How you make such cool graphics????

practice...

Actually, I think most of us did NOT study in graphic design, but learned it as a hobby and became good at it.
Like David said, just practice. Open stuff that you like and look at it in details then try to imitate it. After a while, you'll get good at it.
But warning: graphic design is not instant gratifying. It may take months, if not a year or two, before you become good.
Practice, imitation, practice, innovation, practice. These are the steps you must follow.

Here is a link to some tutorials. Maybe this will help you get started.

http://www.guistuff.com/tutorials.shtml

Listen to David and Paxx! Just do it!
Warning....skinning may be habit forming.

do you guys think that i should get photoshop instead of fireworks?

Photoshop is expensive. Firework works, as long as you know how to use it. The only problem is that you are more likely to find good tutorials on the Internet related to Photoshop rather than Fireworks.

In short, considering that you are 13 and probably don't have the thousand dollars to purchase Photoshop, I would say : stick to Fireworks.

Paxx has a good point about practice. It's always a lot of fun to compare people's "old stuff" to their "new stuff". Usually you can definitely tell that they've matured as an artist, perfected many techniques, have a better overall sense of color, style, etc.

I certainly never studied design, quite the opposite in fact. Although I got a degree at Uni, it was in a technical subject. I just started playing around with skinning and web design as a hobby, and then got to the point where I decided I'd prefer to have a career in design to doing what I did for four years in Uni!

I actually started out playing around with Photoshop, and then got into using Fireworks when I started my first web design job and that was all they had for me to use. Now I pretty much only use Fireworks, both for skinning and the web. So don't think you should use Photoshop just because it's well known.

In the end, as the others have said, it all comes down to practise. Just draw anything that comes to mind; buttons, logos, icons, anything at all. Gradually you'll start to find where your strengths are and learn how best to tackle particular tasks. Don't believe that just because you haven't had any formal training in design you can't do it. In many ways I've found that those with the formal training tend to be a little less imaginative anyway - they tend to create stuff parrot-fashion.

Even now after having been in design as a career for almost three years, I'm still never completely happy with anything I produce. You'll always want to be better, and it's that challenge that helps you to grow, both in skill and experience.

for the people who said Photoshop is to expencive theres something called Kazaa so i already got photoshop today and found it is alot easier to use

Or instead of pirating copyrighted software from kazaa as so many munchkins do today, i suggest you explore LEGAL and open source alternatives. For instance: there is a program called "the gimp" which is VERY similar to photoshop. The interface will take a little time to get used to, however gimp is free and legal, and yada yada yada. I HIGHLY suggest Gimp, go here and download it http://www.gimp.org/~tml/gimp/win32/
and do not be fooled by the horrible graphics on this webpage..... gimp is just as good as photoshop. And yeah... like everyone above me has said, practice practice practice, and looking for tutorials online works too. Even if you don't have the program, look at how they do what they do, you can learn stuff about lighting effects and layers that will help you no matter what program you use. To help you out with gimp, check out this site: www.gimpforce.org they have some sexy tutorials. Enjoy.

~Capn

I should probably also add to my other post that since gimp is open source it is not commercially supported, and can do funny things. Several people i know have not been able to get it to work on windows xp, however it works fine for me, but hey, thats microsoft for you..... costs a lot and doesn't work. Everyone knew it was coming, so here it is: Linux is better. In virtually every way imaginable. If you have enough time to try and create some skins for windows, you should also take some time and play around with linux... it looks sexy on a resume too if you're looking to get a job in a computer field. (Knowing how to use linux helped me get a job at Bank of America in the IT dep. when i was a sophmore in high school, so pay attention young'un... I DO know what i'm talking about)

youthsmooth, you just blew any chance of anybody else helping you here. Sorry.

what? i did? how? ahh well thanx for the info guys since paxx thinks no one else will help me.

gimp look good to me so i might try it

In case you didn't understand, youthsmooth, pirating software is highly frowned upon on this site. It's like smoking pot, do it if you must, but don't go bragging about it to the cops...

....really...I didn't know he was a cop.....really really

Peff needs to study 'Cop-spotting 101'....

ok im sorry but im to young to buy anything so....thats my option...and for the cops Kazaa is not illegal yet so..im sorry i said anything

File sharing may be legal, but sharing copies of copyrighted Software certainly is not.

Napster, Morpheus, Kazaa, and such similar programs/systems are abused by the 'warez mentality' and used to illegally distribute pirated or privately purchased artwork and software...without the permission of the copyright owner/holder.

It IS illegal. Do not be fooled to the contrary.

well ok then but erm im still going to use it because i dont have the money to buy this stuff and all gimp is is a copy a fake taken and rescrippted so tell me thats right....

Listen, youthsmooth. We know you're still a kid, so we'll excuse your lack of diplomacy, but let me say it again: do it if you must but shut up about it, nobody wants to know, ok?
Thank you.

ok im not trying to brag about and im not

Now hold on just a durned minute youthsmooth... did you say gimp was a fake? I really don't want to get mad at you for being ignorant and stubborn, but dude, gimp is a great program that is FREE, and if you are using photoshop, flash, fireworks, paintshop, any of those, without registering them then you are a THIEF. Many people put in hard hours into coding those programs.... they don't just exist. And to keep those programs being updated and continuing to produce new versions, they rely on people purchasing their software as opposed to downloading it off of kazaa and saying crap like "oh its not illegal yet." Listen kid, that PROVES you know that its both morally wrong and illegal! So don't lay the "oh i'm just a kid, i can do whatever because i can't afford the programs" That does not excuse you. And gimp was not just rescripted, photoshop is NOT open source, so SOMEBODY had to write all the code that allows people to make cool graphics, and those people are doing this FOR FREE, they are not being paid. They are doing it for the benefit of people like YOU who want to be able to use professional quality programs, without dropping thousands of dollars on programs. Granted photoshop is better, but thats what PAYING the developers will do. I suggest you re-evaluate your morals and ask yourself if you are mature enough to own a computer. Its better you learn right now than when you are older that there are responsibilites that every user should uphold. As a developer, if I put in the time on a program I would like to be paid for it. It is true that I help out with open source programs as side projects. I do that so people LIKE YOU can afford to use high quality programs without breaking the law and forcing developers to lose money. So don't be an ingrate... THINK about what you are doing, all of your actions have consequences, no matter how small they seem. Many people have forgotten that, and it is very unfortunate.

So in summary: Grow up or get out.

~Capn

ok fine i have the money to buy paintshop pro 7 and since i am greatly hated here i will go buy it hoping you will forgive my ignorence.

youthsmooth...you are not 'greatly hated here'...all people are trying to do is give you the benefit of their more extensive experience in subjects such as computers, graphic programs, copyright law, Warez and its taboo.

The community here at Wincustomize prides itself as being mature, considerate, and helpful of those in need of assistance in skin related problems.

Settle in, roll out your PSP7, and enjoy your skinning.

As you have discovered, if the Gimp doesn't suit, and Photoshop is too expensive, there is always PaintShop Pro....[that's what I use]....