Makes my grey skies turn blue!

Nice color combo, Tom. 

Looks like a winner!

I respect you don´t want to take away from functionality Tom, but this looks like 10 of your other Blinds.

Surely there must be a way to skin for function, yet still make the skin more unique ?

Yup, look no further, Andrew. 

https://forums.wincustomize.com/451489/page/1/ 

as I said in Jan screenies.... I do like those colour tonings.... and looks very standout with that wall... nice combo... me likes... 

I hear what ur saying Andy, honestly I do.. and honest criticism can nver hurt in my opinion.. but, conversely... one might say to you, could you skin as uniquely as you do.. yet somehow make it them more usable?

I think everyone should skin however they feel most comfortable, and I think , for Tom, this is right in his confort zone.. he has after all made over 200 skins and was making VS's looong before most of us even thought about skinning.

I love this look but I also love how some of urs look, I do find them difficult to use tho.

Its in the eye of the beholder... and.. the 'user'

Thanks.

I enjoy both styles of skinning...imaginative and functional. Mostly I like a blend of the two. That blend varies, depending on the skin. I tend more towards the functional and dark...but after tbc posted "Metaphysical", I matched vStyler's "Avanti" to it. I think what really does it for me is crisp graphics.

Thanks for the comments and support everyone, they are truly appreciated, but this skin is designed mostly for usability. I recently did a port from a VS for a person of a skin called Flaty, and it inspired me to do this skin, and the original post screenshot is just a beginning, not the final result.

And I would add, Andy, that I like the look of your skins and the "outside the box" approach you take, kinda IRB-esque, but I find your skins hard to do DX stuff for, which is why I don't. Just wanted you to know that.

As for Tom's skins, they are very useable and everyday skins.  Tom has a minimalistic style, and in minimalism and useability, it would probably be hard to make each and every skin totally unique.

Keep rocking, both of you, skin your way, we'll keep grabbing them!   

I am beginning to think that what makes a "master skin" a "master skin" is only the price tag. When you pump out 20 skins a month they start to look just like most of the "apprentice skins". The difference....the cost.

We can talk functionality or compatibility to enhance to a suite....but shouldn't a "master skin" have both covered?

I criticize only the criteria for what constitutes a skin being labeled MASTER. Free or not.

What makes a master skin a master skin is that the person making the skin has attained the rank of master on this site.

In order to attain the rank, one must be several things, only one of which is a great skinner.

Also required is a strong support of WinCustomize and it's members. There is a list of requirements to be met to attain the title master. Tom has met these, and has gone way past these, as a long standing member of this skinning community and has earned the title by filling the requirements and by giving away the bigger portion of his work for years.

In addition, a master should be able to sell what he/she is happy with. To submit what they feel is master quality. And there are requirements to be met for a master skin.

Tom has, over and over, met these skinning requirements to be trusted to sell his skins here.

Everyone has a style. Not everyone likes everyone else's style. If you don't like it, don't buy it, but don't fault the seller if his likes are different from yours.

Should we all decide to put Ford out of business because we prefer Chevys?

Now, can we get back on topic? 

 Ford or Chevrolet know when they've got a Lincoln or a Cadillac and they label the product accordingly. The choice is still the buyers. But nobody buys a Lincoln Fiesta or a Cadillac Aveo. 

When was the last time a banjo player had a solo at a classical music event?

What was the topic you wish to return to?

How many skins are in your gallery?

I was hoping to let Tom have his WIP thread back.  

How many do I need to be a member with the right to express an opinion in the forum section?

I wasn't aware people were taking his thread away from him, but that is always the risk isn't it? When you post something that is...there is the chance someone will disagree.

Now squeal like a pig.