INTERACT FORUM

Windows => Third Party Plug-ins, Programs, and Skins => Topic started by: gappie on February 12, 2007, 05:35:04 pm

Title: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on February 12, 2007, 05:35:04 pm

im working on a new skin. to see what i could do. not finished yet, but the front ends are there.

got the inspiration from the houses used in the film from 1919 the cabinet of Dr Caligari.

here are the houses from caligari: http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/cal.JPG

here is the standard view: http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/cal1.JPG
made for 1680 X 1050
the accompaniing trackinfo http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/cal2.JPG
made for my second screen 1050 X1680

i would like to stimulate everybody to make their own skins. it is fun and less work then i thought. and all you need is a nice paint programm like ultimate paint (free) and notepad.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: Mr ChriZ on February 13, 2007, 04:36:42 am

I like how you've lined up the triangles, that's quite cool!
I'd agree with what you've said also It is alot easier than you'd think to get started
and then once you start it's so difficult to stop =)

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on February 13, 2007, 06:14:38 am

thanks

yes, it is difficult to stop. guess it is always work in progress. change some things al the time till it is something that works. taking away some of the stuff you dont use. guess that is how it works with your beautiful intention skin also.
i wanted to make something without any 3d/shading, to see if i like that.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on February 19, 2007, 08:21:30 am

i just updated the two links in the first post.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: thenoob1 on February 19, 2007, 09:27:32 am

Very nice skin and it´s the only one with a new creative design.


Keep on doing skins  ;) :)

tn1

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: benn600 on February 21, 2007, 11:54:25 pm

I have viewed the cover art folders and see what a skin contains.  Pretty much a lot of png files and a single xml file for configuration.  Generally, what are the steps in creating a skin?  Would you say it's best to just take a readymade xml file and modify it or even more simply, just modify the images and perhaps just the titled on the xml file because I'm wondering how much configuration control the xml file alone gives?  You can make transparencies, etc with the images alone.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on February 22, 2007, 01:45:56 am

its a bit of both, change the images, or make new ones and change the xml file. start to copy an existing one otherwise there is a change that a new install overwrites it, then change the title in the xml file because mc reads that for the skin list in mc.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on March 04, 2007, 08:52:05 am

made a theater view that goes with it.
http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/caltv.JPG

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: Tab on April 24, 2007, 08:40:43 am

Copying & renaming an existing skin and playing with it is the easy way to get going. Always back them up somewhere other than C:/Progfiles/J River though, as any reinstall wipes everything - a bad habit.

PS Plain 2d black is lovely. It may sound featureless but its still my favourite. Its like putting it into night vision mode.


Tab

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on May 14, 2007, 09:10:27 am

i just finished the skin. made a lot of improvments. ill keep learning.

here are some screenshots http://tinyurl.com/2pylsf

and for the few interested, it can be downloaded here: http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/Caligari.zip

had to make a new post, because i could not modify the first.  :)

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: JimH on May 14, 2007, 09:25:21 am

Koolhaas?

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on May 14, 2007, 09:30:32 am

Quote from: JimH on May 14, 2007, 09:25:21 am

Koolhaas?

;D
no, made around 1919 for the movie the cabinet of dr caligari.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: prod on August 07, 2007, 02:33:22 am

gappie this is a great really fun skin - thought I'd check it out after seeing your screenshot here (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=41875.msg285483#msg285483). Thanks a lot. Did you ever get anywhere with the Theater View skin?

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on August 07, 2007, 04:44:54 pm

thanks prod...  :)
i also have and use a theater view skin but im not really satisfied with it. i need to work on it some more.

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: prod on August 08, 2007, 05:29:48 am

Look forward to seeing it sometime. I've got your Caligary skin with the Kristen font at the mo, looks pretty funky, so thanks again. Makes me want to have a go myself.

Cheers

Pete

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: PeterS on August 08, 2007, 09:55:39 am

Quote from: prod on August 08, 2007, 05:29:48 am

Makes me want to have a go myself.

You should give it a whirl. Check out the Standard View skinning tutorial if you haven't already, and we'll help you along.

PeterS

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: gappie on August 08, 2007, 05:28:15 pm

peter is right! it is fun to make your own skin and the manual is really great. only when you want to submit it to the skins and plugins section things become complicated. :P

i posted an update taking care of some things i did not know where they were for until the manual came out. and i decided to write caligari right. :) its here http://www.gappie.nl/fotos/Caligari.zip

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: prod on August 09, 2007, 07:22:19 am

Thanks for the encouragement guys will have a dabble soon and see what kind of hideous creation I can come up with. :)

Title: Re: working on a new skin.
Post by: PeterS on August 09, 2007, 09:25:49 am

Quote from: gappie on August 08, 2007, 05:28:15 pm

peter is right! it is fun to make your own skin and the manual is really great. only when you want to submit it to the skins and plugins section things become complicated. :P

 :-X We are going to take a serious look at the submission process. It'll take a little while so hang in there and keep making skins.