Matches_Malone Matches_Malone

Where have all the decent skinners and skins gone?

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Where have all the decent skinners and skins gone?

from WinCustomize Forums
First I would like to say this. I'm proud to be a paid subscriber to Stardock and virtually all of it's products even bought some as gifts too family members.
While scrolling the windowblinds section I've seen some ridiculous skins even some by those whose been skinning for awhile. Like i.e. 'Happy Fish c'mon. I think wincustomize is losing it's flair when it comes to high-defintion not too mention quality skins. And us loyal customers has to go elsewhere to find some good skins, like Flux by josephs, before that skin was uploaded here it was on of course on other sites first even though he stated that for his art award.
What happened Tiggz, Mike Brandt, and a host of others, the real skinners who dedicate their entire being, and lots of man hours, not to say those who make general skins don't but not like the professionals that puts true dedication to put forth a high-quality skin and not just downloading skinstudio and putting some bars together.
Please weed out those ridiculous skins, put wincustomize back on the map. I think it should be a skin-law the weeds out the good from the bad skins.

Bad-skin: defined as, too many bugs and have to keep uploading the skin
Good-skin: defined as, not as many bugs and upload twice for update
High-quality-skin: defined as, no bugs every part of the skin is skinned w/periodic updates to add more new tweaks if users ask.

-End of report
53,925 views 132 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What the online skinning sites provides are avenues/outlets/stages for skinners of all 'capabilities' to interact with each other to further their know-how, not just to be repositories for every mal-content to bitch and moan over perceptions of diminishing standards/whatever.


well said - which was why I was in favor or the Artist-skinners  having the option of skin comments...or not.

I can't imagine how it feels to spend 2 to 4 weeks on a WB to have it picked apart by strangers that want it customized to their specs .......its called wincustomize but you do your own customizations. Somewhere along the line people lost the whole idea.


Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks Starkers for the compliment. Everyone has made some pretty good statements and Jafo, pretty much summed everything up. That is absolutely true in what he said. I could'nt have said that better myself. My concept and perception has now changed in regards to the skinning and what not, and Fairyy made an interesting statement as well. I'm in total agreement. No more coming down on the skinners and their skins, if I had known that Sternengalaxy was a female, I more than likely would've used a different skin to make my example, and yet that would have still been wrong as well, as I previously stated in one of my posts.
But we all learn from our mistakes, like Starkers for example with a couple of blunders he made.
Nevertheless, my coming to this site for a number of years, I guess I just so used to seeing good skins especially the dark skins being uploaded here just about everyday and go 'WOW. Now it's like a w.b. here, an i.p. there, and when those skins do get uploaded I automatically think if I don't like it, 'What's up with this' but a few people [Jafo, Carl, Stark, Fairry, etc.] just pointed out the reasons why, it's summer, new versions of w.b., it takes more time to do, personal things they have to care of, etc. I understand that completely now. So no more bitchin from me.
But a lot of the newcomers does'nt really know that, I still see postings 'what is this 2006, I still see postings where a lot of people say 'Man, that's a good skin, I downloaded it, How do I apply it' - and the response is always 'You have to download windowblinds and install the skin from there'.
Innocent question, innocent answer, occasionally you have the on-looker looking in, browsing around, and my opinion will see the older skins are some of the best ones.

I recently seen in a screenshot that 'Diafragma uploaded and I have to say in my opinion that that was the ultimate, if someone can tackle that and make something similar. That would definitely set a whole new standard and way that skins are made here, and especially to those a like bright flashy colors also. ...whispering 'a little bug in the hereee...' -fading out'.




Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ever since I started paying Wincustomize, I have seen nothing but garbage on here!


Maybe it started with YOUR arrival?

Then only response idiot people have is "why don't you make your own skins then" or "why don't you do better". For one thing, I have no time to waste on that.


It's a waste of time for you to make skins . . but you want other people to make them?!?!? And you want them to be GREAT?!?!?

I am not paying for this crap!


So don't renew and don't come back.
If people don't think that the decent skinners and skins have gone from this site, then they are probably just as stupid as they look!


Your avatar looks just like Elton John. Anyone who likes elton john is stupid.   

I love this place . . the open exchange of ideas . . . that's what keeps me coming back.  
Reply #79 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ramesese-

as a user, i can understand your frustration. you paid for the software, you paid for the subscription...now you want content. over a period of time when you don't find content that you deem "fit" you start to get anxious. understandable.

as an artist, keep in mind that there is no "school" for skinning. yes, there are tutorials, but those only teach mechanics, not creativity and skill. the great skins you speak of don't just fall off trees. they are generally the products of years of experience. just as in your profession, either you have "it" or you don't. "it" being imagination. there is another word i mentioned..."years". over time an artist will realize that they give 100 percent effort for 30 percent acceptance by the community. it almost seems as though your average user assumes that artists work for stardock, or that it is our "job" to create content for you. i can't tell you how many emails i've gotten demanding a specific skin for someone's specific wants...and some of them get downright nasty when you tell them no. even when you post a skin...the number of requests for changes and updates to suit someone else's wants and needs can get out of hand. when i posted aten...the number of requests to change the button glows were astounding...i liked them and didn't want to change it...people got upset...is that supposed to be my probem if you don't like it? and if paying for a skin is what you want...established artists can charge more than 3,000 dollars for custom work...my going rate is 100 dollars an hour. eventually an artist can come to a realization that this isn't worth it and move on to other things. threads such as this are a perfect example as to why you don't see many of us around anymore. no artist wants to be the "example" for someone else's frustation...not after months of hard work. you may not have wanted to offend anyone...but when you give examples of what you see as poor quality and deal in absolutes you will offend someone.

just like anyone else...artists want to stay on the cutting edge as well. windows vista is on everyone's mind (i'm even running it as we speak). from my point of view, i don't want to spend months on a project for an operatings system that will be replaced in under a year. some want to create for the latest and greatest, and right now the latest and greatest is vista. personally, i'm waiting for the vista version of skinstudio before i release any new themes.

bottom line...artists need to back off for a while to "skin" their lives. we have jobs and lives just like everyone else...and catering to millions of user's every single want and need isn't much fun anymore.

Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with the person that made this thread... I have been wondering where all the great skins are. Ever since I started paying Wincustomize, I have seen nothing but garbage on here! Then only response idiot people have is "why don't you make your own skins then" or "why don't you do better". For one thing, I have no time to waste on that. Also, I am paying to use this and to be able to download skins, but there is limited skins to download. There use to be a time where this site was great and everyday new skins would come out. Now, maybe once a week there is a new WB skin and maybe every 3 weeks some new icons come out. I am not paying for this crap! Someone is getting rich of this Wincustomize site.

If people don't think that the decent skinners and skins have gone from this site, then they are probably just as stupid as they look!


so who's job is it to please you? i've never made a dime off of this. you seem like the kind of person that buys a dvd player and then gets pissed because there's no good movies at the rental store. "hey..i paid for this dvd player..i demand good movies to play on it". ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

could YOU be the reason no one wants to post work anymore? no one wants cater to this kind of crap...way to prove a point.
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#79 #81 eltonfan your a schmuck...ramesese i admire that you admitted you were wrong. sorry we almost lynched you



enjoy yourself bitches, its a celebration!!!!
Reply #82 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm making my response pretty simple. In my opinion, Wincustomize is a site that gives you a nice view of the skinning world. Rather than insulting those who aren't good, I would think that the skins here, no matter how they look, inspires you to try it out yourself. Making these things isn't just what you call a walk in the park. You have to put some effort into it. It isn't right to put down those who made a great effort WHEN YOU DIDN'T. IT'S NOT RIGHT!!!  
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can't believe this thread is still getting this much play.
Reply #84 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ever since I started paying Wincustomize, I have seen nothing but garbage on here!


Granted, you've been a member longer than I have, but how many damn skins do you need. I have over 100 WB skins downloaded and I haven't even used 1/4 of them.

Also, I am paying to use this and to be able to download skins, but there is limited skins to download I am not paying for this crap!


Hey, why don't you go to the local store, buy a box of tissues, and cry me a F*****G River...You Never Needed A WinCustomize SubScription to Download Anything WC Offers.

Someone is getting rich of this Wincustomize site.


WinCustomize makes no...NO PROFIT! Actually, according to DrNick and CerebroJD from UnderTheSkin, WC looses about 300k a year.

It's neanderthal's like you that reap what you sew. I know of an up-and-coming artist who no longer loads his work to WC, just because of comments from people like you.

If you don't like what WC has to offer than leave. Do you actually believe publicly displaying your hatred towards skins, Skinners will simply become motivated to upload or continue to upload here?

You know, from all this me me me talk, I would have thought you were a U.S. citizen...I would never have thought you were Canadian.
Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Can't believe this thread is still getting this much play.


WOM, I can't believe people are actually saying WinCustomize has horrible skins, or bitching about the subscription. Every skin can't be perfect. Also, I'm a student, I have to pay my own way (no grants, no mommy or daddy). Even I can afford the $20 a YEAR subscription to WC. So what's the problem...everyone nowadays feel like they deserve everything in life for free. The only reason I even purchased a WC subscription, was an attempt to support WC in it's continuing effort to bring the user great skins for the software Stardock provides...period.
Reply #86 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I recently seen in a screenshot that 'Diafragma uploaded and I have to say in my opinion that that was the ultimate, if someone can tackle that and make something similar. That would definitely set a whole new standard and way that skins are made here, and especially to those a like bright flashy colors also. ...whispering 'a little bug in the hereee...' -fading out'.

 

I know which one you are talking about and just hang in there. Someone (oopsy ) might just be working on one as you speak.   

 

Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Now NightTrain, that's what I'm talking about! and you are definitely one of the greats that's still here. Scion as well, that was a perfect statement you made, and true. I anticipate just about everything you put out, because you both produce badass skins, only but a handful does in my opinion, and those works gets plenty of airtime, on my home and office systems.
When customers visit my office, or I have get-togethers in my home, especially in my home and they come down to my 'LAIR, I would expect them to see my elaborate gallery first, my tall manikins with my bat-suits I made displayed on it, and others. But the first thing they notice is my 19'inch screen flat-panel, and the gadgetry over at my work-station, the first thing they notice is really how my desktop is set-up, then my gallery

First they say is 'Wow, which os you run? I reply 'Just winxp, 'How do you get your os to look like that, my reply 'Windowblinds. So now people who I know that has computers, are now rolling over to this site, and purchasing w.b., and downloading skins, and call me up and be like 'Man, did you see so and so skin, etc. So now, I have to keep my desktop updated and fresh to stay ahead of the Jones, and I absolutley love it.

So, because of simple word-of-mouth, which is to me one of the best forms of advertising, keeps wincustomize growing on my part. Loyal fan here-
Reply #88 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No lynching? 

crap.   
I was up for a good lynching.  Needed to get outta my stump and work out some kinks from last Troll Thumping Day.

Oh well...

wait.... how 'bout ejf...lynch?



Ramesese, you gotta remember, it's not always what you intended to write...but what was read.
You've been here long enough to have seen the other posts like this that were written and how well received they were (mainly because of the way they were written).
If you try it again... I suggest you 1st mail it to Jafo and let him proof read it.  





Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
bichur...i wasnt just trying to calm things down a little, but im definitely on board for the eltonjohnfan lynch, he's a putz! hes a putz, oops i already said that
Reply #90 from WinCustomize Forums Top
im definitely on board for the eltonjohnfan lynch


I'm in. Anyone seen my good thumping stick?
Reply #91 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anyone seen my good thumping stick?


If you can't find it, check with Po'.  I'm pretty sure he's got some extras.   
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here's the thing, I don't completely disagree with original post. I'd have to agree that skinning has seemed to lost a certain flair, and polished edge that it once had. However, thing is, long ago, when customizing was younger, it was also easier. There was less to skin. Skinning is way too large of a time investment anymore for your average hobbiest. So the bulk of works seem to come from people who make their living from customizing, or from people who are new to the community.

I, myself, have 4 IconPackages completely mapped out. Some are drawn and need colored, etc etc. And I dabble if I ever find time, but fact is they've been merely collecting dust for like 2 years now. Before when it only took a night or two to complete and entire skin, it was fun. However now the programs, and community are more demanding, so more time needs to be invested. And when you're working an awful job for $6 an hour 40+ hours a week it's hard to find any motivation to make anything...

Though you know... my skins were always kind of ridiculous... so yeah... my place in this matter is probably pretty moot.
Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is more fun than reading the comments that follow each news article on Yahoo.   

I'll confess to being someone who gets tired of all the dark and gloomy skins. It's nice to see a colorful and cheerful one now and then. And as far as sternengalaxy goes, I have 4 of his skins which ties him with one other person as having the most WBs on my computer. Different strokes for different folks.

A friend of mine nearly 35 years ago in a momment of drug induced awareness of a universal truth said the following words which I still believe in today:

If you can't dig it, f*ck it.
If you can't f*ck it, go to your rooom.
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Im not saying Im great, but I hav got a whole lot better that the last time I was here:

Reply #95 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kids...lol
Reply #96 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At the time i decided to try my hand at skinning for Windowblinds, i had little refference on how to creat a skin except for the help of other skinners who have been doing this for some time and a little brain power. The low quallity skins you refer to are probably beginners like me. SkinStudio is an overwellming program to get used to when you don't have instructions, and sometimes i need instructions. The big time quallity skinners have moved on to bigger and better things. So give us begginers a break. In time we will give you the quallity skins you are looking for. 
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Bmaker... Please consider how you are phrasing things.  I dont think the amount of excellent skins has gone down... I think the proportion of them has gone down due to the amount of 'new' skinners taking things into their own hands.  I think its great that there are alot of new submissions, but alas, I agree with the low vision of quality amonst them.  So yes, the average may be lower, but its worth it to find the new gems by authors like Josephs.  I think that you need to make the effort to find the good stuff, not just expect it to float to your doorstep.  Remember, if you dont like it here... you are free to 'move along' if nothing else...

Oh, for the record, I'm Canadian, and I suspect if you keep up your method of provocation, you'll find that it doesnt get you very far.  I find your comment rude and distasteful.
Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top

#96 by Bmaker
Wednesday, July 12, 2006 2:52 AM

This post has been deleted. Bmaker your reference to New York was uncalled for and would cause offence to a great many people.

Lets keep this board civilised.

Reply #99 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks Fuzzy.

...I sat here and typed a long response to that comment ...none of it was nice, and I [luckily] thought twice about posting it. Glad you got rid of it.

Reply #100 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ditto Eric! I wrote several responses to that dribble which I deleted. I had to take a walk before I posted it. Even now my blood is boiling! This thread needs to be locked!