I started on a new skin last night...

[iomegajaz]

[ click here to jump to my post with the latest screenshot and ZIP links ]



[Edited by iomegajaz on 12-27-2000 at 03:35 AM]

[iomegajaz]

Ack. I think it looks a lot better against a dark BG. Right-click on it, and choose Set As Wallpaper. Just make sure you remember the filename of the pic you had as your wallpaper beforehand so you can restore it after looking at the skin. I'd go for "Center" too. Heh. "Tile". Ack.

Yes, I do know I could just upload a black-bg html page you could view it on, but, umm, damn it. I'll make one. Gimme a sec

Here: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~iomegajaz/skinpage.html [mutter] . . lazy sods . . [/mutter]

[Jongmin]

Is it your first skin? (or is it not?)

I say, it's pretty neat.

[iomegajaz]

Umm, no it isn't my first. My Others

"Neat" huh? OK, I can live with that.

[ampburner]

Cool skinyou got goinig on there Jaz! keep on skinning!

[Xerxes]

Dont ask me why, but when i look at it I am reminded of my ultimate dream car... a 60's Jaguar in "British Racing Green" with a natural leather interior...

I say remove the little paint dripping effect... so it looks more sleek and less "sloppy"....

this could end up very posh if done right ...

[John M]

cant say much for your taste (or lack thereof) in music, but i like that skin. If u finish it, i'll use it.

[DEckaRD]

I like it, but please keep the paint dripping effect...

[The Only Lynx]

nice colors... i like!!!
keep me posted on this skin... i think im gonna like it a lot...

[iomegajaz]

Oops. Xerxes, I didn't see your post before continuing on with the skin, but I did however see Deckard's. The paint effect is still there, and I;ve just now done most of the Equaliser window:

Preview image on a black background.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~iomegajaz/skinpage.html
--
Download and play with it.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~iomegajaz/_New.zip



Do you still think the dripping look isn't a good one for this skin Xman? I might do two skins, an XJ-6ish version sans the drips, and one with, for the kids (me included ).

As always, I'm after any comments/suggestions/etc anyone has on the skin. Cheers.

[Xerxes]

Most definetely make a straight version... you establish all these right angles and clean circles..... and then to have the sloppy dripping like ruins it for me... make a clean version =)

[cappy17]

Well, with the "paint dripping" limited to the vis area, and with the EQ window up, they sort of complement each other. But in the end, I agree with Xerxes, I'd like the paint drips in the Main window cleaned up.

Ice; another excellent study in minimalist but still functional Winamp skins. Looking forward to the finished version. The EQ has more depth feel to it than the Main. Can you knock back some of those gradiated edges?

Looking forward to the final version.

[chiquita chad]

i really like this skin
i agree...get rid of the paint drips...i like the transparency but i dont like having the main button thingy blocked or hidden in this case ... (E.G...theres this skin over at skinz.org called acoustic blue...it has a transparency in the titlebar but it doesnt cover up the file button)

but its your skin so its your decision

i love the EQ bars

nice work

[iomegajaz]

Originally posted by cappy17
Ice; . . . Can you knock back some of those gradiated edges?

Firstly, "Ice"?

Secondly, it's like I read your mind. I got some GREAT feedback from RM last night after he gave the skin the once-over, and I have reduced the dramatic gradient/bevel on the EQ.

I've also now semi-skinned the PL, MB and Album List windows, and I've uploaded a new screenshot and ZIP file.

Screenshot
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~iomegajaz/skinpage.html

Download:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/~iomegajaz/_New.zip

As a temporary measure whil I think of ideas, I've used the Winamp3 lookalike's PL buttons, and WSDskins' MB buttons.

Chiquita: You say you don't like the dripping, yet you like the EQ bars. Is this because you think that the bars are different enough to be described as looking like something else? ie. If I took off the effect on the visualisation area in the Main window, you wouldn't think of the EQ bars as paint drips. Is this correct?

Once again, thanks for the piles of comments everyone.

[iomegajaz]

Stuff remaining to do: (please feel free to add to this list for me, as I might forget some stuff)

Something about the vis. area's paint effect.
More contrast on winshade Main's cbuttons.
Move the ovals under the cbuttons closer to the actual button areas.
Something about the posbar. Maybe an oval. Ideas?
PL buttons.
MB buttons.

Chiquita: About the Main control button in the transparent top-left corner.
I actually took this into consideration when I started the skin. If you want to use the control button, simply open up the ZIP file and take out the region.txt file. All the windows' top-left corners are blacked-out, so they would all look the same if you did this.

I also recommend this option to anyone who doen't have a predominantly black desktop.
btw If I'm boring y'all senseless with this self-involved banter, I apologise. I just love skinning. I know you know what I'm talkin bout. Heh. What'choo talkin' bout everybody. (name that quote and win a prize!)

[DEckaRD]

todo add.:
Eq buttons (on/off, auto, presets)

suggestion:
I think the minimize/close buttons are too much blured.

comment:
The Eq is much better now.

[chiquita chad]

what i meant by that:
i like the EQ bars more because the serve more of a purpose...the paint drips under the visualization area is more of a free-form "blob" while the EQ paint drop is a straight line ... i suggest that you make it more like a "blob" like above ... the 2 paint drips just dont interlock with each other...

but its your skin so do what you want to do

[flatmatt]

Hmmm... downloaded the skin... I don't really like the transparency except on a black background... also, it doesn't match the playlist...

[DEckaRD]

Originally posted by iomegajaz
[ click here to jump to my post with the latest screenshot and ZIP links ]

Cool! I didn't know that you can do that!

[Edited by DEckaRD on 12-27-2000 at 03:49 PM]

[Jayn]

Jaz....what a cute start!

Since you said you are making 2 versions.....on the 'drippy' version, make the EQ drips 'blobbier' I like the way the vis area on the main is done....nice and blobby!

Are you going to do any further transparency? The transparency you have is nice, but it kinda looks odd (to me) since there are only the 2 little portions on Main and EQ cut out.

I like it! I like the 'blobs'

[Xerxes]

Jaz- that's Gary Coleman's catch phrase if i'm not mistaken....

[Xerxes]

What's with the letter Q in the equalizer title? Is it supposed to be all raised like that?

[iomegajaz]

Gary Coleman, yes. Specifically, his appearance on The Simpsons where he ends the phrase with "everybody".

The Q is meant to be raised, like the Y in Playlist, the W in Minibrowser, and the L and S in Album List. I take it you're not in favour of it? The Q was originally raised because its tail fell below the 14-pixel titlebar.

Jayn: I'm going to do the "straight" version first I think, but rest assured I will do a blobbier version as well. Now I have to think what to do with the EQ bars and the vis. area. Hmm..... /me thinks.

[cappy17]

iomegajaz; jeez . Sorry about the "Ice" thing. I know who I'm talking too, even if I did use the wrong name (quick, another hit of eggnog, please). That's what I tell my kids, anyway. (See, you're like family to me...)

I agree with Chiquita Chad, that the EQ sliders are "straight" enough that they stand alone if you straightened out the vis area.

The trasparent corner really depends on the user's desktop. Is this a wise move for a designer to make? Requiring one to edit the zip bumps the skin into the "advanced user" category.

Looking forward to the final product, Jaz.

[Mr Jones]

hmmmm, my two pennys worth.
Yummy colour, always partial to a bit of british racing green, even if it is now owned by Ford.
eq bars, curvy is good, altho could you blend them into the green frame instead of having the lighter bar at the top.
transparancy, hmmmm, not sure, dosn't serve a purpose to me, seems to be transparancy for transparancys sake, fill the rest of the bar in, sure it would look better.
Just an opinion, feel free to ignore them
Back to the day job

[Riksruin]

Thats a very kool design ya got goin there jaz, i like it a lot.

YAY some one other than me like wheatus, i Love teenage dirtbag

[chiquita chad]

who doesnt like wheatus ... their song is getting old tho

you guys should download copenhagen girl by buzz poets

i shouldnt have brot this up here in skin love but you started it!!!

[flatmatt]

Wheatus sucks.

[iomegajaz]

Thanks for adding to this thread, flatmatt, I didn't want to have to do a search for it.

I've just altered the CButtons, removed the transparency, realigned the titlebar texts, reshaped the vis area, cropped the posbar, darkened the Main window's winshade cbuttons, umm, I think that's it. I'll upload a screenshot when I'm done for the day.

ps. "Wheatus sucks"? So does all pop music, but it's the best to dance to, so I listen to it. It doesn't hurt anyone. No harm, no foul, mmkay?

[flatmatt]

Unfortunately, they play "Teenage Dirtbag" on the local rock station ( http://www.89xradio.com ). And that damn Nelly Fratata crap, too. BTW, I let the damn dogs out, now shut up!!!!