ELECTRONIC PALETTE APPARATUS AND METHODS
An electronic design system and corresponding methods are disclosed. The electronic design system may include a computing device that allows for users to associate material swatches to material boards where a user can manage and sort the material swatches. The computing device allows a user to search for materials based on user input or pre-configured filters. The computing device also allows for the automatic ordering of samples of materials associated with the material swatches, such as to a supplier of the material, and may automatically associate the ordered material with a representative of the supplier. The electronic design system may also allow users to share material boards across various user accounts. In some examples, the electronic design system includes a swatch presentation device that provides data to the computing device. The computing device may determine material data for a material associated with the swatch presentation device.
1 . A apparatus comprising:
a communications unit;
a memory device storing instructions; and
at least one processor operatively coupled to the communications unit and the memory device, wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
generate for display a plurality of material swatch images, wherein each material swatch image is associated with a material;
receive a first input identifying a selection of at least one material swatch image of the plurality of material swatch images;
associate the at least one material swatch image with a material board based on receiving the first input;
receive a second input;
in response to the second input, automatically generate a communication for a sample of the material associated with the at least one material swatch image; and
transmit, via the communications unit, the communication.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, adjust a size of the at least one material swatch image.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the size of the at least one material swatch image comprises adjusting the at least one material swatch image to a size of a material sample corresponding to the at least one material swatch image.
4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein adjusting the size of the at least one material swatch image comprises enlarging the at least one material swatch image to a maximum resolution.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a fourth input; and
in response to receiving the fourth input, tiling the at least one material swatch image to enlarge the at least one material swatch image past the maximum resolution.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, rotate the at least one material swatch image.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, generate for display an information menu for the at least one material swatch image.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the information menu identifies options for the material associated with the at least one material swatch image.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, generate for display a window identifying a plurality of material boards associated with a user's account.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, display the plurality of material swatch images in a predetermined order.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a fourth input;
in response to receiving the fourth input, removing from display at least one of the plurality of material swatch images from a first location;
receive a fifth input; and
in response to receiving the fifth input, displaying an additional material swatch image at the first location.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input;
display at plurality of filters;
receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of filters; and
generate for display a subset of the plurality of material swatch images based on the selection of the at least one of the plurality of filters.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
in response to receiving a selection of the at least one of the plurality of filters, generating for display a plurality of sub-filters;
receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of sub-filters; and
receive a selection of at least one of the plurality of sub-filters, wherein generating for display the subset of the plurality of material swatch images is based on the selection of the at least one of the plurality of sub-filters.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the third input comprises a search term, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to determine the plurality of filters based on the search term.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the instructions to:
receive a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, allowing a second user to login to a current session of a first user.
16 . A method comprising:
generating for display a plurality of material swatch images, wherein each material swatch image is associated with a material;
receiving a first input identifying a selection of at least one material swatch image of the plurality of material swatch images;
associating the at least one material swatch image with a material board based on receiving the first input;
receiving a second input;
in response to the second input, automatically generating a communication for a sample of the material associated with the at least one material swatch image; and
transmitting, via the communications unit, the communication.
17 . The method of claim 16 comprising:
receiving a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, adjusting a size of the at least one material swatch image.
18 . The method of claim 16 comprising:
receiving a third input;
displaying at plurality of filters;
receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of filters; and
generating for display a subset of the plurality of material swatch images based on the selection of the at least one of the plurality of filters.
19 . A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations, comprising:
generating for display a plurality of material swatch images, wherein each material swatch image is associated with a material;
receiving a first input identifying a selection of at least one material swatch image of the plurality of material swatch images;
associating the at least one material swatch image with a material board based on receiving the first input;
receiving a second input;
in response to the second input, automatically generating a communication for a sample of the material associated with the at least one material swatch image; and
transmitting, via the communications unit, the communication.
20 . The non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium of claim 19 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform further operations, comprising:
receiving a third input; and
in response to receiving the third input, adjusting a size of the at least one material swatch image.