39 and counting (new skin)

[Forevever]

Here's gonna be my number 40th skin!! Yay!!
and damn I like it so far
worried about buttons though - mainly cause I don't have any yet
I definately do not want to go with the usual round, oval, blah blah blah buttons - ... will give it mad mad thought
and if anyone's curious - took me since 8am this morning (counts on her fingers) thats um... 10 hours straight PSP'n

[chiquita chad]

wowzers

i like what you have going so far :cool:

[Ch33zels]

nice! i like the diagonal line thingys!
and the colour is good toooo http://members.fortunecity.com/ch33zels/biggrin.gif:Dhttp://members.fortunecity.com/ch33zels/biggrin.gif

[Nini]

LOL You'll have more skins than Jax soon :D
the brushed surface is fabulous
looks really kool...please finish it!

[skinme!]

Nice skin so far. Now I really like the circular pl buttons (at the bottom for the stacks) and I think they would look really great as the cbuttons but without any symbols |<,>,||,etc.

10 straight hours? :up: now that's dedication

[binary hero]

ooooh purty. Did you do the brushed effect all by hand??

[Forevever]

haven't done anything since the screen shot
I might could move some roundness up to the main form, but I'm not sure yet,.. I'll see how it looks

here's how I got the brush effect
select area
fill with color - #000084
add noise - 100% - random - 3 times
colorize - hue 255 - sat 70
effects/blur/motion blur
between 15 and 45 degrees - 40 pixels
beveled effects are done by inverting selections
and adding a black drop shadow 0 left 0 right 5 blur 100% opacity
re-invert selection and add "colorize" effect again just to smooth out the black

the skin is currently 10 layers - most of those layers are so that none of the borders are touching - makes for easier adjustments and removals if I run into a snag

[Nini]

Some very dark gems could look nice for (inside?) the buttons...:)

[Forevever]

update - I tried the gem thing - didn't look right with all the grain - spent quite a bit of time working and reworking the cbuttons - finally came up with something I like
questions? answers? oreo?

click
* |
* V

[Forevever]

more stuff

http://members.aol.com/forevever/winamp/somethin.gif

looks better on a black background

[binary hero]

/me wishes that that skin would fit in with his LStheme :(
next month I think. actually, that's tomorrow :). OK, don't worry about me. I'm rambling again.

[skinme!]

Looks good. I'll have that Oreo now. Or do I need to write more complimentary comment? OK. Looks great. Loving the ummm, ahhh, err,effect. :D

NO, seriously where's my download link. And my Oreo. Do you have chocolate milk too?

[Forevever]

fresh out of chocolate - milk and oreo's available though :D
no download link yet - I haven't even touched the winshade modes - still need PL details, considering titles, and I think this is the only skin I have ever done that I did not completely hate by this point
I might even go so far as to say it is my absolute best skin - with Impulse in close second.

[edit] LOL how about "Chocolate Rain" for a title :D

[Doggy Dog]

If you wanna name it like that make it a bit browner. Oh yeah, cool skin :D.

[Lucid DM]

Wow. I really like that swishy, shooting texture.
The PL stacks are also really nice.

For some reason it suggests to me some kind of instrument. Something like an ornate organ.

[Ch33zels]

Originally posted by Forevever
I think this is the only skin I have ever done that I did not completely hate by this point

hehe i think thats the reason that out of about 5 skins that ive started, ive only ever fully finished one :D:D:D

chocolate rain would be a cool name, but like doggy said, you'd have to make it browner

[Forevever]

on my screen it looks really brown to me already - but I'm not settled on any name yet

originally posted by ch33zels
hehe i think thats the reason that out of about 5 skins that ive started, ive only ever fully finished one
I have about 6 skins in my "incomplete" folder - which will probably never be finished - I force myself to finish skins for the most part - those particular ones are incomplete because they only have cbuttons, or I forgot how I acheived the original effect, or I left it sit too long - blah blah blah

I'm saving them for when I'm blocked again :D

[PeaceMaker]

Nice choco skin Forever.. well its a little different to most iv'e seen lately, so that's good.

Does the streaks in the equalizer look very slightly off angle compared against the Ws bar?? or am I seeing things again:D
Apart from that, and the fact that my monitor hates dark skins.. its a little ripper.

[garetjax]

hmm

Oval - Punch out...I like the Volbar/balance forever...they were the first things that stood out to me. I like the texture however, I think its a bit underplayed. I think you have the skill to definately advance it a bit more...but, then again I rarely venture out of my arena and may be just and idiot amongst the masses. However, I think the skin has an amazing amount of potential however, falls short to me... Sort of like seeing an amazing scenic painting of st. helens with all the elements (minus the mountain.) YOu have the base so well defined that the elements you are creating are a meer shadow against the full creative ingenuity for which you have already spent an ample amount of time creating.

I dunno...Don't listen to me...I am not very good at this shtuff anyhow. I just sit back and make my own world. LOL.

259 Skins is a far cry from 40...But, hey I'm the only idiot that counts and brags about that (lets not mention that only under 20 are worth a download at all.)

:)
:winamp:

[Nini]

Originally posted by Forevever



and I think this is the only skin I have ever done that I did not completely hate by this point








yeah this is the point everyone hates... :D



LOOKING GREAT SO FAR! :)


what about naming it "red chocolate" :p

[~Supey]

call me crazy ("You're crazy!"), but I don't think it looks like chocolate:o =X

I really like it tho...it's quite nice

[Mr. Bojanglez]

:down: :down: :down:
39 skins and they are still as basic as your first ones, that took you 10 hours of pspin'? All 39 of your skins are basic skins that could be pumped out almost as quick as skinner skins, yet you brag like having 39 skins that are mediocre is something to brag about. Not saying the skin is bad, i've seen worse, i'm just saying the vast majority of your skins are basic, skins thatshow off now real skill. So i'm just wondering, is that the full extent of your capabilties, for someone who has skinned 40 times i'd expect some noticeable progess.

[PeaceMaker]

You see Bojanglez that not everyone is talented as others, even perhaps after they have done 40 or so skins, so what excuse do you have paying someone out who may not appear to skin towards your 'expected quality' level.. your just a mean POS with no excuse to degrade others.

[Mr. Bojanglez]

noooooooooo,
i just said that her 1st skin and 40th skin or whatever he number show no real gap in quality. you'd expect someone to get better over time, and i was just asking if she reach te boundarie of how much she can better way back when she started.
i'm not talking about quality just saying that she doesn't seem to really learn and improve just spit out similar skins like a skinner program.

[skinme!]

Excuse me dear Bojanglez, did you ever see her gold amp? Now that was one the most ornate yet realistic skisn I have ever seen. There is obviously a difference between her first and her second.

Now, onto you. You sit around here all day not sayingone good word about anybody's skins. Yet you have nomilage yourself. You're like a little kid who once almost knocked someone out asking Ali for a fight. Not clever.

[PeaceMaker]

Anyhow, how is your own skin improvements been ever since your first one.. thats if you have one of course.. show a bit of cred someday to the people who atleast are consistant in their skin making abilities.
Post us a SS of ur best effort Mr. Bojanglez.

[Colldawg21]

And make it one that isn't a rip.


Actually it really doesn't matter what Bo says because through his eyes, every skin with effort put into it is crap. His mental retardation allows him to think that the only worthy skins are skinner ones. Unless he's only believing that to raise up a controversy between everyone one who thinks skinner skins suck.

[jasonl]

but realistically, we all like to have mr.bo around right?

hes just messing around, providing the forums with a little life. besides, who actually listens to him?

[skinme!]

Yes, I love Bo, he's my best friend :eek: No, seriously I wish he would just go away. It was funny perhaps the first month (after his banning). Now it's just extremely irritating. If I wanted to have my work called bad just because I put a little too much effort into it I'd go and ask somebody to do it.

[aaron595]

Forevever, the skin looks very nice, however, I would like for you to consider the following changes for the skin.

Change the time clock font color. All the same colors just run together after awhile. Maybe you could just use the same color, but maybe use a lighter hue.

Also, the play buttons, and the record buttons are too dark.

Maybe you could lighten those too. Also an even lighter color would be nice when you mouse over them, say pink creme or maybe even white, as long as it doesnt make the buttons look jagged.

I think though the playlist font color and the play time color should be changed. It would serve as a two-tone, and wouldnt make everything run together.

I'll download it after these things are changed, hope you do so....

In any case, good luck on the skin!

:)

[GLewellen]

I don't mean to sound like an ass or what not, but don't you think you should focus more on quality rather than quantity?

[PeaceMaker]

I think your almost correct when you say quality over quantity, but I also think some people like the way (technique wise) they make their skins, and would not appear to change much from their first through to their latest released skin. This is not the case with Forever where her improvments have been noticable. I try to use different techniques through my skins, but sometimes they never turn out so the idea sits in the 'Askindemo' Folder until they turn into something better :D

[Nini]

quality rather than quantity, eh?



Don't you think that that sound a bit mean? :hang:


I think this skin is sweet and nice and has very much detail (love the highlight on the bars!) :)

[skinme!]

Originally posted by GLewellen
I don't mean to sound like an ass or what not, but don't you think you should focus more on quality rather than quantity?

In general terms you are right - quality is far more important than quantity (unless you work for the government) - but you cannot assign such a term or criticism to somebody or their work without first checking to see if it applies. Take a look at those 40 skins. Perhaps there is one or two you may not like or appreciate - that is normal of any collection - but overall I definetely think that the work shows quality is not abandoned in the quest for quantity (if there is one). Some people work fast, some slow but that is not indicative of the quality of their work. I saw Ripleys Believe It Or Not while holidaying (translation: vacationing) in Florida and it had a segment about a 90 year old man who could paint two A2 oil paintings in 90 seconds. He was fast, due to his specially developed techniques, but they were some of the most detailed oil paintings I have seen. And they were of a great quality. Clearly, in these two cases the term "quality rather than quantity" need not be applied.

[Forevever]

A few things

For starters - I think my skins show a fairly decent quality - and without giving Mr. Bo and even bigger ego - he's right. I do focus on simplicity because I think if I go too overboard the functionality of the skin is lost. However, I do believe I have come a hell of a long way from my first skin (http://www.winamp.com/components/detail.jhtml?componentId=65076), second skin (http://www.winamp.com/components/detail.jhtml?componentId=80619) (I can't really say which is which though cause they were created kinda close together and I just don't remember back that far) and what I personally consider my Best skin (http://www.winamp.com/skins/reviews.jhtml?rOT=C&rOI=87606) and my most recent (http://www.winamp.com/skins/reviews.jhtml?rOT=C&rOI=90648) skin.

As any true skinner will tell you - I skin for myself first - "myself" consisting of what appeals to me first, then what appeals to others - aesthetics and functionality as well as completeness.
In all of my 40 skins, I have never used a skinner.exe - I have never even downloaded a skinner.exe. I spend between 25 and 40 total hours on a skin, and in rare instances I spend a lot more time than that.

This skin is dragging because I don't have the time to spend on it like I want to - I'm considering Jax's suggestions (because I hold him in very high regard) and thinking to combine them with Aaron's suggestions - because they just make sense.

However, I will not over-do it with mad quantities of detail - this skin looks brown on my computer by the way.

Normally I do not present a download until all pieces are functioning - but I'd like more feedback from people who have already suggested changes. So if you wouldn't mind having a look and letting me know in a little more detail what you would like to see, I'll give it my best shot.

In closing I'd just like to say that I'm damn proud of even my worse skin. (And I think Jax should be damned proud of his 200+ skins, even if he only things 10% are worthy)

I try to change up my themes and such - I'd like anyone to have a look at all of my skins (link in my signature) and tell me that every single one of them is a repeat - and if Mr. Bo can continue to run his mouth about it - then he should put his skinning where his mouth is - right here in the Forums. The only skin he has ever claimed was his (and denies now) was pretty good - but haven't seen one since then... how bout it Mr. Bo - show us your skin.

[Nini]

oooh! me likes :)
(So much attention for Mr Bo? Do you really think that he deserves it?)
:D
PS skin looks too dark (hard to see) but now I'm beginning to think that that's this damnd monitor here.... lol :D

[Forevever]

Before and after
http://members.aol.com/forevever/winamp/somethin.gifhttp://members.aol.com/forevever/winamp/somethin2.gif
am I getting somewhere yet? I'm still not sure what Jax would like to see ::hint::

[Lucid DM]

Yeah. Much better!
Clearer, brighter, more solid.

[Forevever]

All done - for now - probably for always - can't stand looking at it no more
http://members.aol.com/Forevever/Skins/chocolaterain.gif (http://members.aol.com/Forevever/Skins/Chocolate_Rain.wsz)
click it to download

[flatmatt]

Sorry, We Can't Find That Page
You might try retyping the URL, or searching below.


:(

[Forevever]

duh I'm a tart - when I uploaded it I named it Chocolate_Rain.gif

try it now or click here (http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/Forevever/Skins/Chocolate_Rain.wsz)

[flatmatt]

Alright, cool, got it going.

Great skin, probably my favorite of yours. Excellent design. :cool:

[garetjax]

Very Nice Indeed and a dramatic improvement and it shows that you indeed have poured something of yourself into both attempts...I find the latter submission more true of your work forever and definatly I see the 'small' changes in the overall character of the design. My suggestion to you was to define your simplicity, and to push its limitations to explore as it were. I love to evolve and explore my designing in every possible way until it no longer carries me onward...resulting me in a final release of something that originally started off being very basic/simple. Take any skin that I have done and revisited for an example of this.


JadeTube
SlickSeries
Ice Fusion
any skin that I have done is relived in many others as I evolve to new designs.


I think you have and do a great job. Your simplistic skins are also, elaborate and detail oriented showing that your really only lacking to move further because, of you being either afraid of moving onward or not really knowing where to 'go' next. Either case staying within the niche that you are now only allows you more practice for which we all need.

Joe W. Garrett

btw: thank you for holding this old skinner in high regard.