News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

January 30, 2008

software

xScope out interface components

Posted Jan. 30, ’08, 2:00 PM PT by Dan Pourhadi
Category | Software

xscope1.jpgI once took a whack at designing a user-interface for a comically-simple Java app I was developing for a programming class. I was using Apple’s Interface Builder, which conveniently provides rulers and guides for aligning and positioning various interface components — buttons, text boxes, etc. Of course, my comically-simple program turned into a comically-embarassing visual disaster, a disproportional Frankenstein of a Java app eagerly accepted by the like-looking members of the True Freaks Union.

My flaw was my interface ignorance, and my sheer inability to visualize and construct a design that doesn’t qualify as screenshot-retardant. So xScope 2.0, an updated interface-analyzing tool from the graphical masters at The Iconfactory, won’t really help me overcome my style-stupidity. But I can imagine a large group of developers — application, web, etc. — who will find its many measurement features to be a godsend.

xScope helps designers figure length, width, color, shape, real estate, etc., of virtually any interface element. The biggest new feature of version 2.0 is the new Dimensions tool:

This simple tool is like laser tape measure for the screen that projects a beam out from your cursor to instantly find the edges of images, margins and blocks of text. The days of taking screen grabs, opening them and measuring them by hand are over.

xScope costs $27 — or $10 upgrade for 1.0 users — and can be downloaded from The Iconfactory’s website. Also check out the screen cast for the Dimensions tool if you’re curious about how it exactly works.


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