Just want a Suggestion

[Calrobowiz]

Hi I just wanted to know how I could change the shape of my skin. I know that it looks too much like the base skin and would appreciate if someone could help me on a theme as well. Do you think that the colors look good or are they to dark? Please let me know. I have included my skin in this message.

Sincerely,
Chase L.

[GoldenSphynx]

I really don't like the mix of colors. You've got reds, greens, purples, bl;ack...in other words, too many to make it eye pleasing.

Actually, the reason why it looks so much like the base skin is because all you did was change a couple colors. Remember you can change the shapes of anytyhing as long as everything is in the same spot. Have a look at Skinner's Atlas (http://www.1001winampskins.com/skin_details.html?skin_id=2499). It will help you get the most out of your creativity.

[StillWater]

Well, as GoldenSphynx (and you yourself) said, it's just the base skin with different colours. It's always a good idea to use a template like "Skinner's Atlas", because it makes the job easier. But in this case, it might also be beneficial for you because a template is much more neutral than the base-skin, and would be more likely to force your imagination to build a skin over the template, rather than just going with what is already there and modifying it.

For a lot of people, a good way to start your first skin is to make a picture skin. That's how I started, so that's what I'll suggest, though others started differently, and would suggest different thigns.

Use the skeletons.bmp or skeletons2.bmp in a template like Skinner's Atlas to start with. Pick a picture you like, and place it in a place where you think it will get least in the way of the buttons and sliders, and the ball has started rolling already...then put in buttons and sliders in a fashion that (a) you think will suit the skin (b)will be easy to use (c) will compliment the picture rather than clutter it up. For example, here's a skin where the components clutter the picture mercilessly:

http://classic.winamp.com/skins/detail.jhtml?componentId=83125

And here's a skin (yes, it's one of mine, sorry about the pimp), where the picture and the components co-exist somewhat more harmoniously:

http://www.1001winampskins.com/skin_details.html?skin_id=2497

don't know if that helped. Feel free to ask us more questions.