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Old 08-09-2022, 08:57 AM   #1
dfuent1321
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Default How can I remove the 3D shading from MIDI notes?

Is there a way to remove the 3D shading from MIDI notes? I'd love to have the option to get back to a plain old flat rectangle, but can't figure out how.
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Old 08-09-2022, 11:20 AM   #2
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What is 3d shading?
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Old 08-09-2022, 12:06 PM   #3
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Can you share a screenshot?

The two things I can think of are:

1) If the note colors in your color map have a vertical gradient, it can give the perception of 3-D. A color map without gradients might be what you want (unless that's what you're already using).

https://reaper-midi-colormap-tool.netlify.app/

2) I think there's an option somewhere to outline each note with a rectangle. I can't recall if the outline color is configurable, but it seems like it should be. I'm pretty sure my notes are outlines in black. (Sorry, I'm not at my Reaper PC to investigate further.)
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Old 08-09-2022, 04:01 PM   #4
dfuent1321
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Default Thanks, Ernie.

I have looked through posts on color mapping. Totally lost. Well, at least 89% lost. Even the link you sent assumes a great deal of prior knowledge. But thanks for including it! I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure it out after looking at others today. Still lost.
If you happen to know of a colormap that does not include 3D shading, could you post a link? I'll use it.
I'm including a graphic file of what I'm after. It's likely too retro for anyone to want nowadays. But for the project I'm working on (which includes some screen shots of MIDI notation) it's better than the suave 3D shading.

https://figuringoutmelody.com/wp-content/uploads/midi-notes-shading.png
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Old 08-09-2022, 11:50 PM   #5
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Yeah, looks like it's color map fault. I believe the default theme's color map doesn't have this shading, but here you go:

https://stash.reaper.fm/v/39179/midi_note_colormap.png
https://stash.reaper.fm/v/39165/midi_note_colormap.png
https://stash.reaper.fm/v/28285/midi_note_colormap.png
https://stash.reaper.fm/v/21749/midi_note_colormap.png
https://stash.reaper.fm/v/21748/midi_note_colormap.png
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Old 08-10-2022, 02:16 AM   #6
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Hey! I didn’t recognize your forum name until I saw the link. I have your FOM book. I love it.

Hopefully the color maps vitalker posted will help.

In addition to the color, I *think* the black rectangular outline around each note is configurable. I’ll check when I get home tonight.
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Last edited by lunker; 08-10-2022 at 05:10 AM.
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Old 08-10-2022, 07:18 AM   #7
dfuent1321
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Thanks, Vitalker, for the links to color maps. Unfortunately, none of them produced unshaded MIDI notes. Except that when I chose to color notes by something other than track or item, then selected a note, the highlighted MIDI note had no shading. Then when I switched back to color by track or item, the highlighted notes did have shading. Maybe that's a clue?

And Eric, I'm so glad you find Figuring Out Melody helpful! Thanks for making my day! My request for unshaded MIDI notes is to make a few graphics for FOM 2.0, which is taking forever. It won't make FOM 1.0 obsolete. It just expands it. (So you can urge your friends to get the current version.)

If you have ideas about getting the look I'm after, great. By the way, I can't figure out how or where to control the color of the highlight or border of the MIDI notes. Seems that that option is now gone?

all best,
David
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Old 08-11-2022, 05:35 PM   #8
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I'm looking forward to FOM 2.0!

I'm not sure if it's much use at this point, but I said I would look into the note border. It is part of the color map, as explained in step #1 of the image at the bottom of the color map generator page:

https://reaper-midi-colormap-tool.netlify.app/

I also see that the border is one of the options on the color map generator page. (I've never used the color map generator before -- I guess it was developed after I painstakingly created by color map by hand in GIMP.)

The border may or may not contribute you your sense of 3D notes, so changing the border may or may not help.


Also, I saw in the theme tweaker that there is a default flat note color that gets over-ridden by the color map. I suppose if you stopped using a color map, you could use the default color.

You can run Reaper's theme tweaker by going to:

Actions > Show action list ... > Theme development: Show theme tweak/configuration window

(once you open the action list, type "theme tweak" into the filter box at the top to find the action)

You can set which color map to use by editing the path on this dialog box:

Preferences > Editing behavior > MIDI Editor
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Last edited by lunker; 08-11-2022 at 05:45 PM.
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Old 08-11-2022, 10:30 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lunker View Post
I'm not sure if it's much use at this point, but I said I would look into the note border. It is part of the color map, as explained in step #1 of the image at the bottom of the color map generator page:

https://reaper-midi-colormap-tool.netlify.app/
Looks promising!

Quote:
Originally Posted by lunker View Post
Also, I saw in the theme tweaker that there is a default flat note color that gets over-ridden by the color map. I suppose if you stopped using a color map, you could use the default color.
Remember that most of themes have color maps included, so it may be theme fault. I'd suggest the OP to try different themes starting with built-in ones.
Color map has to be removed from the theme archive to be overridden.
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Old 08-12-2022, 11:04 AM   #10
dfuent1321
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Thanks, guys.
Reaper is immensely customizable, except for the few things we try to adjust but can't. This may be possible, but I've spent too much time for what it's worth. And now I've sucked you into the vortex, as well.
Know that I deeply appreciate your ideas and kind attention.
All best,
David
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Old 08-12-2022, 12:02 PM   #11
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Did you try other themes? Default ones?
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Old 08-12-2022, 01:02 PM   #12
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No. I have a lot of things set exactly how I like them, and I've had trouble getting themes saved correctly in the past.
-df
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Old 08-12-2022, 01:13 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dfuent1321 View Post
No. I have a lot of things set exactly how I like them, and I've had trouble getting themes saved correctly in the past.
-df
Actually if you choose color map in Options, it will override the one from theme.
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Old 08-12-2022, 01:34 PM   #14
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There is no colormap tab in my options menu. I can change the theme, which is what screws everything up unless I dig out my instructions for saving an entire theme, which involves changing some file display settings on my computer and a few other things I can't remember. I haven't had a lot of success here in the past.
Thanks again, though!
David
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Old 08-12-2022, 01:45 PM   #15
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Sorry, I meant Options->Preferences->MIDI editor tab. You'll find input box on the bottom.
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