Screen Shots in Newest section.

When I click gallery > newest = I see 18 Screen shots out of 48 newest.

Something I had wanted on the other site when clicking on the Gallery tab was to be able to customize which galleries would show up (like we can do with the gallery nav section). It used to show the latest 5 skins or so from ALL the galleries, and out of what, 20 or something of them I only cared about maybe 5. Just thought it would be nice to customize what results we get, afterall, this is a customization site.

Hey Bichur, Im talking on front page of general galleries where only six newest are ever shown, and half the time theyre all screenshots

Its funny cause I almost started a thread about this earlier today. I was wondering why they are still in the new skin section too. It was discussed on the old site that the screen shot section would not be listed on the right side as a gallery selection because the section needed the space for newer stuff coming out with Vista etc. Then the daily shots were removed from the front page and delegated to the "Gallery" page and you have to scroll to the bottom to find it. The " Daily Shot " hasn't been changed for 8 days. Its like its been forgotten. But new screen shots get uploaded to the front page as a new skin. That just doesn't make much sense at all.

Hey Bichur, Im talking on front page of general galleries where only six newest are ever shown, and half the time theyre all screenshots

ah. and yep, 3 outta six.

ah. and yep, 3 outta six.

3 too many

And......I click on screen shots every day - I still enjoy looking at them.

Many skinners started out making screen shots.

But it seems a bit unfair that new skins that sat in mod queue for a few days get uploaded and then get pushed aside by screen shots that get uploaded usually twice a day. Some are uploading 5 screen shots a day every day.. The week before one had 5 screen shots with same WB and wall in all 5 shots - all that was different was icon placement. Just seems unfair to those that make skins - especially a WB that takes 2 weeks to make.

i wholeheartedly agree...

hey Fairry~ you wouldn't be talkin about that Oh let's see now my memory might be a bit hAZy Dude but oh well maybe I'll think of who you're talking about if I work on it some more. Let's see I think I'll do a dozen screens on Vista Blista, Vista all over the place, Vista Blue, Vista Pink, Vista World, Vista Earth and then I'll do Vista Blista 2, Vista Blue Anew and well you get the idea. Should have them all completed in 30 mins and the only thing you'll be able to see are my screen shots.

hey Fairry~ you wouldn't be talkin about that Oh let's see now my memory might be a bit hAZy Dude but oh well maybe I'll think of who you're talking about if I work on it some more. Let's see I think I'll do a dozen screens on Vista Blista, Vista all over the place, Vista Blue, Vista Pink, Vista World, Vista Earth and then I'll do Vista Blista 2, Vista Blue Anew and well you get the idea. Should have them all completed in 30 mins and the only thing you'll be able to see are my screen shots.

Right now there are 3 that seem to think that quantity is better than quality.
But I was referring to someone that all 5 shots looked exactly the same - all that was changed in all 5 shots were icons. I still think no one should upload more than 1 shot a day period. Its not fair to those that put a lot of effort into their shots either.
But the fact still remains - screen shots are not skins...they dont belong on front page as " new skins "

I totally agree.

Okay it was my best guess as to who it could be, but in any case you're right screen shots shouldn't be filling the newest gallery of the front page. Even the Screen Shot of the Day (week?) is at the bottom of the gallery page. The front page being cluttered with the latest gratuitous screen shot grafitti upload cheapens the sight. Looks like the sight needs some work.

I think a filter would be the best option.

I 'll never say anything against screenshots, because I started in this category before trying anything else, and it gave me taste in skinning...but :

I agree with my friends about SS in newest section. I could make 10 shots a day if I wanted, it's not the same for a WB...


On the opposite, I think the daily shot has his place on home page.Its the only gratification for members who dont skin anything else.

Why are the WB's and Icons and DX widgets and Walls and everything here being made? For people to use them. Doesn't it make sense to show off what people are doing with this art? Doesn't it help the site? Doesn't it ultimately help the artist. To see how different people from all over the world interpret these creations and use them. I think that's valuable and I think Brad sees that too. It can only be a good thing. Skinners should be happy that people are using their creations in ways that they may not have thought of using them. Isn't this the purpose of creating all these skins? For people to use them?

Chasbo no ones saying that screenshots shouldnt be made or shown,they do have their merits and they do have their own gallery, I just dont think they should be in the new skins gallery.

Chasbo I would agree that screenshots show off what people are doing with the things they dl, but they should be required to link to the things they used in making the screenshot. I don't know how many times I've seen something in a screenshot that I would like to get, but have know idea what the skin is called even, to search for it. The vast majority might have a couple of words in the description, like "thx to artists", completely useless.

As far as screenshots in the "Newest", I think screenshots should be put in a seperate Newest section.

Newest Skins



Newest Screenshots



Simplest and most logical solution imho...

Skinners should be happy that people are using their creations in ways that they may not have thought of using them. Isn't this the purpose of creating all these skins? For people to use them?

Chasbo, I always look at your screen shots. Screen shots are a great way for skinners to see their work being used. I love to look at screen shots and see how others match up different elements with blinds and walls. Some take all day making one screen shot.

The main point that buzzh58 was making is when anyone looks at the " Newest" section they are checking for the newest skins. Sometimes the whole section is filled with screen shots. If you had spent 2 weeks making a windowblind wouldnt you like to see it listed as " New" for more than 30 seconds ? There are only 6 places for " newest" So your new windowblind is followed by 6 screen shots mostly by the same person and now your windowblind is bumped off the page already. That is the only thing being debated here. If WC suddenly wanted to get rid of screen shots altogether , I'd be the first in line to oppose that idea.

Dragonmage: I agree about screen shots with no info on what elements were used to make shot. But you can't force people to do it. Thats what makes a good screen shot and a mediocre screen shot and it's why you can rate them.
Sometimes people just make an occasional screen shot so they might not even remember where they got the items they used. Most that make SS's daily do include info and will always send you a wallpaper if they don't remember where they got it.

I stand corrected. I agree that people should list what went into the shot.

Not actually making skins, I guess I was a little out of line. Sorry.

On the opposite, I think the daily shot has it's place on home page. It's the only gratification for members who dont skin anything else

I tend to agree with this. A more visible high quality screen shot of the day helps the sight and promotes skinner's work.  

8:30 am and this is your " Newest " section...5 screen shot ( 3 by the same person ) and 1 winamp.

I think I'll just go back to making screen shots ....

I agree...When I log in, I first read the front page articles, then I'm off to the newest gallery looking for new skins period and I'm getting tired of doing this because of all the screenshots
Please remove them from the newest skin section

I believe they are a vital part of the site, allowing people to see both the programs and skins in action and motivating downloads of both. But when I can't find those new skins it defeats the whole purpose
Yes I have uploaded screenshots and when I allowed myself to get too caught up in uploading too frequently I stopped. I will upload occasionally. I want my screenshot to highlight the skins that made it great, so its important to include all the info about them. Many a google search has helped , but too many walls are listed as #'s only

but agree with

Dragonmage: I agree about screen shots with no info on what elements were used to make shot. But you can't force people to do it. Thats what makes a good screen shot and a mediocre screen shot and it's why you can rate them. Sometimes people just make an occasional screen shot so they might not even remember where they got the items they used. Most that make SS's daily do include info and will always send you a wallpaper if they don't remember where they got it.

On the opposite, I think the daily shot has it's place on home page. It's the only gratification for members who don't skin anything else I tend to agree with this. A more visible high quality screen shot of the day helps the sight and promotes skinner's work.

Maybe the most important reasoning for including the daily shot on the homepage is that many new or potential users have little or no idea what each program does and how the skins are used.
And of course free advertising !~!

It's My Secret

As has been pointed out, the issue is that we have a few people who will churn out a dozen screenshots a day.  A screenshot is cool to show off what a skinner is working on, and sometimes to see how people are combining skins and icons and other elements to create really nifty looking desktops.  However, a lot of screenshots don't show anything off that's interesting.  A lot of screenshots are just shots of a WindowBlind skin another skinner uploaded.  Skins have preview shots that serve the same purpose.

We're looking into what would be involved in filtering screenshots out of the "Newst" view.  No promises on that though as it may be more complex than we anticipate.

WB skins are really the core of this site. The work that it takes to create a great skin has gotten more and more intensive as the years go by. In my view they deserve a dedicated what's new display.

I also think that screen shots are very important as an entre into desktop customization and it would be interesting to know how many skinners actually started with screen shots. People get to know the programs and the capabilities of same when they try to emulate a great screen shot set up. If they are so inclined they will go on to further ventures and perhaps become skinners themselves.
"Going public" with first endeavors should always be encouraged and seeing the work online is rewarding to say the least. Keep the screen shot of the day on the front page.

So, I end up feeling that a separate what's new for Window Blind skins would be the way to go. Iknow this will open a panordas box for every other category wanting a dedicated what's new section but it would be just too much so it would have to be excepted that it is only WB's that get the separate area and put in the category of "life in the big city".

I still think a Newest Skins and a Newest Screenshots section would be the best way to go