New to Skinning

[Mandrakkon]

Heya guys, I am new to skinning and want to get started on the right foot.

I was wondering what programs you use?

Do you actually go in and edit all the .bmp files to make your skins or do you use some kind of program that is set up for helping make skins. Cause it seems like it would take forever and a day to edit all the .bmp files. But hey if that is what most everyone does. I just have lotsa spare time and want to pick up skinning

Sorry for the newbie questions but I am very interested in skinning.

[Jellby]

Originally posted by Mandrakkon
Do you actually go in and edit all the .bmp files to make your skins

Exactly

It's not as difficult as it seems, try to start with a simple design and you'll quickly find it easy. You should work over the base skin and Template Amp (both have their pros and cons).

[Atmo]

Some of use use a paint program like photoshop or paint shop pro. Gimp's great and its free too (ive been trying it out this week but prefer psp myself). Or you can use mspaint. There's really no best program for you, its just whichever you feel more comfortable using.

Grab template amp from the link jellby gave you, open it up and have a close look at where everything goes together.

If you need help with anything, dont hesitate to ask.

Welcome to skinlove (WA2 skins) Mandrakkon

[KiwiFreak]

Have a look here for advise on getting started in skinning.

Downloading the template amp is a must, just unzip it into a folder and start working your way through the bitmaps.

What ever you do...don't start using a skinner.exe, you get very little respect because every skin that they churn out looks the same (except for the background pic).

Welcome to skin love

[Mandrakkon]

One thing I am struggling with is to get a Image or picture to stretch over the main and eq. And then to for instance not show the eq buttons or sliders at all.

But I am currently havin great fun editing the .bmp files in Photodraw2000. I hope it can do everything those other programs you mentioned can do.

Thanks for the support all

[Nini]

welcome to skin love





It doesn't take you forever to edit all the bmps, you just have to design your skin in a 275x116 box and crop the parts into the bmps after that (Use template amp to get the coordinates)



Skinning has never been easier

[Atmo]

Originally posted by Mandrakkon
...then to for instance not show the eq buttons or sliders at all....

From both a reviewers point of view, and a winamp users point of view, i have to reccomend you try to include the eq sliders. It makes the skin almost impossible to use without them.

In my own opinion, theres no point skinning the eq if you cant use it.

Have a look around the database and you'll see that there are ways to include them. Im guessing youre basing your skin on a picture, so just try to blend them in with the background somehow. Just give it some thought and you'll find a way.

[KiwiFreak]

Originally posted by Mandrakkon
One thing I am struggling with is to get a Image or picture to stretch over the main and eq. And then to for instance not show the eq buttons or sliders at all.

You can crop the EQ sliders out so that they disappear, but, lots of people like using them, if you can, you're best to leave them in.

If you've trying to fit a picture across the main and Eq, the best thing to do is use the skelton.bmp that's included in the template amp (it's not actually one of the bmps that winamp uses but it makes life easier) throw your pic on and then cut and paste into the normal files.

[Nini]

[offtopic]
Congrats Atmo!!
I just noticed..
[/offtopic]

[KiwiFreak]

Originally posted by Nini
[offtopic]
Congrats Atmo!!
I just noticed..
[/offtopic]

Noticed what?

[Atmo]

Im guessing that after midnight is a DD.

Thanks for the congrats nini

[dam]

Back on the topic: No one told him how long it takes.
Anywhere from 10 hours to 60+ hours

[StillWater]

I strongly recommend Winamp Skin Wizard, especially if you are doing a picture-based skin. (click the link):

http://www.1001winampskins.com/winam...s_buttons.html

[dam]

Those button extactors do save time.

[KiwiFreak]

I've never actually used one, I find it quick enough to just copy across from the the main to the bitmap. I use layers so the template always sits on the bottom and makes it easy to select the required area to copy.

[Atmo]

Thats what i do too kiwi, I have everything done in skeletons before cutting everything out, I also have layers for all the buttons in their pressed and unpressed states etc...

Then the only thing to do is make winshades and avs.

Thats why after midnight only took me a few days to make..

[Jellby]

I work like kiwi, but with the template on top and semi-transparent, I activate it to select the areas and deactivate it to see the skin. I may work with 'skeletons' for my next skin, which is still maturing in my head.

[StillWater]

Sounds like if you use layers, button extractors are pretty pointless. But Mandrakkon, if you use a program that doesn't use layers, then get that button extractor I gave the link for - trust me.

My first skin was a picture skin (photos of people). And finding the exact pixels that you needed to copy for one of the buttons was a bitch, and usually took a couple of tries - especially on someone's face, where most of the pixels are very similar in colour, for example.

[PeaceMaker]

i use skinner.exe to extract the buttons for the main, and use the template to get the rest of the other buttons for the other windows. stuff any other way when with a few clicks its all over.

[Atmo]

But when you animate the buttons in different layers it wont work like that...

[dam]

Used a button extractor on my first skin.That was befor Photoshop.
I do the same thing Kiwi and Atmo do.

[dam]

ignore this.Accidental double post.