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The Master Skins!

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The Master Skins!

What are they and how you can get them!

from WinCustomize Forums

Master Skins. What are they?

A Master Skin is a skin made by a user with Master access or higher that is premium content. On WinCustomize.com we have access levels:

  1. Citizen
  2. Apprentice
  3. Journeyman
  4. Master

Users can rise up through those access groups based on merit -- becoming part of the skinning community and contributing to it in the form of skins, themes, icons, wallpapers, helping other users, writing articles, etc. 

Once they get to Master level, they can choose to submit a skin and ask for a price on it.  By the time they've become a master, they've probably provided a lot to the community for a considerable amount of time. This becomes a way for users to "give back" to the skinner for all the hard work they've done as well as for the skinner to be able to help support their hobby.

It also provides an incentive for up and coming skinners to create great stuff to share freely with others. By doing so, they too move up through access and can one day become a master.  Half the income generated by master skins goes to the author and the other half goes to help maintain the site. WinCustomize.com subscribers get a 20% discount on Master Skins.

Master Skin Example: Suite 18

Master skinner Adni18 has uploaded literally hundreds of skins and themes to WinCustomize.com over the past 6 years.  In that time, his skins and themes have been downloaded over 11 MILLION times.

Today, Adni submitted a suite called Suite 18. It contains a WindowBlinds skin, 4 gadgets, a wallpaper. When he submitted it, he made it a Master skin for $9.99.  If you're a subscriber, it is only ~$7.99 (though the price is only updated during the checkout phase). 

The Inevitable Debate

Master Skins are integrated into the main gallery section. You'll see a little tag by the skin if it's a Master skin.  Now some people are going to say "I shouldn't pay for skins".  I'm not one to argue what people think they should pay for.  One of my main "day job" activities is helping produce PC games. PC games make millions of dollars (GalCiv II certainly did). Are games worthy but skins aren't? I certainly don't make that distinction.  What I do know is that if the community wants to encourage long-time skinners to keep making cool stuff, then making some income to help pay for computers and software and their time seems to be a pretty worthy thing.

I also like the idea that it provides an incentive to up and coming skinners to make stuff.  Skinning is fun. It's supposed to be fun. But it can also be a lot of work too. I used to skin a lot a few years ago. But I'm not very artistic and with 3 small children, it's hard to find the time. But I applaud those who dedicate the time to share their great creations with the rest of us. And I am glad to have a way to contribute in my own way back to them.  Plus, it provides another incentive to subscribe to WinCustomize.com and help keep the site growing and running.

52,675 views 133 replies
Reply #76 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I R, i happen to think ur a fine skinner, certainly one of the most original !
Reply #77 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Phoon, it's fair for a user to have an opinion, even one that runs counter to the prevailing opinions here


I never said that someone was not entitled to their opinion...
This person clearly just wants to bitch and complain and insult those around him.
Yes, I should have let it just pass by but it was just to much to overlook.
Curtains - Customize Windows with additional styles
Reply #78 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Then we have something in common vStyler.  
Reply #79 from WinCustomize Forums Top
All I know is, as a 'consumer' who doesn't know diddly about skinning (other than D/L-ing and installing them) I hope all the veteran's dont start charging, leaving only the less desireable or less functional skins sets for casual users.
Reply #80 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Even if all the masters started charging, there would always be skinners progressing towards master status to sell their stuff.  We would all benefit from their attempts. 

(As an aside, the folks that spend so much time getting good enough to become masters deserve some reward.  Being able to sell their work at a rate they pick (if they want to sell at all) is a good thing.)

It will be interesting to see what prices the master skins will be at as time goes on.  What will the market support?
Reply #81 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It will be interesting to see what prices the master skins will be at as time goes on. What will the market support?



Yes, that is the BIG question. Only time will tell.
Reply #82 from WinCustomize Forums Top
it's early, but Adni18's suite priced at $9.95 isn't moving real quickly whereas Tretogs Challenger has a ton of downloads at $4.95.

It's been around longer but didn't have the advertising that this one has had.

/me watches
Reply #83 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've noticed that as well. Better to start high than to try and move higher later though one would think. But the market will decide as it always does. I have been curious as to what would happen if some great skinner offered his/her work for $2.00 and what reaction that would have on every one else. It will be fun to watch this play out.
Reply #84 from WinCustomize Forums Top
what would happen if some great skinner offered his/her work for $2.00


Volume might make up for any loss.  And drive down the other prices. . . . I can't wait!    
Reply #85 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Volume might make up for any loss. And drive down the other prices. . . . I can't wait!

I was thinking it's not just someone who is a great skinner that can make a lot of money; it’s going to be the skinner with the best marketing. Think about it -- someone could "lowball" their way to achieving high sales numbers, this in effect will drive down prices and eventually, in my opinion, every Master skinner will benefit, because lower prices attracts more customers. In the end, the consumer wins -- and no more debate about having to pay. I mean, eventually, you'll see master skins for $1.50, $.50, who knows. I know for me, getting less money is better then not getting any money. I would rather have a customer who was willing to pay, then someone who thought that the item was overpriced and moved on. Either case, this is pretty exciting stuff. I too am very interested to see where things will go.   

Reply #86 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just to let everyone know, who participated in the GUI Champs, your skins were (all) low quality.
We should all thank Buttermaker for pointing that out to us.

Oh, and didn't most of us upload the skins here? Wierd! Guess we all need more work.


I really don't understand the attitude of some of you people on this Master skin issue.
Personally , your attitudes are getting on my nerves. As Z71 said..we just had the GUI Championship and there were tons of new WB's and most were at least good to outstanding. I have blinds I havent even gotten to play with yet im so backlogged with new blinds. For the last time - buy the master skins or don't but stop whining about it. Are you so compulsive that you get in a dither cos you can't have one or two skins ?

Gimme a break.
Reply #87 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As Z71 said..we just had the GUI Championship and there were tons of new WB's and most were at least good to outstanding.



I read Z71's remark as the skins were "(all)low quality". Am I wrong in that reading?

I support the new program for sure in any case.
Reply #88 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kenwas, Z was being sarcastic about buttermakers earlier comment.  
Reply #89 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Very sarcastic about what Buttermaker said.
If you go back and reread my post, you'll see that.
Reply #90 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks, I hoped that was the case. I am slow quite often these days!
Reply #91 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One thing to consider is Adnis theme has a wall and 4 stand alone gadgets(dont even need DX)The others are just WB's.
Bet we will see a trend here...WB ,with wall,2.50$ price range...high volume sales.throw in a booter and logon ,...3.50$  
Suites 7 to 10$
Reply #92 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh geeze.., now how many poeple do i have to help and how many articles do i have to wright to became a "Master"..?


Hopefully you are skinning for fun and helping others for the pleasure of it.... not to become a master.

Reply #93 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh dear, if I put up some Master skins I'd probably end up owing people money instead of receiving   
Reply #94 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One thing to consider is Adnis theme has a wall and 4 stand alone gadgets


Those should be marketed better then.    This really is a mini suite, why is in the WB gallery?

I'm relly looking forward to the market here. 


Reply #95 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This really is a mini suite, why is in the WB gallery?


This is wierd answering Wizop's questions.

The main point is, where else could you put them?
If you upload it to the suite section, theme manager needs links to everything.
You'd have to do it one of two ways. Host the files yourself or upload them here. Which defeats the purpose.
So, WB section it is.

I really do think that it will come down to Wincustomize creating a Master skin section.
Reply #96 from WinCustomize Forums Top


Is this guy serious?!?! These blinds have been amazing! I intend to start buying some of these, and i've downloaded literally thousands of freebies from this website! It's not much to give back to people who work as hard as they do for these skins. These master skins are all of the highest quality, and deserve more than what they're asking. If you can believe it, i'm still loving Boxxi's Beelzebub WB. Even without the transparent effects, i love the animated fire on the taskbar.  

Master Skins=Underpriced Gold
Reply #97 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is wierd answering Wizop's questions


Try to think of me as Zubaz, his royal magesty, lord of all he beholds, Wizop Zubaz.  

Good point about ThemeManager though.  -=sigh=-
Reply #98 from WinCustomize Forums Top
     Will do, Zubaz.
Reply #99 from WinCustomize Forums Top
*sigh*

if skinners want to sell their skins, let them.

if skinners want to release skins for free, let them.

if you like a free skin, download it.

if you like a master skin, buy it.

there are a lot of talented skinners out there that submit free work so saying that only master skins are high quality is not a very intelligent thing to say.

but the bottom line is if you arent willing to pay for it, it is at most a minor inconvienence for you so shutup and stop complaining about it.

*drops 2 pennies into fountain*
Reply #100 from WinCustomize Forums Top
so, Jafo where am i sending this box of chocolate ?
Zu, what about this inflatable woman.. oops mean balloon
Who else was on that list i needed to send things to...

Man this becoming a Master Skinner is a pain..