NightWingDragron, polygons!!!!

I couldn't remember the word in English, hence I used another word being a small surface, I came with triangle...

Funny thing is, Polygon is Polygone in French, I should have dropped the "e", for crying out loud, now I look like a dumb a**...   

NightwingDragon,
My 3D Modeling knowledge is purely theoretical (I know the maths behind the magic, and that's it). I just can't be bothered with the huge learning curve required by these types of application to get correct results.

Thank you for your sharing knowledge proposal anyway, this is nice!

Take care, and keep on skinning!

Hey Brad!

I know this thread is old, but, since I had been using 3ds max for my icons ans wallpapers, I completely agree with the fact that skinning will be entering the 3rd dimension and sooner that most people think. Especially since Aero is setup the way it is. And with tools like Expressions Blend, the possibilities of this happening are very good.

I think the biggest hurdle for me going from 2d to 3d was lighting. Getting used to the fact that just because I painted the object a certain shade of blue, it may not show up that same shade of blue in the render. Learning about lighting and rendering is half the battle. I'm still learning it.

I think one of the main advantages will be taking your typical desktop controls and giving them dimension. Being able to turn the control in 3 space and giving it a whole new set of functionality would be a big step in UI.

Thanks Brainiac! So it's actually been quite awhile since I've played with a three dimensional graphics program... what's everybody using these days? Seems like Bryce is popular.

3d sounds like something we will all do i guess....like vista......who knows, maybe one day we will have those crazy cool pc's were menu's rotate and wait to be clicked or something.....(sounds very startreck...)

I haven't messed with animation much in WB skins, but it seems like theres a lot of open doors there where you could create objects that spin around and such. Xino, you're correct that its impossible to create a true 3D environment, but if someone really worked on it, i bet you could at least add elements of 3D realism into a skin. Maybe the next windows fx program will include some 3d stuff

In the Architecture world this is akin to the differences between ACAD and Revit.

Both can arrive at the same result....namely a 2 dimensional working drawing, but the methodology of arriving at the printable result is quite different.

The former is a hackneyed re-hash of antiquated tech-drag manual thinking...the latter actually draws the way an Architect thinks...rather than the way a Draftsman thinks.

The outcomes can be identical....but the journeys aren't...

Close minded indeed.

nice job on the panorama.. wheres the Dream?

whatever.

I've tried to give my own personal opinions and my experiences with the programs I've used for years. Yet every time I do someone has to make a seemingly personal attack. whether you believe it or not "close-minded" is an attack and personal.

I have yet to argue with anyone on here and disparage their own opinions. I merely speak from my own experience in using 3d to create a windowblinds skin.

any photoshop user worth his skill can easily create a an object from the shape tool, add a gloss overlay, drop down the opacity, use the airbrush for little touches of highlights, add a drop shadow using a layer style or a black object blurred or airbrushing. that step I just stated right there only takes a few minutes. yet in 3d, you need to create a shape, use a deformation tool on it. set up the lighting, then texture wrap it. that in and of itself takes at least an hour for a simple object.

so forgive me if you don't agree with me. I never tried to make anyone think like me. don't state that "just because you can't do it.." the point is I can do it, but it's not nearly as useful to use a 3d program as it is to create the 3d-like object in photoshop. it's quicker and more streamlined.

I can give many examples of other artists out there who use these same techniques, but I can tell from the tone of some of these messages that no one cares to actually listen or do the research.

this is the sole reason why I never get involved in forums of any kind until I saw this post. no one can seem to disagree without making personal judgements. this will be my last WC forum post. Although I'm sure vstyler will just love that.