I totally agree, that block would definitely come in handy.
Looking forward to seeing it in the market place
Looking forward to seeing it in the market place
Thanks guys, that's all the encouragement I need, appreciate the feedback.
I'll package it up soon, I might put it up on github too.
I'll package it up soon, I might put it up on github too.
That would be a great free add-on. What I wonder is can a gallery module be developed from this, kind of like simple-viewer, where each image is full screen and the user can scroll through them? I'd pay for a module like that.
I'm not 100% sure of what you are envisaging, but I'd say it wouldn't be too hard. It's pretty straightforward to take something that outputs thumbnails and add in the links that allow the image to be enlarged in a lightbox.
It all comes down to specific needs though. I'm just going to work on this initial block first, but I'm happy to talk to you about creating a custom version down the track.
It all comes down to specific needs though. I'm just going to work on this initial block first, but I'm happy to talk to you about creating a custom version down the track.
Hey Mesuva,
I forgot to Monitor this post. The gallery that I have in mind would be like the one on this photographer's websitehttp://www.aspectphotography.net... but this one is flash based. I really like the way that the other images are visible to the left & right of the one selected. If something like this was to become available in the MP I'd definitely buy it.
I forgot to Monitor this post. The gallery that I have in mind would be like the one on this photographer's websitehttp://www.aspectphotography.net... but this one is flash based. I really like the way that the other images are visible to the left & right of the one selected. If something like this was to become available in the MP I'd definitely buy it.
Hi Stephen,
I think your example is a bit far away from the block I've submitted to the marketplace - mine is a bit more to do with static images, while this is more of a slideshow.
I like the effect though, and I'm often creating custom slideshows, so I'll keep it in mind.
I think your example is a bit far away from the block I've submitted to the marketplace - mine is a bit more to do with static images, while this is more of a slideshow.
I like the effect though, and I'm often creating custom slideshows, so I'll keep it in mind.
Yeah thats cool. The more I thought about it, the more I saw that. Keep me at the back of your head though whenever you are developing a custom gallery for one of your own clients. I'm always on the look out for new blocks so shoot me a PM if it's something that you think I might be interesting in buying a license from you for.
Oh, by the way, love your C5 Cheat Sheet from your blog. Have worked the checklist into my own workflow here.
Oh, by the way, love your C5 Cheat Sheet from your blog. Have worked the checklist into my own workflow here.
For anyone following this, I've submitted this package to the marketplace today, so it should be available pretty soon. If anyone desperately needs it, just PM me.
I'm pretty happy with it, I think it's going to be really handy. It's accidentally become an easy cropping tool for single images as well.
I'm pretty happy with it, I think it's going to be really handy. It's accidentally become an easy cropping tool for single images as well.
Sweet stuff! i've looking forward to it! how about adding a field where u can add how many row u like. like if u only like 2 pictures?:)
/Mike
/Mike
Well you can add as many images as you like horizontally.
And if you want multiple rows, you just add another block. :-)
Hopefully should be approved soon.
And if you want multiple rows, you just add another block. :-)
Hopefully should be approved soon.
SWEET!!!!!!! Your the man mesuva! awesome addon! i will check it out right away and rate it:-)
Thx again for this free addon!
/Mike
Thx again for this free addon!
/Mike
Yes. That is great... and for free too. What a plus!
I've seen a few posts where people are asking for something like this. Some people don't know how to resize images or their images are just weird sizes and this would solve all their problems.
It's really quite nice how it displays them too. One more free add-on for the marketplace is always a welcome sight and another bump to those 'add-on prices trolls'. ;)
Nicely done sir! Looking forward to it!