Using the same image for min, max, close. Why?

Most skinners make skins for themselves before others, and if that is what they are comfortable with, so be it.
I also prefer obvious buttons, but not all GUI interfaces are set up that way. You always have the choice to use a different skin, or replace the buttons with something more to your liking.

I feel that the art of skinning is in the balance between functionality and aesthetics. It can't be too much of either, or else the skin is unusable or boring (with a few exceptions). Details like the window buttons are the artist's choice. It's fine with me if you don't like it, I actually share your opinion. I just don't like to see someone's choice denounced as flat out wrong and immature. It's just a different style that some don't like, not a universal evil.

ya should try my watery skin then lol.

it just has a single button ( if you dont count windows icon on other side... )

Yes. *If* you want your skins to be usable, this is a very bad mistake to make. Buttons should be big. They should be easily identifiable. They should be in a consistent position. The should do the same thing every time. Sure, you *can* put buttons wherever you want, and in many cases (like rollup) it may be desireable to separate them from the regular ones to avoid confusion, but overall, if, say, the close button isn't clearly marked, users are going to be lost.

Again, as others have said, if you're making it just for yourself, fine, do as you like. But the reason you put it up here is that you want others to be able to use it, right? I get a real kick out of knowing that people I consider good friends use my skins. Generally, this won't happen if you haven't got an intuitive interface, and that means either being a *really* good UI designer, or putting the darn buttons where everyone expects them to be. *g*

If you use one of my skinz most do not have the buttons marked except on mouseover, However the Min, Max and Restore are in the standard place. I believe that you will find that this is the case with most WB skinz.

I myself also prefer to have the buttons marked. Actually, I don't use any skin where the buttons aren't identified clearly (mouse-over don't count). I've been had a few time, where I close when I wanted to max, or other similar scenario. Or loose time hovering over the buttons trying to figure out which does what. I will never ask an author to identify his buttons just for little me, artists are free to do as they want. I just never use any of those skins.

Well...I mark all of mine, but put them in places other than the norm...why?....Because if the darn things were plainly visible and marked and in the 'usual' spot, they may as well be the default un-skinned gui.....besides, I get a kick out of doing something StylesXP cannot...

"besides, I get a kick out of doing something StylesXP cannot..."

Heh you rebel, you.