k, so the concept was to get as far away from the last theme I did as possible and still be able to skin Win 7 completely and correctly.
I also wanted to make a red and black theme that took advantage of the dramatic contrasts that this color combo can achieve.
Devilish, menacing, provokative, I dunno.. thats what is running through my head as I throw this PS mockup together.
I suppose I will be doing a light and dark windows version as I dont see anyway around it...
...so this one may take a while to complete but here it is in it early.. fluid stage.
Oh and I may just keep the small branding text... cos I know would approve
will post updates as they are formulated.
Looks great!
Yeah...I have a special folder just for startbuttons which is usually one of the first things to get replaced when there's a windows flag in a skin. Some times they look good...other times it's like...Oh no...thats gotta go!
k, so how about minmaxclose buttons that don't look just like every other one....and just like the default Win 7?
Back in the dim dark past people showed real diversity by even moving them....elsewhere.
I guess my interpretation of 'far away as possible' is too literal.
Come on, man.... function is not your one and only God. Art [skinning] is creativity not practical mediocrity....
Push the envelope....
Oh i could push it to places its never been Paul.. Unfortunately balancing design, usability and widespread appeal via conformity is where I have to operate.
See.. I could move them.. and I'd get.. how about a substyle with normal positioned ones???
Well, when we get down to skinning one OS I might think about substyles to accomodate everyone, until then its just not possible and stay efficient businesswise.
I already make less than part time work flipping tacos and thats working all day, everyday.
Actually as far as I know, I think the only place you can move titlebuttons to now is within the top titlebar. Not much room to be creative. Left.. or Right?
Shapewise, these are somewhat similar to 7 intentionally, I happen to think that teh Aero design ie; shape, is the most confortable titlebar button config I have ever used.. Material wise, mine is not the same at all.
Basically, if you stray too far from familiarity, you rapidly narrow your overall consumer appeal.
Think about it, when was the last time u saw Mike, Dani, Ross, Tim etc pushing these envelopes?
Its just not popular.
What you see above is my current vision for what i think people will like.
Would I like to push it more.. yes, I would, Do I have the luxury right now? Well, between the aforementioned.. the state of the OS and SKS\WB...no.. mores the pity.
but I'm still young... right??
Yes....there's still time to save your soul...
I haven't done a WB skin in ages...but I'm fairly sure you can still move them anywhere...sides...bottom, etc.
You know....there's a world out there where you can actually be proud that your WB is not popular....where people may concede it is well executed and/or unique....popularity is merely for the commercial and commercialism sacrifices just too much to be the sole tenet of design ALL the time.
Popularity doesn't define how 'good' anything is....just how popular it is.....hence the tag.
The only 'design element' that is really dodgey to ignore is the default windows light-source....where to do so confuses the heck out of the result if/when put alongside elements not skinned by the WB....tends to make a bellybutton look like an 'outie' when it's supposed to be an 'innie'.
I'm looking forward to the day when you say "stuff popularity....I'm going to design purely for design's sake" ...
In Architecture you have [usually] 'one client' for whom you design. What you create only needs to be 'conservative/mediocre' if part of the brief is that the client will be quite transient and thus the building needs to be 'popularly saleable'.
If they [the client/s] will be the sole user....in other words it's designed for THEM, not others then envelopes get pushed.
Gladly.
Design should have an underlying subtext...."fuck conservatism" ....
yeah...but it's a hungry world...kids still in the nest...
I do think blinds like VOX and Outer Limits show tremendous creativity....those titlebuttons in VOX...are just incredible...
I think the envelope has been pushed more than most...but I too..would like to see a no holds barred vSkin....though I think it would have to be an XP skin....hopefully...circumstances will allow that at some stage....
Now why would I want that? My goal is to be the best. Popular or not, if it ends up being more popular.. too.. then hey.. bonus.
...and how much income can be derived for ones bills and family which, to be frank is my #1 concern. (being an artiste, even the best, comes second) Lest we forget this became a profession for me many moons ago.
As far as clients go, each and every person that buys one of my themes I consider.. a client \ customer and my work, obviously reflects what I think they will like overall... as well as a personal inner drive to provide quality\ease of use\length of use. A happy customer is typically a repeat customer.
Have no illusions , as much as I love what I do, I am first and foremost in this to provide for my family, and in being so, popular is not only good, its manditory.
In Win 7 per pixel I'm fairly positive you can not... and frankly.. having buttons on the side is 1. not terribly creative 2. not very functional 3. pretty offputting.
To be perfectly honest, I don't think I would move them if I could, Titlebuttons are one area that binds familiarity. in the words of some great man.. just because you can, doesnt mean you should.
now now, lets not get political I'm a fiscal and social Reagan conservative at heart... that it should spill over.. not a shocker.
So say we all to that. There is absolutely nothing creative or original about an orb winflag start button.
As for the skin...not a fan of red but man that is fierce! I like the detail on the tray as well, that's cool.
I kind of agree about the titlebar buttons though.
Well, the start button is a total winner and as usual, you're making very balanced decisions between the art and the marketability and that's completely understandable...especially since the art is so excellent. I'm truly impressed by your judgment here. Very well done, John.
As for the branding? I'd love to see a pair of fangs with a drop of venom...or a scorpion's stinger with a drop of venom...just a thought.
Maybe it's just me but...these ideas on this skin definitely fall into ''pushing the envelopes'' even further.
Look at the titlebuttons, look at those lightings, the lights on the start menu, like the ones when u put them on a wall, the reflections, shadows, fading light on the edges of right click menu(typical for this author),
and those 45 degree lines which add something further insto a skin
and that mouse over lighting, hahah, unbelievable
It's impossible to satisfy everyones wishes, expectations, tastes...
this author created so many (different) skins so IMHO he definitely ''pushed the envelope'', raised some standards, and inspired many others to try the same.
hehe reminds of this
http://www.offensive-security.com/backtrack-wallpaper.jpg
Ooh, now a dragon would be cool.
Interesting conversation between John and Paul.
I have been a long time admirer of John's work and his work is always 'out of the top drawer'. I have virtually all his skins..........some bought by me and others were bought by friends and family for Xmas and Birthday pressies. You can see that John puts a huge amount of effort - heart and soul - into each skin and that shows in the quality - but not just quality. Looking at his skins...........they vary from being minimilistic to quite complex.........but never overdone. There are many skins in 'his box' - of different types - that would suit everyone's taste. This one certainly looks very promising. Finally, one area that I tend to judge a skin is how long it stays on my desktop and what matching gadgets and widgets I can put with it...............I would say the Sexy and Naked Noir WB's have been virtually the only skins on my laptop for ages.
Trying to stick with ideas directly tied to Venom.... Dragons had venom? Napalm, yes. Venom? No. No sparkling Vampires.
ask a few one legged or widowed Indonesian islanders about the Komodo
Seriously, thank-you everyone for your comments and interest, certainly was interesting.
I believe Paul, under that button pushing surface probably would like to see me excel even more and I don't take his words lightly.. Unfortunately, unless you have walked in my, and some other skinners shoes, it's hard to understand just how difficult WB and the current OS is to make themes that are sky high and grounded at the same time, especially when your asking someone to rob the piggy bank to slap them on their desks.
As far as dragons, its a nice idea, but I don't want to get too cliche with the blind, for the reasons mentioned above.. but.. it is early days.
just want to say it's great! i'll definitely buy it ! let me see...i paid you total....30US$! 35 soon
Watch the new Life special on Discovery.
How about a pic of my ex if you want venom! Snakes would flee from her!
Should also say: "Fuck winflags on start buttons... anywhere else!"
[quote who="Bebi Bulma" reply="32" id="2571502"]Quoting karmat, reply 18I like the start button very very much, it is really nice to see something different than a winflag or orb!!!
Yup, customisation should steer well clear of that artifact/relic/POS.
Supposed to be changing how Windows looks... not stealing/keeping little bits of it.
So again, fuck the winflag/winflag orb.
I'm sure that I posted this already, but it don't seem to be here...
John, I want to do a DX theme, weather, and maybe some docks for this, if you want. This is sweet!
I love the color combination. And the attention to detail that we've become accustomed to from you.
I will be called a suck up but in my book, you are at the very least one of the best. Probably don't mean much coming from me, but I have been a fan for a long time, and aspire to be as good as you.
I understand about feeding your family and paying the bills. Keep doing what you do, John!
Sure thing Jim, I'll sort you out a PSD once i get things finalized.
So, debate aside...
How's it coming? This is really looking sa-weeet!
Just started, hopefully will try and get XP blind started tommorrow, see how it looks as an actual skin.. and go from there.
I've found myself doing increasingly more in mockup work before I start cutting it up, good thing is, I think im getting better results and more productivity.
Thanks Brian.. and everyone else too.
Same here...
I wouldn't call the Start menu conservative. I don't recall seeing another one like it. It's very distinct in style. The lighting is interesting, too.
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