It's like TORTURE

Thank heavens for windowblinds

from WinCustomize Forums

So I decided to finally try and start a windowblind today.  Started out working on the start panel. I can see how, without any real knowledge of the photoshop and skinstudio processes, it can be nervewracking.

So knowing it would be easy to just forget about it and go to working on other things I decided I would keep using my applied skin (default XP with just my start panel)  on my desktop to encourage me to work on the windowblind.

But the torturous part is that I stopped working on the windowblind, for now, about an hour ago and I dont think Im going to be able to stand looking at this awful blue and green for longer than it takes me to write this post.  X-( 

Guess I'll just have to find another way to keep myself encouraged to work on it.  ;) 

 

19,483 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Keep at it. WindowBlinds can be very time consuming. If you have the patience and artistical know how, I say go for it!

elvee sends zakai1369 loads of encouragement to continue.

 :) 

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm with Elvee on this one....who knows you may be the next American Idol, I mean WB artist....Keep it up sir. ;)
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, I know exactly how you feel and all I have is the top of the start menu done on my first ever windowblind called Maja Pearl. I have the patience but finding the time is tough, it may take me a long time but I will never give up. Just hang in there, its nothing but a learning curve :D 
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Keep at it!! It's really rewarding to see your blind come together as you add each piece!   :D 
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, I started my first quite some time ago, slacked off on it, now working on it again. Don't rush it. You'll find the time.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah...you're young yet...you've got years ahead of you! ;p
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Best encouragement possible...seeing unfinished parts. ;) 
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah... "I just gotta do that bit..."  ;p 
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hello people, good morning. i was wondering? instead of doing another post could someone tell me what size the start panel for vista should be at? in the sks6 the start menu is cut up and its hard for me to tell exactly how big to make my start panel and any other piece for that matter. i tried putting the cut pieces together to get a size but that frustrated me and i failed miserably. i have most of the pieces to the blind im working on but i just need assistance with sizes. please any help would be appreciated
thanx JOE MORRISON
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Joe.. dont make ur start menu in pieces.. Take a vista type skin.. apply it.. screen shot it.. crop it in photoshop.. then design ur new menu.. in one piece, over it... then crop each piece seperately and import.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's like TORTURE
End of quote


Yes, it is ... exquisite, isn't it?  :LOL:  ;) 
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This little template may come in handy for some of the newer designers. Just draw your start menu over the top of it. It's a pretty good guide to the size of the start menu pieces.

Have Fun!!

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Best encouragement possible...seeing unfinished parts
End of quote


That was my thinking. Just need to get the start menu margins figured out so I can move onto the taskbar and not have to look at that awful XP blue/green anymore  :p 


So far it seems that the worst part about the start menu is finding the right margins. Looks fine in the preview but hideous in use.  :( 

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
well hell. Thanks BoXXi. Maybe thats a part of my problem. I cut the top section shorter than that and the left and right sections taller than that.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
/me thanks boxxi and wonders if that li'l image is in the wiki somewhere   :NOTSURE: 
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
my first ever windowblind called Maja Pearl
End of quote


Noiram, Glad to hear you're working on a WB for the Maja Pearl elements. I've been trying to put something together with them...nothing is clicking for me at this point!
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great thread - I've been staring at Microsoft blue all day, and it sucks mightily...

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've been trying to put something together with them...nothing is clicking for me at this point!
End of quote



Thanks Duke261, I have a big understanding of what you mean,they are all a bit out of the norm for color but that was my intention. I hope I'm successful at maintaining the shading and the buttons.

Great info vStyler and BoXXi, now I'll be starting it over fresh first thing in the morning :CONGRAT: 
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
when you make the startmenu......it must be mathmatically correct for example.

the userpane is 500 wide

the logg off pane must also be 500 wide

progs list and placies list are 250 wide

and the all progs arrow background is also 250 wide (all those numbers are examples........)

vstyler also made a very important point, the best way to create yr start menu is to create the whole
image as one image, then cut it up into user pane section..ect. just make sure you cut it right, otherwise, it wont fit and be out.

if you still have trouble.........download a couple of skins that you like, and take a good look at them, disect them, find the sizes they used ect.......blah blah blah ..you get the point!! ;) 

if you really enjoy skinning.....then dont give up....just plug away a little each day..
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a big understanding of what you mean,they are all a bit out of the norm for color but that was my intention.
End of quote


Yeah but that's what makes them unique & I love the color...something will click. I have no doubt you'll overcome your road blocks. :)
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
download a couple of skins that you like, and take a good look at them, disect them, find the sizes they used ect..
End of quote


Best advice possible. :) 
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow! Some great advice on this thread! :) 
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanx vstyler for the the help and thanx boxxi for that template...im going to try that out with the screenshot and the template...once again thanx and im sure i'll be back for more ?'s later
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
vstyler also made a very important point, the best way to create yr start menu is to create the whole
image as one image, then cut it up into user pane section..ect. just make sure you cut it right, otherwise, it wont fit and be out.
End of quote


Yeah thats where I screwed up. I made it as a whole. Just cut the pieces wrong.

Thanks for the tips everyone.


I need to just pick one thing and work on it. Ive got one Xion skin of my own I started, one Xion skin from I.R.'s NLL graphics, 2 sets of OD bgs that I did a couple weeks ago but didnt like the way they came out and am trying to change them up a bit, and this windowblind.  X-( 


But its definitely a good way to fill the time I have to kill in the winter months.  ;)