Norfolk_boy

Thats what gets me sometimes. You don't need to know squat about xml to make skins.

If you are willing enough, you can take the default metallic skin and use the same layout with different graphics to create an superb skin.

Instead, you get loads of 'metallic' generic recoloured things.

retired_shean

I know there are skins which have used the same/similar layout and worked brilliently (such as elegance).

I'm not planning to make some radical changes with the xml, just move a few of the button about.

When i'm done I plan to have altered most of the graphics slightly.

I've got to learn what all the graphics and .xml lines do first. Putting all the files into photoshop and recolouring is a million times easier and quicker than finding out what the graphics affect, then adjusting them and then seeing if they work correctly. I've never altered the graphics before (only recoloured), so thats why it will take time to learn what i'm doing.

Thats also why I plan to alter the colour first, then change the graphics.

I hope you understand what I mean.

Norfolk_boy

I know there are skins which have used the same/similar layout and worked brilliently (such as elegance).

I'm not planning to make some radical changes with the xml, just move a few of the button about.

When i'm done I plan to have altered most of the graphics slightly.

I've got to learn what all the graphics and .xml lines do first. Putting all the files into photoshop and recolouring is a million times easier and quicker than finding out what the graphics affect, then adjusting them and then seeing if they work correctly. I've never altered the graphics before (only recoloured), so thats why it will take time to learn what i'm doing.

Thats also why I plan to alter the colour first, then change the graphics.

I hope you understand what I mean. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, yes and no.

I fully understand that making a new skin with new graphics is a big task, but I don't see why recolouring is easier.

Everything works on the left/middle/right or top/middle/bottom formula.

I don't see how it is a million times quicker recolouring things. You change something graphically, load the game then see where it changes. Isn't that the same as you if you recoloured something?

I really don't want to discourage people skinning or anything, don't get me wrong. I just want some originality. Too much to ask for? No, I don't think so.

retired_shean

I know there are skins which have used the same/similar layout and worked brilliently (such as elegance).

I'm not planning to make some radical changes with the xml, just move a few of the button about.

When i'm done I plan to have altered most of the graphics slightly.

I've got to learn what all the graphics and .xml lines do first. Putting all the files into photoshop and recolouring is a million times easier and quicker than finding out what the graphics affect, then adjusting them and then seeing if they work correctly. I've never altered the graphics before (only recoloured), so thats why it will take time to learn what i'm doing.

Thats also why I plan to alter the colour first, then change the graphics.

I hope you understand what I mean. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, yes and no.

I fully understand that making a new skin with new graphics is a big task, but I don't see why recolouring is easier.

Everything works on the left/middle/right or top/middle/bottom formula.

I don't see how it is a million times quicker recolouring things. You change something graphically, load the game then see where it changes. Isn't that the same as you if you recoloured something?

I really don't want to discourage people skinning or anything, don't get me wrong. I just want some originality. Too much to ask for? No, I don't think so. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Recolouring is only recolouring one file and seeing if it looks ok, recording how you did it, and loading all the others you want to change into photoshop and having it recolour them all for you.

It's not just about top middle right, it's about what folders they are in as well. I've more or less got the hang of it at the moment.

I understand about origionality, I would rather see a new idea than a rehash of an old skin, and I plan to start changeing more of the graphics and layout as soon as i've recoloured it.

retired_fuel

Yeah, sounds like a good idea.

If anyone has any comments on the colour, just let me know. </BLOCKQUOTE>

if you end up doing a sking with that no4copy I'd be happy to use it and test it for you if you want, it's a nice general type of colour.

retired_2symonds

If you are continually recolouring and tweaking then creating the graphics yourself and slicing them up is much easier than recolouring... plus you get better results

retired_shean

Screenie

Thats what i've managed to do today. I've not just recoloured this one, i've altered the whole the side panel as well as restyled the top buttons (dark shadows didn't work).

I'm sorry for the background, I just needed something really quickly. I'll create a new one tomorrow.

Let me know what you think :thup:

retired_fuel

haha sick background, made my eyes funny LOL ! if you change the background then it's pretty good. actually why ave a background on that for ? just have it the same colour as the other stuff is. I'll use it if you want but any chance I could have GEORGIA as the font ?

cheers

retired_shean

Latest Screenie

I've set about recolouring the skin (yet again), i've nearly finished recolouring, and I expect to have it complete tonight, and I might upload a version for you to see what it's like at the moment and recieve feedback from it.

The background will be darkened slightly to make the text easier to read, the font will be changed (maybe to georgia, i'll have a look at it and see how it looks) and a few other things.

Any feedback from the screenie would be appriciated. :thup:

retired_fuel

Nice stuff. I don't use background images so I am sure it will look even better in my game. Keep it up.