sigh...

[xollner]

Is there any way to get rid of the black background of the lifebars? or do I have to use a solid image to cover it? because I finally made a gameplay screen that i liked and the stupid lifebar background is screwing it all up... This is my first stepmania theme attempt btw :D

[tweak]

From what AJ told me, not in 3.9.

[k//eternal]

If you're going to make the lifebar that thin, you should specify that in the metrics. Then the black area you have to work with is that much smaller.

[xollner]

Thanks for the tip k//eternal, im new to this so any pointers can help.

Making it thinner works but its not really what i wanted, so either I be lazy and keep it like this:

(wich looks acceptable but not the best imo..)

OR I go back into photoshop and edit the lifebar frame (get rid of the white add more transparent detail) and the lifebar (make it white to cover the black) and make the life normal and hot colours light blue and red.

edit: and if anyone can tell me how to get rid of the blocking forward kind of effect on the life that would help, I just want it to scroll smoothly.

[k//eternal]

Design choices are up to you, it's your theme. I think that looks reasonable as is, but when it comes to making the theme you want, only trust your own judgment.

As for smooth scrolling, you want...

[LifeMeterBar]
NumChambers=1
NumStrips=1

[xollner]

Seeing as you have already answered my other questions here's another: How do you make fonts and numbers? My method of setting a grid up in photoshop and hand placing letters and numbers is failing (speed and accuracy, (1 pixel off can screw everything up D:, (I'm picky like that with one letter being lower than another.)))(wow triple bracket). What's a better and hopefully faster way?

and while I'm at it which font is the default music wheel font (song name, artist, subtitle), and where do i change its zoom settings (if it has any)?

[Ridge]

IIRC, use Bitmap Font Builder (i think that's the name of the program)

[xjen0vax]

IIRC, use Bitmap Font Builder (i think that's the name of the program)

It's a little more involved than JUST this, but yes this is the base tool you use to create a font file for Stepmania.

Numbers, on the other hand, require more work, IIRC.

[freem]

A guide to making fonts is here:
http://kki.ajworld.net/wiki/Tutorial:Fonts

While I'm at it which font is the default music wheel font (song name, artist, subtitle), and where do i change its zoom settings (if it has any)?

I believe the font's called TextBanner. As such, look for [TextBanner] in the default metrics to see what you can do with it.

[shakesoda]

Texture Font Generator > Bitmap Font Builder.