It takes a lot of work to make a WindowBlinds skin.

That said, there are some that should be free, and only a handful good enough to pay for. But I don't think 5-7 dollars is bad for a month's work, or even 2 weeks.

There are some being sold that should be free, I agree. I wouldn't go labeling it as greed though, one never knows how badly a skinner needs the money.

There should be a quality standard for a Master skin, rather than just being able to sell a skin just because you have attained master status.

You responded to your own 'complaint'.

Anything else is redundant.

I am a Master, but I stopped selling skins because I, myself, do not view my work as sellable, in most cases.

But, I digress.....

If it's for sale, and you don't think it's worth the money, don't buy it. Simple.

Hi,

its everyones decision.

Some ones would be going to buy for 1-4 USD but there are exactly two mayor  problems:

- Which site would offer you the whole amount i.e 100%  to the them creator. Usually a dev/artist can be lucky to get 30-50% by hosting on a site.

- Time for creating master skins seems to be bigger than 60h or even more. they  needs to be paid a t least a bit by the few who buy them.( in fact master skinners don`t get that rich from it, nor really always  rewarded for the time they spend on creating themes.)

The result of these and only doable solution is to have them at around 6 USD.

regards bluedxca93

I seldomly go to the WindowBlinds section anymore, since it's skins have become mostly assembly-line production .

Then make your own skins Yearout. As a Master Skinner, I sell mine because like Redneckdude said, I need the money and I cannot work as I am disabled (and there are others here on the site also in my status). But then again I also put several skins up for free as I am not a greedy person either. I try to balance things out in that regard, but ignorant comments like this one make me almost want to leave! 

I hope I speak for all Master Skinner's. 

I have the utmost respect for skinners, without them there would be no Windowblinds as we now have it. When you purchase a Windowblinds or Stardock subscription you have access to a vast library of skins, many of which are still usable on Windowblinds 10, and most of which are free. my personal favourite is Wraith by SK originals which I purchased many years ago, I have many others which I use depending how I feel. If I like I buy, simple as that.

The apparent reason why there seems to be an increasing number of skins to purchase is because there are less skinners now so there are less new skins on offer.

When you do purchase a skin you are buying a tested product which has taken many hours of hard work to produce, often part of a suite or package, if you like it you buy it, why shouldn't the skinners get some recompense for all of their hard work, Stardock does when you purchase Windowblinds.

One small thing I would like to recommend is after a year perhaps drop the price, may lead to more skin sales

That says it all for me. 

Thank you for the appreciation.

Sounds like a great idea you have about doing something different after a year. I wouldn't mind seeing that but can see some problems. First everyone that paid full price may have some not nice things to say. Second, it would have to be agreed on by Stardock to allow this. Last, SD has a minimum price so the new price after the year is up would have to be allowed by SD and if this was allowed the price be left up to the skin maker or SD set a low price. One must remember SD does have cost to them involved so the lower price would have to at least have them break even. So not knowing the break even price maybe the minimum price now is at their even point. Also we must be able to upload again with the new price. 

So again your idea sounds good but there are other factors that would have to be approved and allowed.

Wincustomize has turned from a community driven by innovation, sharing, and giving... into a business model to make money.  It is not necessarily greed driving it.  There are costs that need to be covered for all of this marketing, hosting, monetary fees  for online carts, fees for this and that.

 Dropping the price after a year makes a ton of sense marketing wise, as does putting on an occasional sale and would do nothing but increase sales for the whole site.   Master designers should be clamoring for more sales.  There is something to be said for volume.  You could offer these sorts of things on Steam as well.  Stardock uses the steam model for other software.  Worried about the poor person that bought the skin during the first year at full price?  That is the way any other product sale works.  You pay the premium for be the first to get it.  Another take on this?  Offer a presale discount for before it is released.

SO many master skins are merely rehashes of the same old idea, and a good bit of the positive comments in skin descriptions are from fellow master skinners.  Want to bump up the user base for Windowblinds?  Put a product on sale every once in a while.  Is it better to sell one or two skins a month at $8, or 20 at $2?  Why alienate the new Windowblinds software purchaser by requiring them to also pay $8 for a skin to use on it and then find out 30 seconds later that it doesn't quite look as good on on their monitor?

Master Skinners, you often do a nice job with your craft and it's fine to sell it.  Stardock, Wincustomize, Master Skinners...   it would benefit you financially to offer sales of your products occasionally.  Why not at least try it.  Most shopping carts that websites use for online software sales already have this feature built in.  

The fact is, not many people are building and uploading skins any more (an art form going extinct?). So the average Joe isn't skinning....... what's left? MASTERS!!

That's why you are seeing mostly masterskins on the WB page! It's not greed, there just aren't others out there making free skins to "balance the scale"

Not really true , but i see less and less skins for linux and windows not matter what platform or what style.

how so?

I think there only a few non-master skinners around at the moment. I'm one and I don't think I'll be making master in this life time. Something about, "when hell freezes over", even though I've been skinning for some years (longer than most masters).

Truth is that there are not enough people wanting to do skinning anymore. There have never been any instructions on what to do. There was a wiki at one time but that is now by the wayside. Kitty's tutorial is still usable but dated and not a part of any pinned posts.

I'm retired and for me skinning is a hobby. It takes up my spare time, gives me something to do.

So, you have my word that even if I am bestowed the lofty accolade of master skinner, I will not sell my skins. Well, I might but it would have to be something really unique and special.

I am working to incorporate Win10 skinning with my blinds so as to make them more usable by more subscribers. I hope that more people will start skinning.

I also think that the masters, who don't already, should donate a free blind on occasion.

Yup, I agree! That's why I do free ones too. 

 And darn good ones at that, Thanks for those, Tom!

My question is do skinners make skins to make money for their "work"?

Well of course Master Skinners make skins to make money for their work, they are entitled to do so. That is why Stardock promoted them to the level of Master. It is also a LOT of work, just ask anyone who creates WB skins.

I uploaded a free one not long ago. Also realize not everyone is going to purchase them. Also it's a thanks to all that have supported me over the years. They are all made with my best quality and checked by Lightstar and on occasion when he isn't out boating for weeks at a time Mr. 2of3 for additional quality control.

As far as uploading a paid skin I will on occasion. Have to feel it is something special to me and others will feel the same. They take many hours. But it is hours of enjoyment time for me since I have very little to do everyday with anything else.

I value everyone here and thankful everyday for being a part of this place.

I have a list of master skins I'd like to get but finances being what they are makes that very difficult after bills are paid. An occasional free skin by the masters would be a great incentive, keeps them coming back for more. As for selling their skins, you don't get to be a master by throwing a skin together. I've skinned for a few masters by creating Xion skins, docks and such and by going into a skin folder and seeing the amount of work and the number of items skinned, in the hundreds, you can't help but appreciate the kind of time and work that goes into them. I won't make master but that's a non issue. I appreciate the work the masters do and when I can...I'll snatch up their skins in a heart beat.