My first WB skin
Saturday, July 14, 2007 by jamespaulp | Discussion: Skinning
I am not an artist. I am a software engineer. After downloading dozens of skins from WinCustomize, I wanted to do something for the community. I have been working on this skin for a few months now. I just completed task bar, start panel and start menu programs. I have a long way to go. Hopefully I will complete my skin before next version of Windows is out.
Here is how the skin looks as of today.
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jamespaulp
Reply #22 Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:54 PM
Reply #22 Saturday, October 27, 2007 9:54 PM
The skin is nowhere close to completion but I could get it to a temporary location to test.
WWW Link
If you download and test it, please let me know what you think and what mistakes I am making. I have noticed a few bugs like white shadows instead of blue shadows on programs menu.
The link may be slow at times depending on whether I am playing games or not
WWW Link
If you download and test it, please let me know what you think and what mistakes I am making. I have noticed a few bugs like white shadows instead of blue shadows on programs menu.
The link may be slow at times depending on whether I am playing games or not
HG_Eliminator
Reply #23 Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:01 PM
your welcome
Reply #23 Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:01 PM
By the way your comment about lighting on another post threw me off. I had no idea about the importance of consistent lighting effects on all elements I am working on it. You probably had no idea that how many people benefit from such comments.
your welcome
elvee
Reply #24 Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:29 PM
Reply #24 Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:29 PM
Keep up the great job. Lots of great feedback here. You folks are wonderful for helping the new skinner get his feet wet 
jamespaulp
Reply #25 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:00 AM
Reply #25 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:00 AM
I received a lot of help from the community here to get this skin working. Thank you all.
I think I am at a stage where I need some feedback on how I am doing with the skin. I have the WBA file uploaded here. WWW Link
Elements that are not done:
- Toolbar icons (I need more experience to do icons)
- Shell animations
There are few issues I am not able to resolve:
- Cannot get the titlebar to appear in the WB skin list.
- At times more programs menu background shows a white border.
Radio buttons are not smooth.
I think I am at a stage where I need some feedback on how I am doing with the skin. I have the WBA file uploaded here. WWW Link
Elements that are not done:
- Toolbar icons (I need more experience to do icons)
- Shell animations
There are few issues I am not able to resolve:
- Cannot get the titlebar to appear in the WB skin list.
- At times more programs menu background shows a white border.
Radio buttons are not smooth.
jazzymjr
Reply #26 Saturday, December 1, 2007 7:21 AM
Pretty good blind you have there. The titlebar has to in bmp format for it to show up in the skin list. You have it in tga format.
As for the all programs panel....I don't know what to tell you. I only make the buttons, not an image for the entire section. I did notice that you have the all programs panel sixed at 100 x100, yet the panel is 190 x 30. Don't know if that is part of your problem or not.
Keep going....I like the style and colors you have!
Reply #26 Saturday, December 1, 2007 7:21 AM
- Cannot get the titlebar to appear in the WB skin list.
Pretty good blind you have there. The titlebar has to in bmp format for it to show up in the skin list. You have it in tga format.
As for the all programs panel....I don't know what to tell you. I only make the buttons, not an image for the entire section. I did notice that you have the all programs panel sixed at 100 x100, yet the panel is 190 x 30. Don't know if that is part of your problem or not.
Keep going....I like the style and colors you have!
jamespaulp
Reply #27 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:07 PM
Reply #27 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:07 PM
Thanks jazzymjr, I really appreciate your help.
Would it be appropriate to upload the blind without skinning toolbar icons and shell animations?
Would it be appropriate to upload the blind without skinning toolbar icons and shell animations?
vStyler
Reply #28 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:18 PM
Reply #28 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:18 PM
There's nothing saying you have to include those items, I'd say being your first skin most people wont mind if you dont include.. People can utilize toolbar icons and animations from other themes if need be. These are two of the hardest things to learn\make and sooner or later investing the time in doing them will greatly improve the overall look of future themes.
jamespaulp
Reply #29 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:40 PM
Reply #29 Saturday, December 1, 2007 5:40 PM
Thanks vStyler. I will upload as soon as I fix the few bugs and inconsistencies in the blind. The title bar is fixed, it was the tga that was causing the problem.
To start playing with icons, I need to master circles and curves. The links you provided are the ones I am using to learn them. Basic lessons are hard to find but they are out there.
To start playing with icons, I need to master circles and curves. The links you provided are the ones I am using to learn them. Basic lessons are hard to find but they are out there.
ZubaZ
Reply #30 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:16 PM
Reply #30 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:16 PM
For what it's worth . . if you upload something incomplete (by whatever standards folks have) you may get low ratings and unkind comments. We can hope not . . . but be ready just in case. 
jamespaulp
Reply #31 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:29 PM
Reply #31 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:29 PM
Zubaz, thanks for the kind warning. As a newbie I am not expecting high ratings. I have seen personal attacks on even the masters.
As a programmer I try to use these guidelines Ten Commandments of Egoless Programming. I hope I can use some of them here when criticism comes my way.
As a programmer I try to use these guidelines Ten Commandments of Egoless Programming. I hope I can use some of them here when criticism comes my way.
Philly0381
Reply #32 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:46 PM
Reply #32 Saturday, December 1, 2007 6:46 PM
Hi jamespaulp, sorry I'm late commenting here but you've gotten very good advice from some pretty knowledgeable people.
I would suggest testing the waters as it were by downloading a ScreenShot to the monthly post here. You get to show off what you have put together, and also show how it fits with other peoples skins, like walls, docks, and such.
Not a skinner just a customizer of my desktop. Folks like myself usually get a feel for what skins work together well and we are not always looking for a total theme. Think of doing your desktop like decorating your house. Look forward to seeing a screenshot.
I would suggest testing the waters as it were by downloading a ScreenShot to the monthly post here. You get to show off what you have put together, and also show how it fits with other peoples skins, like walls, docks, and such.
Not a skinner just a customizer of my desktop. Folks like myself usually get a feel for what skins work together well and we are not always looking for a total theme. Think of doing your desktop like decorating your house. Look forward to seeing a screenshot.
jamespaulp
Reply #33 Saturday, December 1, 2007 7:08 PM
Hi Philly, I did post the screenshots on the threads "what are you working" and on "December desktop screenshots".
Now that Philly mentioned screenshots, I have a question. How do get a screenshot that can be used for uploading the blind? The one generated by SK5 is not similar to what I see on galleries.
Edit: Made a cleaner screenshot.
Reply #33 Saturday, December 1, 2007 7:08 PM
Look forward to seeing a screenshot.
Hi Philly, I did post the screenshots on the threads "what are you working" and on "December desktop screenshots".
Now that Philly mentioned screenshots, I have a question. How do get a screenshot that can be used for uploading the blind? The one generated by SK5 is not similar to what I see on galleries.
Edit: Made a cleaner screenshot.
jamespaulp
Reply #34 Saturday, December 1, 2007 10:24 PM
Reply #34 Saturday, December 1, 2007 10:24 PM
Oops, I uploaded to the wrong gallery. I re-uploaded to WindowBlinds gallery. Sorry.
Philly0381
Reply #35 Saturday, December 1, 2007 10:32 PM
Reply #35 Saturday, December 1, 2007 10:32 PM
jamespaulp I believe for the thumbnail (think that's what it's called) you can just do a print screen than open paint or similiar program and save it as a jpg. Someone will come along to correct me if I'm wrong.
By the way, like the above screenshot. Another suggestion when you do upload is to let people know who will download it, and they will, what icon set, cursor and wall you used or that you feel goes good with your WB. Sometimes it's the little extras that help. If you do tell what you used, let folks know whom they were made by. You knew that.
By the way, like the above screenshot. Another suggestion when you do upload is to let people know who will download it, and they will, what icon set, cursor and wall you used or that you feel goes good with your WB. Sometimes it's the little extras that help. If you do tell what you used, let folks know whom they were made by. You knew that.
jamespaulp
Reply #36 Saturday, December 1, 2007 11:05 PM
Reply #36 Saturday, December 1, 2007 11:05 PM
Thanks again Philly. I uploaded before seeing your comment. Other than WindowBlinds I use only icons. I added that information as a comment. Don't know how to update just the text of the upload.
I used Paint.NET for creating screenshots. It was like print screen and then cut and paste into one image. I am not sure if that is what other do. Skin Studio has a set size button for the skin shot but doesn't work for me.
I used Paint.NET for creating screenshots. It was like print screen and then cut and paste into one image. I am not sure if that is what other do. Skin Studio has a set size button for the skin shot but doesn't work for me.
jazzymjr
Reply #37 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:33 AM
That is exactly what I do as well.
Also, like Philly said, be sure to mention what wall, icons, cursor, etc., you used in the screenshot. If you used any other stuff in the screenshot, mention those too. It is also a good idea to provide links to those items as well.
Reply #37 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:33 AM
It was like print screen and then cut and paste into one image. I am not sure if that is what other do.
That is exactly what I do as well.
Also, like Philly said, be sure to mention what wall, icons, cursor, etc., you used in the screenshot. If you used any other stuff in the screenshot, mention those too. It is also a good idea to provide links to those items as well.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #38 Sunday, December 2, 2007 5:00 AM
Reply #38 Sunday, December 2, 2007 5:00 AM
I've just tried this skin. It's a lot better than most people's first attempts
Can't wait to see what you do next.
jamespaulp
Reply #39 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:25 PM
Reply #39 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:25 PM
Thanks for the compliment Fuzzy Logic. I think I need to better my icon skills before attempting another blind. If I can do that, I would like to update the icons on this blind 
Jafo
Reply #40 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:39 PM
Reply #40 Sunday, December 2, 2007 4:39 PM
I had no idea about the importance of consistent lighting effects on all elements
Traditional MS Windows light-sourcing is from top-left so shadow-casting is to bottom-right.
If you do something such as to reverse this then public perception/interpretation will be that the object is concave rather than what may have been intended to be convex.
If the sourcing is inconsistent [a not uncommon fault] then the success/popularity/appreciation of the skin will suffer greatly.
Remember...we're in a 2D 'world' attempting to infer a 3D one, so not only must the light and shade 'read' correctly also button-states [static, pressed, etc.] need to indicate 'movement' through that same consistent 'expected' light/shade...
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Reply #21 Tuesday, October 23, 2007 12:51 AM