Skin So Far Advice!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd4/RobJK/Skinprog.jpg?t=1207392303
from WinCustomize Forums
     I was going for a skin that women would like and men would like. Turns out that when all of the colors are seen together like in the preview It looks Girly? But the pink and green is what you see most of the time and the purple is for all of the mouse overs?
    I am trying to think of another color that would go with those two colors and not be fem. I am not even half done and there are allot of images I have to do over I am just trying to put together a rough draft.  I can not figure out what it is but I HATE THE START MENU! It is bugging me so much and that is the part that was the hardest. Not makeing the image but I had to do the start menu in sks 5 because I dont know haw to open a template image in sks6?

      Since the colors are so bright I wanted to make it sort of a simple skin. Plus this is my first try at a skin. Well I have been practicing for a while but this time  I want to make one that is good enough to be proud of. The notification button looks rough around the edges and I can not figure out why? The Open close min buttons look different heights to me? I just need some advice and tips? Thanks so much.

I cant get any of the insert buttons to work so the external link is the link to the image uploaded at Photobucket. ERRRG! The emoticons wont work EITHER! LOL

2,470 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think you're off to a great start. When I read your post (before I looked at the screeny), I thought to myself "pink and green?" but then I looked at it. Those colors really go well in that blind. They are not too overpowering when mixed with the black background. You're doing a great job so far!

As far as your buttons, are you making .png images and importing them into the blind? The reason I ask is because if your using .bmp images you wont be able to have semi transparency on the rounded corners and it will make them look all 'jaggy'.

It's too hard to tell if your open, close, and min buttons are the same on that screeny. make sure you made them the same size, double check your painting margins too, and double check the positions of them in SKS.

Hope that helps a bit.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, you've got pink, green and purple so far... you could add orange, yellow and some white in there to round it off... maybe even cyan if you need another colour. They're all bright colours and would go well in a skin like the one you're building.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like it and I'm a girl lol!I would like to see the start panel green though(the
same green as in your taskbar buttons.) Keep going its looking good, :D
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if you really hate the startmenu.........just mull over it for a few days, play with different ideas until you are truly pleased with it......its what i do.

you should be able to open yr skin in sk6. just choose open skin, and yr skin should be in the list of skins.

Plus, you should be mostly making this skin in sk6, since its a vista skin by the looks of it, and you will be able to see what needs to be skinned for vista in sk6.


when you open sk6, and you do open your skin there, double click on edit startmenu and taskbar
and window will pop up. you will find all the parts to the start menu in that area..

hope this helps somewhat.

if yr max.min,close buttons are looking different, make sure they are the same size ect, and check the alignment in sk6 also......if they are not all aligned properly ect yes they will be out.

not sure what a notification button is? check your painting margins in sk6 and make sure they are in use......(your picture was hard to see, so the details are still kind of hazy to me)

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a new start menu in mind and Am working on it right now. ? :NOTSURE: My link and Pic insert are not working so you will have to copy and paste... Sorry it annoys me too.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd4/RobJK/startmenu.jpg?t=1207456154

Buttons changed to this...

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd4/RobJK/buttons.jpg?t=1207456221

What format should my screen shots be in when I upload them so that they are best quality possible? Thanks.

Rob
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
OH and Kittymalone, i Do use sk6 for everything except the start menu because To make the start menu I have to use a template image and i dont know how to do that with sk6? Do you? It would be easyier.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
you can make the startmenu any size, just as long as its mathmatically correct.


userpane width = 520 (example)
proglist = 260 width
places list = 260 width

loggoff panel 520 width

the hight is up to you.

sk6 gives you a template when you make a new skin, its in your skin folder. you can either use the template or make your own......i always make my own.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
on an extra note, you can email me if you want, if your having trouble and just feel like extra advice will help you, via email...i can help you there no worries.

skinning outside of the vista box can be a bit daunting, but ive learnt how to tweak it in sk6 so it always turns out right.....(trial and error, this time i got it right....on my latest skin not yet released).......you dont HAVE to stick to the vista template, it can be made differently.

oh.....and for the record.......luv the colours btw......very out there and zany....hmmmm.. i luv that. :D 
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks so much. SOO MUCH. I am just having a hard with the start menu right now. It is the hardest part for me? I will def take you up on that when I have questions.