On WinCustomize.com we have a ranking system. Each member has a level that they begin with, and, throughout their membership, is promoted to higher rankings which can mean added benefits and privileges. Some examples of these privileges are uploading without moderation and the ability to actually sell skins on WinCustomize. Promotions are given to members who display superior skinning techniques first, after all this is a community skinning site and that is obviously the criteria we first look. Of course community participation is also factored in, but ultimately skinning is what is important here.
Summary of Levels on WinCustomize:
As you might know, WinCustomize is a moderated skinning site, which means we evaluate skins that are submitted and decide whether or not they make it into the general galleries. This basically comes down to quality control to ensure that we have quality works in our galleries. Over the past several weeks we have been taking a hard look at the state of the current galleries and reading members concerns in the forums and via e-mail.
We have found that some submissions have been of lower quality, and that quantity has become a prerequisite over quality. Going forward we will be increasing moderation in order to maintain our quality levels. Members that have ranks which allow un-moderated uploads will also be held to these standards. If it is decided that quality is not to our standards, members can and will go back to moderated status until improvements are seen. This step will enforce the legitimacy of rankings, and will also allow us to make sure that all artists are able to submit quality work and not get buried in the library. A demotion will not be seen as a punishment toward a member (unless it is for spamming) yet a natural flow of promotions and demotions to keep everyone at their deserved ranking. Any person that is demoted will be eligible for promotion once their quality increases.
The staff at WinCustomize does want to thank our members for their contributions – you make the site what it is today. We just want to ensure that WinCustomize remains the site that people go to for quality skins, and we want to make sure that every artist has a chance to have their quality work be seen.
Master Po' doesn't want folks to know he got a 1600 on his SAT's.
Speaking as a member and not a skinner.....
The wallpaper gallery has been a bit repetitious as of late. The standard of usability has been mostly overlooked. While I like unique and original art, it has to work on my desktop. Even without icons on my desktop, a lot of what I see in the gallery is just too "busy" for my tastes. To be blunt, more WTF than WOW.
@ WinMonster2 . Skinners do not set any standards, other than their own. It's up to the site mods to set the site standards for the lower ranks and in my honest opinion, those ranked higher than MA should still personally hold themselves to the same standards. Most have been around long enough to ask themselves "Would this make it into the gallery if it went through moderation?" or "Can I do better?" and answer honestly.
We all want the same thing, for WC to be the #1 place for people to come to for quality skins and wallpapers. The Public galleries are the showcases, let's display our finest.
I think this post is a reminder, not an accusation. Don't take it personally.
Right on dude.
A 'bit'???
Ahhh...to be young and have that kind of energy again. Just thinking about doing that gave me a headache.
And no offense to wallpaper creators but I rarely find anything in the gallery here that I would use as a wallpaper....unless it was made for a specific WindowBlind. And I'm not saying that all of them are crap....some of them look pretty cool and artsy...just not desktop material.
Wizards post is correct only so far as walls for desktops with icons applys in my opinion.
I never use icons so I only need a backdrop...anything will do as long as it is good.If that means we need a seperate ART section then fine but please dont count out purely artistic walls...I believe there is room for both as long as they are of high quality.
(not knocking you Wiz,just offering a second opinion)
Don't get me wrong, I put lots of highly detailed art on my desktop, some that go with a blind or DX theme, but many just make me go "WOW, that took some imagination and talent!" I don't know squat about art, but I know what I like.
Ya know...it's just a thought...but a 'Wallpaper Tutorial' wouldn't be a terrible thing. What defines a 'usable' or 'functional' wallpaper with icons or docks or whatever you like to decorate your desktop with. It doesn't have to be 'content' oriented, as I believe any content or theme could be made to work. Maybe a short series covering perspective, coloring, lighting; what is 'easy' on the eyes, etc.
What I look for in a wallpaper is something stunning...high resolution...scenic...some place I've never been perhaps. I also look for fantasy walls...but they have to be very well done and simply because I'm picky. Blurry looking walls will never make it to my desktop. But to be perfectly honest...walls really don't get to much time on my desktop. This is because of what I do though. When I'm working on a Winstep theme or when I used to do docks I would usually use a wall that either matched the dock or theme until I moved on to the next one and then it all changes. When I'm not at my pc it really doesn't cross my mind whats on it.
And a tutorial would be good...but you either got it or you don't. I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder though really.
You've never worked in an office have you Po, every wallpaper is a baby or some over weight dog
Any good art book will teach you the fundamentals, all people have to do is a little bit of research.
I have and do and know. Then there is my wife who has used one of two wallpapers she found here...and nothing else since she got her laptop 4 years ago.
I'm talking about what works on a monitor with icons, widgets, docks and all that crap, not in a gold leaf frame.
This noobie takes this statement very seriously. I just made Master Apprentice and I'm damn proud of that. You can bet your blank I'm gonna do what I can to the best of my ability to earn that promo. I started with MSPaint too and moved up to paint.net and then to photoshop which is way the heck up there. I'm teaching myself how to work with it and I know that any time I ask there a many who are willing to help. This is why I defend the WC. This is my home away from home and I love these guys. Do what everybody else does ... put your stuff out there for all to see and don't worry about where it goes or what kind of rating it gets. I don't consider myself a 'lesser' anything. Experience makes all the difference. There are no 'lesser' artists or 'better' artists. Its how you apply yourself. You start at the bottom and work your way up. I know I got what it takes to be a decent skinner otherwise none of what I've submitted would have made it to the galleries. Pardon my rant.
Glad to see you included your stuff in that list Po
I was sort of talking about the same thing. Not the creating a piece of art. But looking at the science of colour, perspective, composition etc, it would teach you the basics. And then you could apply it to skinning.
A tutorial on how to put it all together would be good.
As usual my post is in the wrong place. One of these days I'll look to see what page I'm on first. Sorry about that.
I think a Britney Spears-Flying Dolphin-Fractal Globe-Robot Unicorn-Metallic Rainbow Wallpaper would be perfect.
Oh jeez!
Descriptions of what differentiates 'wallpapers' from 'pics of Fido' and other 'art' have been made on several occasions.
The first [and possibly MOST significant] is that an individual's "ideal" desktop wallpaper will almost always be that 'picture of Fido', or some other family member....usually one who's equally cute, cuddly, and/or small.
THAT sort of 'wallpaper' ONLY appeals to its author - Fido will mean next to nothing to anyone outside his family.
Uploads of Fido are best sent to Deviantart under the quise of 'photographic mastery'.
Next issue is with WILDLY distracting graphics, either stark contrasts, patterns or absurdly bright white...all in themselves contributing to a potential for screen 'burn-in', but as equally an issue with eye-strain.
Third...overly CLUTTERED graphics making icon/gadget/Program placement and FINDING of them confusing and difficult.
Fourth... branding, tagging [over-use of text] - often as relevant to others as 'Fido'. Make signatures SUBTLE if you MUST have them.
Fifth...like Highlander....'there can be only one' - blue swirlie.....Digital Frost....Blue Mushrooms....Torus....floating spheres....twin moonrise over beach scene .... etc. If YOU have done it ONCE chances are others have, TOO before you...and better]. Don't do MORE of them, and no, blue-swirlie-with-pink-blob is not exciting, creative and innovative.
Lastly [in this short list]...once you've presumed your brilliantly original wallpaper will be lauded over by one and all [those who didn't see your equally original 10 uploads the day before] don't adopt the notion that this brilliance MUST be converted to every suitable format and loaded to THEIR galleries too.
I'm pretty sure I didn't want to see 'Fido' on my desktop...so it's a safe bet 'I' won't be wanting it on a Logon, Bootskin, OR Dock Icon.
Image 'creating' programs.
I am currently skinning within a Flight Sim called FSX. The graphics are pretty darn good in-game. I can press 'P' and pause a flight....change to external view [if not in it already], pan in 3D with the Joystick 'hat' and press 'PrintScreen' and have a squillion 'sexy walls'.... AS FAST AS I CAN CLICK A BUTTON or two and save.
One or two might be mildly diverting....choosing the ideal viewpoint might even require 'artistic talent' - an eye for composition, but at the end of the day it is no more than clicking a button and going "wow". Once the novelty is gone it's time to move on.
Image generators are almost always only 'novel' to their users. Most people have seen it all before.
The fractals...the 'alien' chrome spheres....the earthrise from the moon.
Well ....... scratch ideas 1 thru 9. Back to the drawing board. lol
Watch it or I will upload the Willow Smith 'Whip My Hair' widget.
Thanks. But my wallpapers are some of the least downloaded. I think there are a lot of folks better qualified.
It took me a while, mostly because of my distaste for all things Microsoft, but I came to understand why a lot of the walls they put out, that I thought were boring, work so well. I was glad to see the wallpapers that came with Windows7 and have actually used some. There are some good examples of how you can be artsy yet still maintain enough neutrality that the wallpapers work, work well, and may even appeal to a wider audience than say, the stuff I do. I do better, IMO, when I am inspired by someones windowblind or other work, like the blind Xiandi is working on. What's sad is that some of my best stuff comes from the likes of Starkers or Doc posting their sick, twisted ideas in the forums.
I wouldn't mind reviewing wallpapers. I think some really need to be dissected and highlighted beyond Skin Of The Week. Despite this thread, I have seen some pretty awesome stuff come out recently, including Island Dogs 'Roswell' wall which is the one of the few 'Bryce or Bryce style' walls I have downloaded in ages.
Better watch out....a fella named Jafo might take issue with just who "created" those images. Caution: He can be a tough cookie.
"You want sick and twisted? You can't handle sick and twisted Smedley!" - Col. Nathan R. Jessep
I want to apolagize to all of the members here. I opened up a can of worms with my last post and that was not my intent. I also want to say that I'm so sorry for posting so many walls. I guess I didn't even realize how that effected everyone else. My quality had dropped and I really wasn't even aware of it! My intentions were not to be the "Wallpaper Queen" or anything like that. I am now setting my standards way higher than before and I hope you will all agree. Please forgive me for not using more discretions about my work. Can we all put this behind us now and go on to try and improve the quality here as I should have been doing before? I've been beaten up by some of you pretty badly, and I've been totally humbled. I almost quit again! Sometimes people can be so hurtful with their remarks it makes me not even want to be a part of this, but I'm going to keep going for the few fans I have! Thank you all for being so supportive!
jazzilady
Renee, I am looking forward to seeing some great work from you.
When I think about courage, I usually think about courageous acts and the notable people who’ve performed them.Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins hurtling into space tethered to a rocket.The unnamed man who stood bravely, his only armor his shirtsleeves, before a line of tanks in Tiananmen Square.Ezell Blair, David Richmond, Joseph McNeil, and Franklin McCain, four college students who dared to sit at a segregated lunch counter at the Greensboro Woolworth’s.But lately, when I think about courage, I’ve been thinking more about the random acts of courage that happen every day. The really ordinary ones.More ordinary than the spunky kid with scraped knees who stands up to a playground bully.More ordinary than the young husband kissing his wife goodbye as she boards a transport plane to Afghanistan.More ordinary than the coworker who says he won’t tolerate the harassment of a colleague.I’ve been thinking about the random acts of courage that we all perform every day. The feats of bravery we all must accomplish to make our ways through this wild life. The audacity it takes to walk outside your door, into an entropic world devoid of guarantees and safety nets.The courage it takes to love despite the knowledge of heartbreak.The courage it takes to drive a car despite accident rates.The courage it takes to fly despite a grade school physical science class understanding of gravity.The courage it takes to raise children despite the fact that your job, if done successfully, will result in their growing up and away from you.The courage it takes to send them off to school, despite the memories of mean girls, cool kids, and lunch tables.The courage to write despite the omnipresence of critics.The courage it takes to say no to the things we don’t want and yes to the things we do.
Oh yes...
The Courage it takes to say, "I'm so sorry for posting so many walls. I guess I didn't even realize how that effected everyone else. My quality had dropped and I really wasn't even aware of it!" and "I'm going to keep going".
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