INTERACT FORUM

More => Old Versions => Media Center 11 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: JimH on October 08, 2003, 09:20:39 am

Title: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: JimH on October 08, 2003, 09:20:39 am
On his own, without anyone begging, Knickelfarz made a new brushed metal skin and offered to let us use it.  It's called BlueSteel.

We liked it so much, it's now the default skin in build 271 and will be the default for 9.1.

Thanks, K!  Great work!  It's nice to have your stamp on 9.1.
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: JimH on October 08, 2003, 09:24:29 am
I meant to copy and paste a post from LisaCRT here, but lost it.  Sorry.

I think it said, "Love the new skin, Knickelfarz.  How about a mini skin?"

Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: Kurt Young on October 08, 2003, 09:32:19 am
Aye aye!  The heat is on to bring in a coordinated mini-me and track info template.  Can't wait to see the new skin!


Edit:  downloaded and installed new build.  VERY nice work!  Love the ambience, totally love the stars.  The "convex" effect on the main player area is a bit trippy though, it doesn't seem to flow with the "flat" effects that the rest of the skin has.  Like, "why is that part sticking up?" hehe

:)

Edit 2:  bevel, that's the word I was lookin for.  Thanks, Omni!
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: Omni on October 08, 2003, 09:41:35 am
Quote
We liked it so much, it's now the default skin in build 271 and will be the default for 9.1.

I guess this means he'll get free program updates for life. :D

I haven't downloaded it yet, but I saw the screenshot.  The bevelled look is a nice touch.

Though it's popular to flame MS and its XP theme, I must admit that I rather like the 3D look and feel of it.  This new skin seems to compliment that style.  I look forward to using it.

Good job!

Omni
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: Deivit on October 08, 2003, 10:54:41 am
Just to say Thank you very much, Knickelfarz.  I love the new skin. Great job!


----
Listening to: 'Big Butter And Egg Man (alternate)' from 'Satchmo Plays King Oliver' by 'Louis Armstrong' on Media Center 9.1
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: ZRocker on October 08, 2003, 11:08:32 am
Very, very nice skin...great attention to detail and easy to read.  The constrast of colors is great and you can actually read highlighted selections...again, great attention to detail.  Nice graphics/buttons as well...you're a real pro (in my book).

Good work!!
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: LonWar on October 08, 2003, 11:34:05 am
Excellent work man.
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: Omni on October 08, 2003, 12:17:13 pm
Okay, I downloaded it, and it looks just as good in real life as it did in the screenshot.  8)

There's only one tiny problem though.  :(  In tagging mode, it's next to impossible to discern the checkboxes.  (dark, dark blue on black doesn't provide a lot of contrast)

Omni
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: KingSparta on October 08, 2003, 12:51:11 pm
Moo
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: LisaRCT on October 08, 2003, 01:29:11 pm
Quote
I meant to copy and paste a post from LisaCRT here, but lost it.  Sorry.

I think it said, "Love the new skin, Knickelfarz.  How about a mini skin?"




That's about it Jim, asked for a matching mini . . . .
But you left out the "Pretty Pleeeeeease"  
;)
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: LisaRCT on October 08, 2003, 01:35:52 pm
Quote
The "convex" effect on the main player area is a bit trippy though, it doesn't seem to flow with the "flat" effects that the rest of the skin has.


Oh I am sorry Kurt, but I disagree   :P
LOL

I think it adds some diversity as well as a nice dimensionality.  That also seems to be a bit of a theme with the concave buttons and rounded scrollbars.
Kinda like a nicely made bed . . . . . flat and smooth except for the curve of the pillows under the bedspread at the top.
Appearance-wise I wouldn't change a thing.
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: sraymond on October 08, 2003, 07:48:05 pm
Wow...  the attention to details is awesome on this skin.  I'm not a big fan of "dark" skins - but this one is that much better than the others that it's worth it.  It might make sense to make a "light" (as in color) background for the blue steel, though.

I'll second LisaRCT's request for a mini-me skin.

Wow.  Knick is *the man*.

Scott-
Title: Re: Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: nameless on October 08, 2003, 08:08:53 pm
Knicklefarz is a very talented and nice guy.  Coming from me, Captain Cynical, that says a lot.   ;D  The BlueSteel skin is great (good choice, Jim).
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: DJ_Hazelwood on October 09, 2003, 04:29:32 pm
As a fan of dark skins i must say: great work!  

Really cool skin    8)

Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: 10sne1 on October 09, 2003, 05:16:01 pm
Love the skin, very professional feel.  But I'm with King....still looking for that cow skin!  Moooooo
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: Michael Horton on October 09, 2003, 05:26:39 pm
Just adding another thumbs up for the skin
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: rocketsauce on October 14, 2003, 01:56:20 am
A small change request for the new skin: square corners instead of rounded.

The corners of the skin are rounded. If you have another program window open and maximized behind the maximized MC window, a small corner of that underlying window shows through. The problem is that just enough shows so that when trying to click the X to close MC it's possible to accidentally click the tiny corner of the window beneath and close it instead.

Thanks.

Rob
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: millertivo on October 14, 2003, 08:36:11 pm
Where can I download this skin?

I downloaded the latest fully functional 9.1 build at work and I have the new skin.  It is awesome.

But when I downloaded the latest fully functional 9.1 build on my home computers (I decided to step of the beta train for a while), the skin wasn't there.  And when you select skin manager, Blue Steel isn't one of the ones you can select.

Thanks Knickelfarz!
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: nameless on October 14, 2003, 08:50:52 pm
A small change request for the new skin: square corners instead of rounded.

The obvious answer is that you are never supposed to close Media Center!

But seriously, after testing this myself just now, I have to agree.  The problem described can very easily happen if you have multiple windows maximized, and then move the mouse cursor to the extreme upper right corner--without looking perhaps--and click.  You expect for MC to close (since it's on top), but you actually end up closing the window immediately below.
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: jleerigby on October 15, 2003, 12:57:04 pm
Where can I download this skin?

I downloaded the latest fully functional 9.1 build at work and I have the new skin.  It is awesome.

But when I downloaded the latest fully functional 9.1 build on my home computers (I decided to step of the beta train for a while), the skin wasn't there.  And when you select skin manager, Blue Steel isn't one of the ones you can select.

Thanks Knickelfarz!
From your work Pc copy the directory ....\megaskins\Blue Steel and put it in the same place on your home PC.  Alternatively, download and install the latest beta, copy the above directory to a safe place, revert to an older version of 9.1, copy the Blue Steel directory back.

I expect that Blue Steel will only work fully with the later versions of 9.1 so if you find that all is not well post back here for further advice.
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: eruji on October 15, 2003, 06:16:04 pm
BlueSteel is nice, but when are ya going to drop Magnum on us?


sorry, couldnt resist... Zoolander reference.
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: knickelfarz on October 15, 2003, 07:47:00 pm
Hi! Just want to say THANKS for all the lovely posts!  :D

I was almost offline for about a week because I had some touble with my dsl router and could only surf a little bit with my cell phone - very slow and pricey... But the replacement router arrived today and all is gas and gaiters again now...

Kinda like a nicely made bed . . . . . flat and smooth except for the curve of the pillows under the bedspread at the top.
Wow, sometimes it's changing over to poetry here ;) I like this description :)

There's only one tiny problem though.  :(  In tagging mode, it's next to impossible to discern the checkboxes.  (dark, dark blue on black doesn't provide a lot of contrast)
I noticed it, but there were not much to alter it. But build .279 established the "Custom Art" directory and there seems to excist something like a new "ART" entry in the skins XML... I will see what can be done now to change the check boxes ;)

A small change request for the new skin: square corners instead of rounded.
As the skin can not redraw when maximizing (MC10...?), the only way to change this indeed is a variation without round corners... I made one and will post it later.

Where can I download this skin?
I will care about that.

It might make sense to make a "light" (as in color) background for the blue steel, though.
I'll second LisaRCT's request for a mini-me skin.
I'm up to the eyes in work, but I have both on my list  ;)
There will be also a Hairstyle and some TrackInfo Templates. Just give me some time... And yes, there will be a MooooCenter soon ;D

Again, thanks to all and the gorgeous JRiver team!
Title: Re:Salute to Knickelfarz -- New Default Skin
Post by: knickelfarz on October 17, 2003, 01:34:28 pm
JimH told me that it would be OK to open a thread for "Blue Steel" - So here it is:
Blue Steel thread (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=16096).

You can already download the "original" version from there and a "FullScreen" version without rounded corners. More stuff is on the way - take a look at the thread from time to time ;).
You can use the sticky "Index to What's Here" (http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=5;action=display;threadid=15326) thread on the "Third Party Plug-ins, Programs, and Skins board" to find it quicker when it got lost in the depths of the board  ;)