Tiggz Tiggz

GT3

▼

GT3

a preview

from JoeUser Forums
Well in the spirit of experimentation I decided to test out this article making facility. As I am currrently engaged, amongst other things, in creating GT3 I thought I would offer some previews of the skin suite which will (approximately) mark my 1 year skinning anniversary. :CONGRAT:

So, without further ado, being a skinner not a writer, here are some samples of what is to come in the not too distant future...


the start menu - trying to stay reasonably close to the layout of GT2, but with extra sex appeal... :SURPRISED:


shellstyle images - these are perhaps the most significant departure from GT2 in some ways


the downloading progress animation - shown in context with the normal and light substyles ('light' here is a relative term)


a shot showing toolbar icons, custom throbber, and general windowiness - warning, it's quite a dark skin :LOL:


well now, what's this?


I haven't really started into the peripheral skins yet, but here is a sample of a prospective rainy candidate


a weeny preview of a GT3 logon



Well, that's more or less the state of play atm. The windowblind is 99% complete, just undergoing final testing and addition of a special feature that should be quite fun :) I hope to do a few other skins and dx objects to accompany the suite, although I'm not sure it will be as comprehensive as GT2 in that regard. Time, as ever, will tell.
windowblinds
74,793 views 82 replies
Reply #26 from JoeUser Forums Top
Wow, fabulous. Simply stunning skin Tiggz. Once again a brilliant and distinctive work. Kudos. Seriously.
Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess branding can be achieved in a number of different ways:
1. overall graphic integrity of the skin, how the whole skin pulls together, the impression it leaves in the users mind
2. colour branding - something like CopperdeckII springs to mind
3. motifs repeated throughout the skin, but not necessarily strong enough images to be considered...
4. logos, such as in the top right of the GT3 start menu
5. skin name in plain text
6. text based logos

I too like a certain amount of branding, but I do understand TasT's perspective and have seen skins that for me went a bit far with it. I'm not a big fan of the skin's name in the titlebar for example, although that is partly an issue of useability as the skin name might be taking up valuable space. However, in less "mission critical" parts of a skin I can find a judiciously chosen font appealing to the eye, a word is after all just a linear collection of shapes in a sense, and if used sensitively can definitely imnprove the flavour of a skin. It's horses for courses I suppose. I am happy with the "branding" on this skin, which, as previously mentioned, is the acid test. If I was making the skin for a paying client the acid test would be whether they were happy with the branding - but essentially, in this case, I am the client.
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with you I.R. and Skingod... er, Tiggz. Branding to me is a very important part of a skin. When people buy cars, clothes, watches, etc. it is as much about the brand as it is about the item. That is, as long as the item is high quality. As for skinning, if a skin is high quality, I want tags on it. It's a very important part of the skin. Just as long as it's done right, as you and many other great skinners on this site always do. Thanks for this AWESOME skin. I'm using it now, and I'll use it for a long time. Sorry Adni, Cyberskin has been replaced on my machine for now. So... when's GT4? (just kidding)
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
By the way, my custom trobber doesn't show up? Any thoughts on why?
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
you might need to reboot before the custom throbber is changed - or possibly just restarting the explorer process may do the trick
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmm. neither of those things worked. I've posted a new topic to try and get some help.
Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tiggz your work is amazing. I have a question for you. How did you create your little user icon? The little orange/red circle with your name under the glass? It's too cool! What I mean is, what programs do you use?
Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Monteis - I use photoshop almost exclusively. :CONGRAT:
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Amazing design Matt :HOT:
Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A year?

Astounding results, Tiggz. It all looks great on the desktop, so thank-you.
Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Fantasic work Tiggz. I'm a new fan. My desktop looks great. I can't get over GTMedia, its so great. Those icons on the start menu are sexy, is there an IconPackager for it? All it really needs is one of those and a boot screen. Otherwise, bravo!

Insanely yours,
Tycho
Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Tiggz, I am brand new to using Windowblinds and I just ran into this skin today. It is truley one of the most beautiful to look at skins I have ever seen. Simply Fantastic!!

I do have a question though. There is reference here to something called the "substyle changer?" I understand the purpose of it, but exactly how do I access this? I would love to be able to use it as I frequent web sites that have white text showing on a white background and need to be able to quickly switch over to the lite substyle when needed.

If anyone could please explain how to use that feature, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you for creating this wonderful skin!
Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Firedog #1 likes the "plastic" and "rubber" feeling within of GT3. Just like the "metal" skins give their feeling within. These special skins fool most of the visitors to our home in that they question "is that/are those solid objects?" We have the K-Dock on all the computers and will remain until you have designed something more advanced, or updated.

You are an artist...and so gifted! We thank you for bringing our computers to life!
Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi, I'm looking to get a customized windows theme made for a new website and would like some info and prices. If interested, please email [email protected]

Thanks
Reply #44 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Email

Dave - the icons are not part of the set, although they are ones I have created. I hope to complete the set one day and upload them in an icon package. They are actually K-TEK icons.

Cal - the substyle changer is activated by pressing the 2nd button from the left on any window's titlebar. If you do not have skinstudio installed you may get an error message concerning a missing file. Simplest solution is to install skinstudio, or you can do a google search entering the name of the file specified in the error window, the file should then be placed either in the GT3 skin folder or in your windows\system32 folder.
Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey Tiggz, love ur work. I have a question though, I can't get the download progress animation to work. Any ideas? Thanks.
Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That substyle changer is really cool!! Never even knew what it was before today. Have never seen anything like that before. Is there anyway to have it drop down a list of available substyles?
Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top
PooLHaLLjUNky -> You have to change the settings in the WindowBlinds controlpanel. Doubleclick the WB icon in the taskbar, choose My Animations, and choose GT# animations. Hope it works c",)
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Simply stunning skin.


The one thing that would make my joy complete would for you to re-skin the GT2 Object Bar in GT3 livery (don't think I can live without that cool bar now!)

Talking of Object Bar, can anyone point me towards a tutorial? I have version 1.65 and although there is a "create" button etc I can't work out how to use it.
Reply #50 from WinCustomize Forums Top


as i have stated before on your site GT3 is sweeeeet just like moms apple pie hows that for eye candy
hes right it could of been a premium suite but on the other hand im glad you didnt cause now i got it
so as always keep them cards and skins and widgets and oooh imean letters rollin in

thanks tiggz GREAT JOB