SYNTH PANELS DESIGNER
USER MANUAL V. 1.5
(Mega Update)
Last update 16 January 2022
https://synthpanels.design
NOTE: This extension has a very big UI, you need at least 2 screens to work with
NOTE: Starting from SPD 1.5, you nedd Inkscape 1.2 (1.1 doesn’t works)
SYNTH PANELS DESIGNER (SPD) is a FREE and OPEN SOURCE software designed to assist in
the design of synthesizers panels, electronic musical instruments, guitar pedals, labs instruments and
for all those applications, hardware and software, that require the design of a UI.
NOTICE
Starting from SPD V. 1.5, the extension REQUIRE INKSCAPE 1.2* open source vector graphics
software for MacOS, Linux and Windows. You can download the latest version of Inkscape here
https://sndmt.link/inkscape
*From a chat with the Inkscape developers:
Inkscape 1.1 broke unit conversions and they are fixed in 1.2. See the inkex docs for help:
https://inkscape.gitlab.io/extensions/documentation/units.html
SPD is brought to you by FASELUNARE (https://sndmt.link/faselunare-website) a small Italian
company who designs and builds electronic musical instruments, synthesizers, modular
synthesizers and experimental designs.
FASELUNARE can help you to realize your idea, if you have a new instrument in mind but you don't
know how to make it, write to
[email protected], our team will be able to help you from the
schematics to the market.
SPD is also ponsored by SOUNDMIT - International Sound Summit (https://sndmt.link/soundmit)
the Italian Synths and Pedals EXPO. With over 11 years of experience and succesful events,
SOUNDMIT is the right place to promote your idea and business.
DOWNLOAD SPD
Download the latest version of SPD at this link https://synthpanels.design
INSTALL SPD
To install SPD extension, download and unpack the zip file.
Then copy all the content from “SynthPanelsDesigner-master” folder into a folder with named
SynthPanelsDesigner in the directory listed at Preferences > System: User extensions.
After a restart of Inkscape, the new extension will be available under the menu EXTENSIONS
RENDER -> Synth Panels Designer.
If the Synth Panel Designer item is greyed out in the menu, the folder structure is incorrect.
You have probably also copied the "SynthPanelsDesigner-master" folder.
NOTE: After copying the files, you must have this folder structure, otherwise it won't work.
EXTENSIONS (Inkascape’s extensions folder)
After copying the files, you need to restart Inkscape.
COLLABORATE
SPD is released under the AGPL3 Open Source license, you can also contribute to improve it.
Connect to our Gitlab at this link https://sndmt.link/spd-git and help us to improve SPD!
NOTE: If you find a bug in SPD or if you have a request for new functions, do not contact us through
social channels or email but OPEN AN ISSUE ON GITLAB, this is the only way to reach our team
about Synth Panels Designer issue and requests. Thank you!
NOTE: All products and brands are the property of their respective owners
INTERFACE
SPD is a single window application divided into thematic areas. Although the use is fairly intuitive, we
will try to explain in this manual all the sections that make up the application and how to use it.
NOTE: This extension has a very big UI, you need at least 2 screen to work with
SPD is made up of over 180 parameters that we invite you to explore (especially in the sections
dedicated to scales).
SECTION A
The ‘SECTION A’ it's a drop-down menu from which you can (and must) choose what you want to
draw with the extension, before anything else.
The options you have are
- PANEL (to draw a panel)
- KNOB (to draw a knob)
- KNOB SCALES (to draw the knob scale)
- SLIDER (to draw horizontal and vertical sliders)
- SLIDER SCALES (to draw the slider scale)
- JACKS (to draw thonki and jacks)
SECTION B
6 of these 7 tabs represent the objects that we can go to draw with SPD and reflect the items seen
previously at SECTION A:
- PANEL (to draw a panel)
- KNOB (to draw a knob)
- KNOB SCALES (to draw the knob scale)
- SLIDER (to draw horizontal and vertical sliders)
- SLIDER SCALES (to draw the slider scale)
- JACKS (to draw thonki and jacks)
SECTION C
SECTION C contains all the parameters on which we are going to work to design our UI.
SECTION C is different and unrelated to the other TABS.
LET'S START TO DESIGN A PANEL
At the first start, what we will see is the content of the first TAB, PANELS. As we said before, the first
thing to do before drawing an element is to select the corresponding item from the list in SECTION
A.
Assuming we want to draw a panel, we will then choose PANEL
Panel are composed by 4 elements (each created on a dedicated layer):
- The panel
- The holes
- The screws
- The center marks
PANEL OPTIONS
PREVIEW TIPS: In Inkscape, to see the effect produced by an extension, you have to check the
LIVE PREVIEW checkbox on the bottom left of SDP. As long as you don't press APPLY, you can
edit all the parameters and immediately see the result. After pressing APPLY, you can no longer
edit the panel (but you can edit it using Inkscape tools)
The PANEL is one of the easiest parts to draw with SPD but you need to know some fundamental
things to get a good result.
FORMATS and STANDARDS
SPD allows 'out of the box' to design different types of panels according to the most common
standards.
These are the standards supported at the moment:
- EURORACK 3U - SERGE
- EURORACK 1U - Intellijel - LOUDEST WARNING
- EURORACK 1U - Pulp Logic - FRACKRACK
- MOOG - API500
- DOTCOM - 19-INCH STANDARD
- BUCHLA - HAMMOND ENCLOSURE
- CUSTOM FORMAT
PANEL NAME
The panel name will be used as the name for the dedicated LAYER (everything designed by SPD has
a dedicated layer). Usually it is the name of the module.
PANEL COLOR
You can choose the color of your panel from here.
COLOR TIP: If you need to produce the panel for a real (non-software) instrument, make sure that
the company that will produce your panel has this color available.
PANEL DIMENSIONS
Each standard has specific rules, SPD knows these rules and applies them for you!
The panels in EURORACK format, for example, have the width expressed in HP (Horizontal Pitch),
each single HP corresponds according to the DOEPFER standards (the first to formalize this type of
format) to 5.08mm (all dimensions in FPD are expressed in millimeters)
Curious about the standards?
# Eurorack 3U Doepfer standard
http://www.doepfer.de/a100_man/a100m_e.htm
#Eurorack 1U Intellijel standard
https://intellijel.com/support/1u-technical-specifications
#Eurorack 1U Pulplogic standard
http://pulplogic.com/1u_tiles
#API500 500 module series specification
https://www.barryrudolph.com/recall/manuals/api_vpr_%20500_spec.pdf
#MOOG UNIT 5U
https://www.dsl-man.de/display/FRONTPANELS/5U+Format+specifications
#Loudest Warning standard
http://www.loudestwarning.co.uk/portfolio/4u-modular-specs
#Fracrack standard
https://www.paia.com/fracrak.asp
MOUNTING HOLES
FACT: All panels must have mounting holes! (Add holes)
As with the dimensions, the mounting holes must also be in the right place and the right size and each
standard has its own.
With SPD you can add regular and hoval hole (Oval Holes), some standards do not have the oval
variant of the holes while others, such as the EURORACK standard, can have a single hole or 2
holes based on the width (the Eurorack format has 2 pairs of holes from 11HP up).
If you are designing a panel to print it on paper and then apply it on the module, it will be convenient
for you to know where to make the mounting holes with precision, 'Mark Hole Center' chekbox
automatically marks the center of the holes.
SCREWS
Useful if you are designing a panel for SOFTWARE or if you are designing your synth and you need to
see how the screws would look good.
Add Screws checkbox, add the screws in the center of the panel holes. You can choose between
different types of screws and you can customize their color, border color and size.
UTILITIES - LASERCUT
In the UTILITIES section we have the Use Lasercut Design checkbox, this eliminates all the colors
and marks the edges of the panel, a useful function if your panel needs to be laser cut.
PANEL EXAMPLES
11HP EURORACK 4 PARTS BUCHLA
HAVEFUN, DESIGN KNOBS AND SLIDERS!
Remember: The first thing to do before drawing an element is: select the corresponding item from
the list in SECTION A. To view the element, check the Live Preview checkbox on the bottom left.
KNOB PARTS
Knobs are fun to draw!
Each knob is made up of 4 parts:
- Main
- Arrow
- Tick (can be dot or line)
- Skirt
- Vintage
Each part is created in a dedicated layer.
KNOB NAME
The knob name will be used as the name for the dedicated LAYER (everything designed by SPD has
a dedicated layer). Usually it is the name of the function (for example: Resonance, Cutoff, Volume).
Try to give each knob on the panel a unique name.
KNOB PARAMETERS
In this case the parameters are self explanatory, we advise you to do some experiments to understand
the relationships between the various parts that make up the knob.
SLIDER PARTS
Sliders are fun to draw (but knob are more fun)!
Each slider is made up of 3 parts:
- Coarse
- Cursor
- Tick
Each part is created in a dedicated layer.
SLIDER NAME
The slider name will be used as the name for the dedicated LAYER (everything designed by SPD has
a dedicated layer). Usually it is the name of the function (for example: Resonance, Cutoff, Volume).
Try to give each knob on the panel a unique name.
SLIDER PARAMETERS
In this case the parameters are self explanatory, we advise you to do some experiments to understand
the relationships between the various parts that make up the slider.
SLIDER DESIGN TIPS: Cursor can be Rectangle or Dot, the Dot version does not have the tick,
but you can have a Dot cursor’s tick with this little trick:
Set cursor to Rectangle, now set the cursor width and cursor height to the same dimension, let’s
say 5, now set the Round the cursor edges to the same dimension of height and width (5) and,
voilà: now you have a dot cursor with thick!
UNLEASHING THE GENIUS IN YOU, DESIGN THE SCALES OF THE KNOB!
Remember: The first thing to do before drawing an element is: select the corresponding item from
the list in SECTION A. To view the element, check the Live Preview checkbox on the bottom left.
Ok, this will seem complicated but in reality it is very simple even if there are many parameters
involved.
First of all, to draw a scale for the knob, you need to draw the knob first. If you don't need the
knob, you still have to draw at last one simple knob with only the Main Color, this is because SPD
needs a reference point to draw the scale which is the center of our Main Color, otherwise all the
pieces of our scale would end in cyberspace. To draw the knob scale you have to select the Main
Color before.
Select the knob Main Color
KNOB SCALE PARTS
A knob scale is composed by 5 parts (there are other parts that are UTILITIES but we will see them
later), the color can be changed on each part
- The Arc
- The Outer Arc
- The Ticks
- The Sub Ticks
- The Labels
- The Layer (new in 1.5)
THE ARC and OUTER ARC
Arc is the main part of the scale, its size is determined by the Scale Radius parameter which is
calculated from the center of the knob’s Main Color. For example, if our Knob has an 8mm radius, the
Arc, which must be larger, will have a 10mm Scale Radius. This means that the Arc is drawn at 2mm
of distance from the knob.
The Outer Arc, as you can easily imagine, it is an additional arc designed outside the main arc. Its
size is given by the Arc Offset parameter which sets the radius of the Outer Arc to Scale Radius +
Outer arc offset. Outer arc offset can be a negative value. Negative value set the Outer Arc inside
the main Arc.
Arc line width set the arcs tickness and is equal for Arc and Outer Arc.
Angle sets the angle of the scale while Rotation moves the starting point at which the first tick of the
scale is drawn. 90% of the arcs that you can see on UI are sets to 270 degree with 0 rotation.
To better understand the conept of Angle and Rotation, try some parameters combinations, for
examples: Angle 180 and Rotation 0, Angle 270 and Rotation 45, Angle 15 and Rotation 90.
Arc angle offset and Outer arc angle offset can change the scale Angle in relation to the Angle
parameter. This allows you to have arches with different angles, useful for creating unusual scales.
KNOB SCALE TICKS
Ticks are the main indicators that are distributed along the extension of the main Arc.
Inner ticks parameter, apply a negative offset to the ticks bringing them inside the Arc.
Ticks can be lines (marks) or dots.
The number of ticks defines the quantity of ticks. For example, if I have a scale that goes from 0 to
10, I will have to place 11 ticks on the Arc.
When ticks are Marks type, their length is defined by the Tick Start Lenghts/radius and Tick end
lenght (new) parameter. When the ticks are Dot type, Tick Lenghts/radius parameter define the
dot’s radius.
NEW in 1.5 the so-called Nautilus Mode. You can set Start Tick Lenght and End Tick Lenght
to create a scale that grows progressively
Ticks width parameter define the Marks tickness.
Accent every x ticks add the Accent lenght value to the Tick lenght parameters, this results in ticks
of different lenghts.
To better understand the concept of Accent, try to set:
Number of ticks: 11, Ticks lenght: 1, Ticks width 0.2, Accent every 2 ticks, Accent lenght 0.3, Accent
width to 0.4. Play with the last 3 parameters on this list and see what happen to the scale.
Tick offset parameter change the ticks starting point relative to the Arc.
NEW in 1.5 THE TICK DOTS
Now It is now possible to add single or multiple dots at the end of
the Ticks. By playing with the various parameters in positive and
negative, it is possible to create complex compositions.
KNOB SCALE SUB TICKS
Scale Sub Ticks are very similar to ticks, the main difference is the position of the Sub ticks, in fact
the number of Sub Ticks represents the quantity of Sub Ticks between one tick and another.
Sub Ticks can also be Mark or Dot type.
KNOB SCALE LABELS
The Labels are the salt of the scales.
The Labels can be numerical, or custom words.
Star value and End value define the range of your numerical scale.
The values can be positive, negative, integers or floats and are automatically positioned according
to the number of ticks. You can choose to reverse the order with the Reverse Order parameter.
To use “Custom Words” you need to enter a comma separated list of words in the custom text fields.
NOTE: To use custom words, the number of ticks and words MUST be the same (otherwise you will
continue to see the numbers)
You can choose the color and size of the font and also the offset, i.e. how far they must go from the
end of the relative tick.
Finally you can insert text after the number (e.g. db,%, Hz)
Add “+” Signs to positive numebrs
we added the ability to add a '+' sign in front of positive numbers
NEW in 1.5 KNOB SCALE UTILITIES AND LAYERS
NOTE: this is valid also for the SLIDERS and JACKS!!
LAYERS!! Recently I worked on a complex project for a large
panel, I found myself with some difficulties that I tried to
compensate by creating new layers. Now, for each scale we add
a layer dedicated to the CENTERING CIRCLES, one dedicated
to the DRILL PLANE (to send the panel into production) and one
(the PCB PLAN) for the electronic component's position on the
PCB. This makes it easier to work by activating and deactivating
only the layers we need.
KNOB SCALES EXAMPLES
WE HAVE ALMOST FINISHED: SCALES ON THE SLIDERS
First of all, to draw a scale for the slider, you need to draw the slider first. If you don't need the
slider, you still have to draw and remove later, this is because SPD needs a reference point to draw
the scale which is the Coarse of our slider, otherwise all the pieces of our scale would end in
microcosmos. To draw the slider scale you have to select the Coarse before.
The scales of the sliders are very similar to those of the Knobs, they also have Ticks and Sub Ticks
but they obviously have differences and we are going to talk about these differences now.
SLIDER SCALE PARTS
SLIDER SCALE POSITION
SPD is able to independently understand if you have selected a vertical or horizontal slider. In the case
of a horizontal slider, the scale can be positioned above, below or on both sides. In the case of a
vertical slider, to the right, to the left or both.
Depending on what you have chosen, you will need to adjust the horizontal offsets and vertical
offsets that move the scale closer or further away from your slider.
SLIDER SCALE TICKS AND SUBTICKS
Ticks and Sub TIcks are concepts that we have already seen for the knobs, the difference here is that
we can also set a Ticks start lenght, Tick end lenght, TIcks start size and Ticks end sizes in order
to create shaded scales or narrow to wide scales.
SLIDER SCALE LABELS
Labels are the same as knobs with additional offset and fine positioning which help in positioning
the text relative to ticks if needed.
SLIDER SCALE UTILITES
Same as KNOB SCALES UTILITIES
Slider scale’s layer are created on top of the Slider layer, you have to lower the scale’s layer after
confirming with Apply button.
SLIDER SCALES EXAMPLES
NEW in 1.5 SLIDER SCALE UTILITIES AND LAYERS
NOTE: this is valid also for the KNOBS and JACKS!!
ADD JACKS AND THONKI
Thanks to the contribution of GaryA, we have the possibility to insert also the jacks in different sizes
and colors. GaryA added also the POSITION parameters for KNOBS, SLIDERS and JACKS
JACK NAME
The jack name will be used as the name for the dedicated LAYER (everything designed by SPD has a
dedicated layer). Usually it is the name of the function (for example: Trigger In, Main Out, Gate).
Try to give each jack on the panel a unique name.
JACK PARAMETERS
In this case the parameters are self explanatory, we advise you to do some experiments to understand
the relationships between the various parts that make up the jack.
NEW in 1.5 JACK SCALE UTILITIES AND LAYERS
NOTE: this is valid also for the SLIDERS and KNOBS!!
