Getting Started.. Lost as hell

sanitysama · 4th August 2006, 15:09

I've decided to make a modern winamp skin. I'm looking at the xml code and changing parts of it but it's just not coming together or making any sense. I've started by looking at code, what image is affiliated to it, then changing the image and trying to move it around. Why did they make the modern skin so complicated? I'm trying to use it as a base to get started but there's way too many elements. What kind of elitist coded this expecting people to be able to modify it with ease?

Complaints and grievances aside, I was wondering where the rest of you started.

..and why isn't there some kind of skin editing program for the modern skin yet?

Mr Jones · 4th August 2006, 15:23

Because no two skins are the same when you start to make modern ones, hence it'd be pretty tricky to make a editor for one, well you could, but they'd probably all turn out looking the same, which kind of defeats the point.

I started by hacking up someone elses skin, asking questions and reading tutorial.

best bet is to not start with the default modern skin, it's one of the most badly constructed skins you can look at as a beginner, rip apart a few others you find on line first, they are usually easy to follow, then start with some tutorials, there are plenty to go at in here...
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=134422

sanitysama · 4th August 2006, 15:46

Thanks for replying. Can I ask another question? What unit of measure is the width and height? It's definately not pixels, and if it is, I'm going to need an explanation as to why the width and height in the xml differs from the actual dimensions of the image in the element.

Mr Jones · 4th August 2006, 15:48

It's pixels as far as I know.
H="10" w="10" will always give you a 10x10 square.

TheElusiveMelon · 4th August 2006, 15:50

It is pixels. In the elements file of Winamp Modern i think sometimes they have one image that contains say 10 buttons, so when defining the individual button images, an x,y, width and heighet are needed for winamp to "cut out" that image from png file.

I learnt my XML by copy and pasting from Winamp Modern really, just takes a while to get your head round it. Dont be afraid to take apart other skins too, sometimes it is easier to see whats going on in a more basic skin. Also, the very basics are online in the Development section of this website (see the links at the top of the page...)

Hope that helped somewhat...

Mr Jones · 4th August 2006, 15:56

You know, as crap as it looks, Simple skin is a really good one to take apart and see how it all fits together, shit I even commented most of the XML as well for a change when I V5'd it...

http://www.winamp.com/skins/details.php?id=142323

Hardly any main scripting in it, just put out XML.

FrankCefalu · 4th August 2006, 20:22

I started coding 2 weeks ago and using the basic skin helped me alot and you got great ppl here to help.

Askey · 5th August 2006, 04:21

frisbees tut taught me the basics, and im still doing my first skin now (edb) mainly thanks to that and pulled apart other skins

hurricanedavid · 17th October 2006, 14:37

Yeah. I'm new and I'm glad I found frisbeeMonkey's tutorial. It really helped me from the point of not knowing anything about skinning.

4th August 2006, 15:09	#1
sanitysama Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Getting Started.. Lost as hell I've decided to make a modern winamp skin. I'm looking at the xml code and changing parts of it but it's just not coming together or making any sense. I've started by looking at code, what image is affiliated to it, then changing the image and trying to move it around. Why did they make the modern skin so complicated? I'm trying to use it as a base to get started but there's way too many elements. What kind of elitist coded this expecting people to be able to modify it with ease? Complaints and grievances aside, I was wondering where the rest of you started. ..and why isn't there some kind of skin editing program for the modern skin yet?

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4th August 2006, 15:23	#2
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,020	Because no two skins are the same when you start to make modern ones, hence it'd be pretty tricky to make a editor for one, well you could, but they'd probably all turn out looking the same, which kind of defeats the point. I started by hacking up someone elses skin, asking questions and reading tutorial. best bet is to not start with the default modern skin, it's one of the most badly constructed skins you can look at as a beginner, rip apart a few others you find on line first, they are usually easy to follow, then start with some tutorials, there are plenty to go at in here... http://forums.winamp.com/showthread....hreadid=134422

4th August 2006, 15:46	#3
sanitysama Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Thanks for replying. Can I ask another question? What unit of measure is the width and height? It's definately not pixels, and if it is, I'm going to need an explanation as to why the width and height in the xml differs from the actual dimensions of the image in the element.

4th August 2006, 15:48	#4
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,020	It's pixels as far as I know. H="10" w="10" will always give you a 10x10 square.

4th August 2006, 15:50	#5
TheElusiveMelon Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kent, England Posts: 353	It is pixels. In the elements file of Winamp Modern i think sometimes they have one image that contains say 10 buttons, so when defining the individual button images, an x,y, width and heighet are needed for winamp to "cut out" that image from png file. I learnt my XML by copy and pasting from Winamp Modern really, just takes a while to get your head round it. Dont be afraid to take apart other skins too, sometimes it is easier to see whats going on in a more basic skin. Also, the very basics are online in the Development section of this website (see the links at the top of the page...) Hope that helped somewhat...

4th August 2006, 15:56	#6
Mr Jones Nothing to say... Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: UK Posts: 23,020	You know, as crap as it looks, Simple skin is a really good one to take apart and see how it all fits together, shit I even commented most of the XML as well for a change when I V5'd it... http://www.winamp.com/skins/details.php?id=142323 Hardly any main scripting in it, just put out XML.

4th August 2006, 20:22	#7
FrankCefalu Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New York City Posts: 29	I started coding 2 weeks ago and using the basic skin helped me alot and you got great ppl here to help.

5th August 2006, 04:21	#8
Askey Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 82	frisbees tut taught me the basics, and im still doing my first skin now (edb) mainly thanks to that and pulled apart other skins

17th October 2006, 14:37	#9
hurricanedavid Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11	Yeah. I'm new and I'm glad I found frisbeeMonkey's tutorial. It really helped me from the point of not knowing anything about skinning.