What's In A Master Skin?

I'll go first (since I began the thread)

Personally, I believe that if anyone is willing to put in the time to learn how to skin, and skin well; to develop his skill set to the point that his work stands apart; I think anyone who achieves the level of "Master" should be able to sell anything they want to, regardless of how flashy it is or isn't.

WindowBlinds, for instance, take an INSANE amount of time to develop. Even a "simple" skin can be quite time consuming. I think that a Master has the right to sell because of his title, not because of what the skin looks like.

Of course, I also understand the fact that most people out there will only pay for something if they perceive that it's spectacular.

I agree to an extent. Having earned the title of master, a Master is expected to keep a certain level of quality in their skins. So, to sell anything they want to may be a bad choice of words.

Again, a certain level of quality is, and should be, expected of Masters. Taste is one thing, quality is another.

Example, I happen to think you have Master quality in your work, you strive for excellence, which I admire. To think of someone as a master doesn't mean I have to like everything he/she does, but the quality has to be there.

Agreed. I didn't state this, but I guess I felt it was implied. My bad.

As far as types of Master Skins, I would like to see more non-WindowBlinds, like IconPackages, Cursors, and DX stuff.

I think that pretty much says it for me also.  A question like this will always be hard to answer from a personal view point, quality wise it has to work when applied and  show me something new.

Never really thought about it, but skinners, even Masters will probably continue making the skins that they felt made them Masters. 

If I ever make master, and I will someday, if the program stays alive that long, lol, I will still do free skins. Only my very best work would be sold.

I would continue to do work to match blinds, and , of course, they would be free. They'd have to.

But I will be skinning a variety of things, and soon, I hope to release my first WB. DesktopX will always be my love, but blinds, and maybe winstep, may be my mainstay in the future, depending on the future of DX.

I agree with reply 4.

What i would want from a Master skin, is one that sets it apart from all the others. Not to say that everyone feels the same, but I think there are too many plain skins about and i think it would give master skinners a real chalange to produce something like the Toonxp skin every once in a while

sorts of sounds like a musing about when is my next promotion, only because it sounds so familiar,

so..., your a painter, a very good painter but..probably not the best. by what you're saying, you should be able to take all of work and be able to have a gallery take all of it on consignment regardless of what the competition has to offer.

SD placing a skin for sale indicates that that skin meets a certain, although seemingly unspecified, level of quality and excellence and has been produced by a master skinner. some make it and some don't.

there is some really great stuff in these categories. but I quote from one much wiser than I:

be interesting to know why they are not, I would think it would be a business decision but...

I think that is what we get, most of the time. I have no problems with what I'm getting as a master skin. All the ones I have bought have been top quality, else i would not have bought them.

Quality is what it has to be about, taste varies so widely. Quality is measurable.

Sorry you took it that way, cuz I meant nothing of the sort. Just trying to strike up some conversations and compile some opinions for the community's sake.

I agree.

what I like to see from masterskinners..... is to not rest on laurels..... but keep striving to push boundaries.... whether it be design...... or introducing new techniques like C4d..... doesn't matter if it's simple or complex.... needs to be quality.... originality.... it's not enough to be technically proficient.... gotta have some standouts and individualism...

Seems obvious to me.

What's in a Master's skin? A Master. Just being facetious. Syd summed it up very nicely. I think technique is very important, but originality and what the artist's inspiration creates in the skin is even moreso.

*doc smiles at Tim

 I like to see sharp, well defined graphics with good use of color and lighting.  Whether simple or complex, it should have a "polished"  look and feel to it. It shouldn't look like a rush job. It's hard to describe but Masters just know when a blind is "finished" and ready for sale.( Details, details, details) A high quality screenshot helps since there's no way to test drive the WindowBlind.

I'd like to see all possible taskbar setups accommodated as well, as in screen position, height, icon size, etc.  as this also can't be checked out prior to purchase unless shown in the ss. (I run mine with small icons, and buttons with text.I got used to Vista)

 Matching wallpapers may be optional but I think most will agree it really completes the blind if included.

 Lastly, everything that can be skinned should be skinned. Who wants to pay for default images?

A little present to Randy from the doc in Israel.... 'cause you're a "grand" fella!

*even doc winces at that one.

Another thing: usability.

I have purchased more than one master skin, which, when applied will knock your socks off, but when it comes to using your machine, well, it's hard to because of chosen styles or colors.

In the end, I use my computer for work purposes at least 8-10 hours per day. If I can't use my machine with the skin applied, it ain't worth the money.

I like to see usability, quality and originality.  I wan't to see EVERYTHING that can be skinned, skinned.  I don't think just because you are a Master that you can sell anything you want.  You have to keep up the quality and originality that got you promoted to that status.  You have to keep pushing yourself and the boundries of the programs you are using to create those skins.

A Master's squishy bits...;)

Leave it to Jafo...

a crapload of pixels arranged in an aesthetically pleasing form