Need Alittle Help PLEASE

Infected Desktop

https://www.wincustomize.com/ViewSkin.aspx?SID=1&SkinID=5013&LibID=1&comments=1
from WinCustomize Forums
Greetings. If you haven't already critiqued my very first skin ever I am sure you have something negative to write about it anyway considering not much of you like it. I made this skin for the user who is like me who likes to have the task bar doubled and who loves green. Noticing that there aren't many green skings out there like this. I spent 3 weeks on this skin and learned to use Flash in the process for part of it. After reading the comments on it I am looking for help from anyone who is willing to make this skin as perfect as posssible. Considering I am new at this, please go easy on me and make sure you tell me what is wrong in great detail. I will listen to any and all inquires and tey to make this skin appealling for all. PLEASE HELP.
windowblinds
3,809 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would have to try it out first, but I can suggest a couple of things from the screenshot.
1. You have quite a few rounded corners, but they are a bit jagged. What software do you use to create the graphics? See if you can enable anti-aliasing when you draw the shapes.
2. Even so lightly less intense red for the window borders? Not much, 10-20% darkness to it perhaps...

Note, this is just suggestions based on my personal taste. Use or discard by your own judgement. It's your skin after all.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I use photoshop to do all the pictures. Should i be using something else?
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Photoshop is fine. Just wondered. Makes it easier to explain how to do things when you know what tools you are using.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It looks fine to me, except for:

The fonts. Alot o them are hard to read.
The taskbar buttons: I see light edges where they are supposedly not supposed to be.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the general concept is very sound, but being your first skin, you will find that it's all in the details, as the comments on skin have pointed out.

Don't get discouraged. I'd love it if people were as critical of my work. Sometimes it is easy to read too much into the tone of a comment, and overlook the content.

With all that feedback you can keep and discard what advice you like, and are better prepared for your next endeavor.

I also think that it is OK to skin for a limited audience, like those who like high contrast skins and double height start bars. But remember that the audience will be limited, and may folks won't find it as useful as you do.

So, my 2 cents. I ike the idea of an old school monochrome monitor look, with enough extra touches to keep it modern. Perhaps if the font was changed to look a bit more like the old dot-matrix types (while still remaining readable at different scales - a difficult balance). And I like yellow (as in the active tab). If you adjusted this color to a more orange Amber color, and used it in place of some of the red, it might be neat. Then again, it's your skin...

I say keep at it. A lot of folks, me included, don't realize the enormity of effort it requires to make a complete, working windowblind, and their comments may not reflect the humbleness they should feel.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't get discouraged. I'd love it if people were as critical of my work. Sometimes it is easy to read too much into the tone of a comment, and overlook the content.


Agreed. I find critics good, as long it's reasoned for. I'd say reasoned critic is better than positive comments. In any case it's better than no comments.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Awesome. that helps alot. anything else? I will get to work on it rigth away.