In a perfect world what would be great would be a knowledge base where answers to skinning questions can be placed... kind of like an all around skinning FAQ site but more detailed. Maybe instead of asking for help on the message boards people could be kindly directed to the Knowledge base were they could search for their question as well as a message board for the questions that aren’t in the knowledge base?

It could be a central repository for every question “skinning” related. It could give the pros and cons of the graphic apps that people use (that seems to be almost a weekly question) a description of the different applications that can be skinned or used to skin... Like MSDN but for the Skinning community. SDN : The Skinners Developer Network

How would this be originally populated? Maybe by searching the other message boards for key topics or words like "Litestep help" or "how do I". Those answers could then be placed within the knowledge base. It would be a true community effort. It would not host any skins or skinning apps just answers and questions.

I know that software developers currently have their own way of answering these types of questions such as newsgroups but maybe this could be a starting point for those that are new and for those that are trying to push the envelope of what they can already do skinning wise?

This model was somewhat proven with the GUI Olympics. It had nothing to do with anything but a contest… all sites were welcome and all sites benefited.

Oh well just a thought… what does everyone else think? Any other possibilities to add?

Hey paxx,

Did you ever write that 30 page tutorial....I could sure use it I have to admit that as a newbie to skinning I find it complicated..even with the 'tools' you mention....I'm a technical person (22 years programming everything from device drivers for windows to word processors in FORTRAN), but without some guide as to where to start (without ripping someone else's work) it becomes a matter of trial and error to get things looking right...and even then I don't dare release my skin(s) for fear that I'm going to piss everybody off when I neglect to get permission from the originators.

On a side note...can anyone answer this in 20 words or less...when I do rip (apart, not steal) an existing skin and replace the bitmaps, my 'magic' transparent color gets ignored and shows through in all it's ugly glory (255,0,255)...Thanks is advance

BTW, I want to personally thank all the skinners who contribute to this and other skinning sites (especially, but by no means only, treetog and alexandrie). You all do wonderful work and it is greatly appreciated (I am one who buys skin suites when I encounter them). Please keep them comming, and if I forget to comment on them...forgive me... I'm probably either too busy installing/tearing them apart (for information purposes only) or defragging my hard drive...

Thanks again (I'll make it a point to thank each and everyone of you in a 5 page e-mail soon)

Stefan

Hey Peff.

Assuming it's a Windowblinds skin and you are using Skinstudio, click on the bitmap and then at the bottom of the screen set the transparency checkbox to on. If its not there then that part of the skin does not support transparency.

P.s. I find transparency in XP often gets replaced with black especially in scroll bars.

Hyphen,

I've got every transparent checking I can find set to on...no luck...I'll keep trying, though...Thanks

Crae, on Deskmod you asked if anyone ever heard of somebody doing a mod on their TV. My 3 year old *tried* to do that. I think she has a bright future in customization.....

It's Magic Pink...255,000,255...

darwn23...
The problem that the older [more experienced] skinner runs into often is his 'advice' or 'comments' are construed as 'criticism' by some who perceive they know more than they think.
Here at Wincusto, you'll find quite a bit of skinning experience....people who have been actively involved in the 'game/industry/community' for a very long time, however their opinions and expressions based on experience are dismissed as [usually] 'Stardock's yes-men' when the atated opinion doesn't concur with its audience's.

Either people 'new' to the whole skinning/graphics scene acknowledge the experience of others, or they don't.
That 'should' go for more than just 'what colour is Magic Pink' questions....but perhaps also 'what is good for the community...how do we fix things' questions too.

Skinners are not brainless automatons that just 'happen' to know how to cut up a bitmap. Their 'history' of interaction and involvement in their community is equally of valid importance/relevance.

Those who ignore the mistakes of history are destined to repeat them...

"Skinners are not brainless automatons that just 'happen' to know how to cut up a bitmap. " ...that's true, I had to learn how to cut up a bitmap. Being a brainless automaton it wasn't easy...

I am a newbie (almost a year in June). I started out with the trial version of windowblinds and loved it so much I got the full deal. The rest is history - got instantly hooked on this stuff. Thought to myself, "what good is having a full blown package if you don't know everything about it." Then began my pursuit of knowledge. Printed out every tutorial I could get my hands on. Yes, and I looked at other people's skins to see what made them tick (most of the time not realizing the fullness of it). Read and listened to what others had to say. And, yes, after numerous attempts on something and reaching a stumbling block, I yelled for help. It was graciously given and I thank each and everyone for it. I am still learning (guess you are considered dead if you don't keep learning), and I enjoy every minute of it. Only regret I have is not coming across someting like this sooner.

paxx,
"....fabulous. I love it. Great work, thank you!"
When is the last time you got one of these?"

I am getting everyday more than 20 e-mails like these and I appreciate it. The tough part is to answer to all those e-mails.

"And the comments that are left on the skins sites usually come from other fellow skinners and never from the casual downloader anymore."

I must say that the contrary it is happening to me! The most of the comments I get are coming from casual users and rarely from other fellow skinners.

So, you see? There are many points of view for every subject; and our subject now is skinning, so here are my two cents about it.

The future of skinning is depending from the technical and ethical support that the Old Guard gives to the New Blood! It is a pity, but I don't see neither of those supports, as it is supposed to be, I never get any.
I have to mention that I have seen the contrary more often and I feel sorry about it.

Dylan's voice scares the bejeezus out of me.

heh - Vanilla Fudge... I actually liked their version of "You keep me hangin on" all stretched out and slow. Never heard anything else by them but I did hear them play live once. They were really good musicians. I heard their producer took over the band and told them what they would play, how to dress, how to arrange everything. Forced the whole pop thing on them, which is why they broke up. Maybe that's the key... if its phony, doesn't come from your heart, it won't go very far before it just falls apart. Like how a vampire melts in the light of the daytime.

One of the great things about skinning as a medium is that it is so new...so young...that everyone currently here 'doing it' is essentially at its dawning..at its beginning, and can watch it grow, and perhaps grow with it...even nurture its direction.
Try that with other media...Photography...you'd have to be over 100 years old....cave painting....slightly older...

You could even say that we, all of us, who are here [in skinning, not 'here' at Wincusto] have the power and responsibility to forge skinning's future.
Maybe this is why I for one, have taken up the task of 'educating' miscreants in the rights of the Artist and tried to protect their copyrights.
When this becomes clear second-nature throughout the entire scene....when even newbies and new sites are instantly conscious of their responsibilities relating to 'ripping and not ripping', then the whole 'community' of sites and their members will be better off, and can enjoy themselves...