With a cherry on top

That's gotta be one hell of a lot of happy...like buckets overflowing happy.

Not too sure about that one, though.  Hirsute ladies can make me very nervous

One once asked me to trim her bikini line.... that's when the shaky hands started.

WTF: seriously? SKS6 = $30US, PSP7 = $70US. So, tell me, this is informative, what specific programs do some of the master skinners use that would add up to thousnads of dollars. Kitty, John, anyone??

The Photoshop suite of programs will put a serious dent in any wallet... not cheap at all.

Add to that: (some skinners use them all... different effects/application, etc)

CorelDraw

CorelPainter

PSP X2 ($279 AUD.. a tad more than $70 USD)

Video creation/editing apps (dreams/animations, etc)

It all adds up.

Standalone Photoshop cs4 is $600+.

Now I know that one does not need Photoshop, but still. One can use the Gimp or paint.net, which are free, but those programs are more limited than Photoshop. PSP, though a nice program, still is more limited in areas than Photoshop.

Add on top of that, one who is serious about skinning multiple OS' needs either 3 computers, one running XP, one running Vista, and one running 7; or at least one maching that dual or triple boots between the OS'. Then you're talking about purchasing the new OS, possibly new hard drives or new machines...

I dare any one who Claims skinning is cheap and easy to prove it, work ur butt off to become a master by, buying all the necessary tools, OS's,PC or drives, partitions, spend mass hours honing ur craft to perfection, get promoted. Then lets see if you still feel the same about master skins.

i got happy thinking new masterskin called logic dam

maybe someone needs to make on called "dam logic"?   hehehe

In Oz $1,415.00... and that's just for the Photoshop CS4 Standard Edition

Photoshop CS4 Extended is @2,200.00 plus

The price of getting started:-

W7 PC £700
OD Sub: £30
PSP: £50
Skinning talent: priceless

Here's some software pricing for you. I create dreams and here's some of what I have...

Vue 7 Infinite Upgrade $295.00

3dsMax 2009 upgrade $1,600.00 

ParticleIllusion 3.0 $389.00

Adobe CS 4 Production Premium Upgrade $599

TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress $99.95

Some of these are upgrade versions...imagine the cost if I didn't have versions I could update

I was lucky and had a friend in the design business that lost his ass. He had to sell some of his software and licenses and I would have never have been able to buy some of these any other way.

design software was what was mentioned, OS's and hardware weren't.

psp x2 is the latest. back when, psp7 cost $70US new. I just picked up psp10 used off the internet for $40US.

now, now. you misunderstand. I was just wondering if I was missing an edge cause' my software didn't cost thousands. to me, it's all about talent. I'll never become a "master" skinner but I'm getting better and learning all the time and I'm enjoying myself. Getting more expensive software probably won't help my cause, but then...

GMC it was a blanket dare, not directed towards you. My appologies if it looked that way..

All this being said, I gave it some thought, and IF I ever become a master, I will not charge for my skins.  Some people see skin creation as a hobby that can make them money (or at least recoup some of what they put into it), but for me, skinning is an expression of my emotions; it's an outlet for my passion.  Every skin I make is like a little creature I gave birth to, and I derive immense joy giving that away -- releasing it out into the world.  Philosophically I don't think there are enough free things in the world, and that the world would be a better, happier place if there WERE more free things in it, so I'm paying it forward with what I create.  It's kind of a "mother" thing in me.  I don't ever want this to become "a job" -- something that I would feel pressured to do, something that I would have to my business mindset to--caving to the pressures of the demand of the masses, being held up to a higher critique because it's now my wares rather than my gifts.  

Logically I can see where it makes total sense for masters to charge for skins.  It will just never be right for me, personally.

And Cars still makes his incredible dreams and doesn't charge for them...his Startrek Dream is a Masterpiece. His Hanukkah Dream will be on my HDTV this holiday...enriching far more than that...my home and Anne's. We are blessed with such talented people who have the gift of the creation of beauty.

If CG's dream cost me ... whatever... I would buy it in a heartbeat to support him and what he does: It's priceless...inestimably valuable to me.

Hmm... correct me if I am wrong. I too have "lurked around" wb since almost day one. I am very greatful for the many wonderful skins that have been made for the program. It seems to me that every time I see a new master skinner I do not lament it as a loss but rather rejoice in the fact that Stardock is one of the few avenues that allow those with talent to profit from their creatiness.

Creativity....

The price of the hardware/software is actually mostly irrelevant.

The real 'cost' is in the practise/learning/skill and aptitude end of the equation.

Anyone can 'push buttons'.  Pushing the RIGHT ones is where it takes time/experience/skill....

creativity. Yes! Thank you Jafo!

none taken, just gave me an excuse to respond.

my point also.

I haven't looked into dreams, hmm...