Custom shapes for health bars

[Uriyel]

I've been searching these forums for hours but unable to get a clear cut explanation on how this is done. The example that sent me searching was here.

It's mentioned that this can be achieved in pitbul and stuf. I've used pitbul in the past, but how can you use a custom image to get out of that dreaded rectangular bounding box?

Is it a trick of using two images to mask out different sections of a frame?

Unkn had a link to the most abstract bars I've ever seen.

I'd love to know how this is done.

[semlar]

You can't mask a texture. Irregular shapes are created using textures with transparent areas, they're still technically rectangular images.

SetTexCoord or scrollframes can be used to cut off the fill texture.

[Uriyel]

So it has to be scripted? I thought since they mentioned doing it with pitbull it was just some special masking technique in the TGA image like a solid knock-out color (ala GIF) around the outside of the frame.

Seerah was in that thread quote:
"You can achieve this with Stuf, as well.
All you need is to use your custom texture as the statusbar graphic."

This is why I thought it could be done without code.

[Seerah]

If you want it to fill differently than a normal statusbar, then, yes, it does need to be scripted. Otherwise, no. Just use your texture for the statusbar.

[Uriyel]

Can you link an example or two that I can reference to figure it out? So say it's a rectangle image with rounded or 45 degree angle corners. You set a solid fill and use a line of script to erase it?

[Seerah]

Again, only if you want it to fill/deplete *differently* from how a normal statusbar does (regardless of what texture is filling/depleting) do you need to code it that way. If all you want it to do is fill left-right (or up-down for vertical statusbars), then you don't need to do anything.

[Uriyel]

so the abstract bars in this image appear verticle fill and wouldn't need code?

[Seerah]

This is correct.

/edit: So long as whichever unit frame addon you choose to use supports vertical statusbars and you change the setting to such.

[Fizzlemizz]

The statusbar images in the pic come with Discord Unit Frames so the layout may well have used DUF.

Originally Posted by Uriyel so the abstract bars in this image appear verticle fill and wouldn't need code?

[Uriyel]

Cool, I'll check them out. I use ElvUI currently. Are there any light versions that might support that image art so I don't have to replace an entire UI or try to make 2 of them play nice together?

[10leej]

Originally Posted by Uriyel Cool, I'll check them out. I use ElvUI currently. Are there any light versions that might support that image art so I don't have to replace an entire UI or try to make 2 of them play nice together?

You could just replace the status bar texture ElvUI uses.

[Musca]

Originally Posted by Uriyel Cool, I'll check them out. I use ElvUI currently. Are there any light versions that might support that image art so I don't have to replace an entire UI or try to make 2 of them play nice together?

I'm using Elvui with separate, non-Elv unit frames. Not having any issues between the two -- just disabled Elv's built in unit frames via the in game gui.

[zork]

What you are looking for can be done very easily nowadays. First you need a texture in the shape that you are looking for. You can shape a texture by adjusting the alpha layer of the TGA file.

Next you write an addon that integrates that graphic. A working health bar is this one:

local function OnUnitHealthFrequent(bar)
  local hcur, hmax = UnitHealth(bar.unit), UnitHealthMax(bar.unit)
  local hper = 0
  if hmax > 0 then hper = hcur/hmax end
  bar:SetValue(hper)
end
 
local bar = CreateFrame("StatusBar","MyAddonMyHealthBar", UIParent)
bar.unit = "player"
bar:SetSize(100,100)
bar:SetPoint("CENTER",0,0)
bar:SetMinMaxValues(0, 1)
bar:SetStatusBarTexture(PATH_TO_YOUR_SHAPED_TEXTURE)
bar:SetStatusBarColor(1,0,0)
bar:SetOrientation("VERTICAL")
bar:RegisterUnitEvent("UNIT_HEALTH_FREQUENT", bar.unit)
bar:RegisterEvent("PLAYER_LOGIN")
bar:SetScript("OnEvent", OnUnitHealthFrequent)