Is the windows enhancement community ready for heavy graphic skins?
Thursday, September 9, 2004 by Styl-X Design | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Very often I find myself wondering what the big diffrence is between things like windowblinds and windows media player.
Its not hard to see that a lot of WMP skins use a lot heavier graphics then WB skins.
(note, with heavy graphic I mean 3d style).
I think its the custom shape of WMP that makes it more suitable for heavy graphic skins but wouldn't it be awesome to have a little of that 3d feeling being put in a wb skin?
I know there is some 3d in WB skins, but it never really get past an 'innershadow' filter
Whats the deal with this?
Styl-X Design fingers are starting to tintel as he has this 3d wb skin idea in his head for nearly a week now... Time to dust of skinstudio
Its not hard to see that a lot of WMP skins use a lot heavier graphics then WB skins.
(note, with heavy graphic I mean 3d style).
I think its the custom shape of WMP that makes it more suitable for heavy graphic skins but wouldn't it be awesome to have a little of that 3d feeling being put in a wb skin?
I know there is some 3d in WB skins, but it never really get past an 'innershadow' filter
Whats the deal with this?
Styl-X Design fingers are starting to tintel as he has this 3d wb skin idea in his head for nearly a week now... Time to dust of skinstudio
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joeKnowledge
Reply #122 Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:38 PM
Reply #122 Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:38 PM
I think z layer is on the z axis. The third dimention if you will.
Tiggz
Reply #123 Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:47 PM
Reply #123 Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:47 PM
the transaprency layer is more properly called the alpha channel
SelfExiled
Reply #124 Sunday, September 12, 2004 11:44 PM
Reply #124 Sunday, September 12, 2004 11:44 PM
I know that Tiggz. I was just referring to the fact that one can simulate depth with the alpha layer. Hence, the third axis or z axis or, z layer. I was thinking about this because its hard to retain any 3D effect with just the x,y plane in bitmaps, unless of course you have a background. I just asked because I'm experimenting for my next theme. 
Tiggz
Reply #125 Monday, September 13, 2004 5:49 AM
Reply #125 Monday, September 13, 2004 5:49 AM
hehe, I knew you knew that 
I think maybe when you render a scene in 3DSmax you can render a mask layer as well.
One of the most important elements in creating the illusion of depth, or height, is creating realistic looking shadows. Which kind of stumps me in those 3D proggies because to render a shadow you have to render it against a surface, whereas what you really want to do is render it against, er, a transparent thingy so that when the graphic becomes a dx object the shadow lies across your desktop background. Not sure if I explained myself very clearly there
Suffice it to say I'm a 3D noob
It would be nice to learn those skills, but whenever I have a go, I always end up a quivering mess after a few hours of toil and only some pathetic looking blob to show for it
I think maybe when you render a scene in 3DSmax you can render a mask layer as well.
One of the most important elements in creating the illusion of depth, or height, is creating realistic looking shadows. Which kind of stumps me in those 3D proggies because to render a shadow you have to render it against a surface, whereas what you really want to do is render it against, er, a transparent thingy so that when the graphic becomes a dx object the shadow lies across your desktop background. Not sure if I explained myself very clearly there
Suffice it to say I'm a 3D noob
It would be nice to learn those skills, but whenever I have a go, I always end up a quivering mess after a few hours of toil and only some pathetic looking blob to show for it
JeffBDVS
Reply #126 Monday, September 13, 2004 1:59 PM
My pathetic looking blob is more pathetic than your pathetic looking blob.
Reply #126 Monday, September 13, 2004 1:59 PM
| I always end up a quivering mess after a few hours of toil and only some pathetic looking blob to show for it |
My pathetic looking blob is more pathetic than your pathetic looking blob.
pjpowell
Reply #127 Monday, September 13, 2004 4:11 PM
Reply #127 Monday, September 13, 2004 4:11 PM
Tiggz: You can render it against a matte/shadow surface in 3dMax. This makes the surface it's cast against into the projected shadow. My wallpaper change widget was rendered entirely in 3dmax exported to multiple png files and includes shadows both on the animated parts and on the static parts. Here it is against a normal wallpaper.
[Message Edited]
[Message Edited]
joeKnowledge
Reply #128 Monday, September 13, 2004 4:57 PM
Reply #128 Monday, September 13, 2004 4:57 PM
Boy, I really need to save up and get 3D Studio Max (and AutoCad and Photoshop and Flash and Director and...)
Tiggz
Reply #129 Monday, September 13, 2004 6:16 PM
Reply #129 Monday, September 13, 2004 6:16 PM
pjpowell: yeah that looks really amazing I have to admit. As you mentioned in your earlier post, I think learning to use a 3D program effectively takes alot more time than I have so far invested in it. And I also agree it is probably one of the best ways to create effective animation (of a certain type). Whilst the image you post could be done relatively simply, albeit not quite so realistically perhaps, in photoshop, to make a believable animation a 3D proggie must have the advantage.
Oh well, maybe one day...
I resemble that remark!
Oh well, maybe one day...
| JeffBDVS: My pathetic looking blob is more pathetic than your pathetic looking blob |
I resemble that remark!
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Reply #121 Sunday, September 12, 2004 9:51 AM