Is there any success stories on skining for companies?

Well, there's Jeff and the Skins Factory. I don't know if he's full time or not. Of course its more than Jeff. There are other artists that are part of the skins factory. Check 'em out at:
http://www.theskinsfactory.com

Oh also forgot Alexandrie and Treetog at Pixtudio. http://www.pixtudio.com
They also do commercial skinning work.

I think Dangeruss could be classed as a success story. Although I don't know if he makes money from "skins" alone.

Yeah, but isn't Russ's main career as an overall graphics designer/consultant rather than just a skinner. Then again, he's got HoverDesk with Thaibuad.

I don't mean any insult when I say "just a skinner". I mean to say its a particular area within in the overall graphic arts fields.

I think if there are any success stories i would be the Skins Factory. I do not know if they do it full time but it would seem that any company who does this full time also does other mutlimedia design. As in not just "skinning" applications for PC's or Mac's (or even Linux).

I strongly think that if skinning is going to be the only revenue source then the person must have allot of clients and is very well known so they can uptain higher pricing.

Otherwise I think skinning has to be combined with somthing else like webdeisign, logo design, ad design, magazine.... you know desktop puplishing stuff. I am sure skinning will become popular enough that most people on the planet will know about it in the coming years but as a company designing specifically skins will probably be few in between mostly because it is a niche in multimedia design.

If it does happen for skinners, it will be because of skin suites (a grouping of allot of programs and all are skinned to follow a theme). That might find a money market but it remains to be seen.

right now, think 'promotional tie-ins'

I think there is something on Teknidermy about how much to charge for graphic work, I'm sure I read it there.
http://www.teknidermy.org

Well, I would say yes. Since Alexandrie and me openned Pixtudio, we have being working full time on skinning, GUI and web designing. All I can say is that I am happpy, because today I can make my leaving , doing something I love to do.

As far as I know there is no such article at Tek. "We" have one on the shelf though. Been on the shelf for over a year, so I doubt that that one will ever get published.

Hmmm.... So where did I see it? Maybe it was the old Skinz.org? I had it until just recently too. Oh well......

Thanks for the input guys...