Bootskins are increasing....but not with good taste.

from WinCustomize Forums
This is my opinion so if you disagree, thats okay.

A lot of bootskins now are about cartoons, movies, and games according to what i see.

But many of them have less than 1000 downloads.

I'm thinking that maybe people might stop making bootskins until the new windows comes out. Then they'll see what they can do. I stopped making bootskins not because i had no ideas...but it was because i had no time. I'm not going to have time until probably next summer.

But my point is that there should be something new to bottskins, I'm trying to make progress bars look a bit different. Not by color ot style but in animation. Of course there are two problems: 1 is that i have no time. 2. it might not even work out as well as i planned.

So if ya have any ideas about making bootskins better......POST HERE.
5,644 views 20 replies
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There's going to be a lot of crap, and only the occasional good thing. I don't think it's a good idea for people to stop making things until Vista, since that could be 6 months or more.

That said, people should think twice about posting certain things...
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
wait...

Just because you have "no time" to make boots, no one should?
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I promise I wont make any...LoL
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You're right on the money there, Bash.....bootskins are coming out by the bucketload, and quite a few are unimaginative, to say the least. Never made a bootskin myself, but I imagine that it wouldn't take alot of effort to throw the 'boot gear' over a movie, cartoon, game poster and call it a bootskin.

However, there are some skinners.....won't mention names, so as not swell some heads and not those of others I missed out.....who have made some terrific bootskins using original art that shows imagination, talent and creativity.

Having said that, I have been a naughty boy! Slap my wrist cos I have downloaded some of those TV/movie bootscreens Then again, tho...the ones I got compliment various desktop themes I've put together: Stargate SG1/Atlantis; Batman; X Files; Van Helsing; Alien/Predator and etc. Oh, and before I get another slap on the wrist, I do have themes using all original art/skins as well. In most cases I prefer to use these, but there's times when these do not compliment the theme in mind as well as the 'poster' type bootskin.

Finally kid, you say something I agree with.


Now come on, NT! Bash mightn't always be on the money, but this ain't the first time he's been right....or partly so. There was this time when.......
Oh well, my memory fails me yet again , but you know what I mean....his heart's in the right place, if not always his wording of things. For the most part, Bash is right in this instance, though I've found a use for a few of 'those' bootskins, as I'm sure others have also.

Not everything is going to appeal to everyone, but obviously these skins have a place here, as WC caters to a wider variety of tastes than just mine/our own. I'd hazard a guess to say that I'm not the only one who'd rather not have to sift through all that which does not appeal to me to get at what does, but that's the way it is, and I accept that because WC must accomodate all comers and not just myself.

My $2.02c worth
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bash2coo has 95 boots...

I'd think..I would run out of ideas too.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I enjoyed bootskins as stepping stones into the world of skinning. But some people certainly enjoy them in and of themselves.

But, if you can understand how a bootskin.ini file works to get the background and progress bar images, and all that is zipped into a file--if you can get that concept, you can do any other project you set your mind to.

There is a free version of ObjectDock (as a comparison to Bootskin). Basic background skins for ObjectDock can be nearly as simple as a bootskin, but take just a bit more effort and creativity.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

something new to bottskins

A Freudian slip? Most of the bootskins now look like they were turned out by 'bots'. An endless stream of tripe punctuated by the occasional masterpiece from a real skinner.

Five minutes. That's all it takes to rip an image off the net somewhere and turn it into a bootskin. No real skill there then...

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Bash2coo has 95 boots

 

I though you were serious and had to go look....hehe....Only 46:LOL:

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bash2coo has 95 boots


I though you were serious and had to go look....hehe....Only 46


I think she means that i have a Windows 95 bootskin......or she just miscounted......BY 49!
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To tell you guys the truth.....i ran out of ideas on what to say on the forums not the skinning

That's why you guys might commonly see stupid posts.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Since this site is my homepage, its the first thing I see in the morning. I used to enjoy seeing the new skins each day but lately, all I see is bootskins and screen shots. What has happened to the creativeness. There is nothing wrong with screen shots and bootskins but only that they dominate the site.
Now, before you ridicule me for not contributing anything to the site, let me tell you that it is too complicated for me to learn how. You cant teach this old dog any new tricks. But I do enjoy looking, downloading and using the skins.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As soon as the site quits counting the screenshot views as downloads, you will probably see a lot less.  Also if the boots are moderated like walls, you will see a lot less of those.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I do not understand this "screenshot views as downloads" complaint. As far as I can tell screenshots work like this:

1)There is supposed to be a "preview image" but people always use the full image because
2)When people look at screenshots they click on the thumbnail image, not the "Download" button because who wants to download a screenshot?
3)When a preview image is looked at full size, I consider that a "view", but it does not increase the download counter. The download button is supposed to show the full image, but few use it because the full image is typically also seen by clicking on the preview thumb.
Also, is there some overall download competition where screenshots are competeing with DesktopX themes and WindowBlinds? If not, then what difference does it make if a screenshot counts as a download?

Additionally, few screenshots have very many downloads anyway. Also, in most galleries there is a Top Authors and Top Skins section along the right of the page--these don't even exist for the screenshot gallery.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Screen-shots are a great way to acknowledge the artists that created everything you have used to build a personal desktop enviroment or to share a preview of a skin yet to come, but as far as screen-shot downloads amounting to anything is ridiculous..

I personally do not think they should be allowed in the "Just in" section only because there is such a volume of them they tend to bury legitimate skins/boots/logons that were just created and are more of what I think most people would like to download, covered by an item such as a screenshot..

I browse the screenshots and have found some very cool skins by doing so, I do think they are a valuable resource, I just dont think they should be posted in the "Just In" section...that section should be for actual "downloadables"

Just my thoughts..
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I personally do not think they should be allowed in the "Just in" section only because there is such a volume of them they tend to bury legitimate skins/boots/logons that were just created and are more of what I think most people would like to download, covered by an item such as a screenshot..

I browse the screenshots and have found some very cool skins by doing so, I do think they are a valuable resource, I just dont think they should be posted in the "Just In" section...that section should be for actual "downloadables"


Agree 100%
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Agree 100%


Im sure we are not alone Tapper....LoL
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
just to retouch the begining and recount...

when i came here i learned kind of qickly the this could be a great place to expose creativity. some who just don't have great artistic skills might copy something from another idea. look at Andy Warhall and the soup labels ( famous name, I only live about an houre and a half from the Andy Warhall museum in Pittsbburg, PA. ) and there where painted cases of ketchup and more. he made his own print plates or brush work though. but all in all it is his artwork that you see when you stand in front of a wall of marilyn monroes in a grid of five high and twelve wide; and every one is diferent.

not copy and paste like is so easy today.

remember this ... "art" is an expression of creativity, "art-work" is a mater of copyright law and in between them is a lot of "gray-matter".