Xbmc Skin How-to Options

[Blackbolt]

Royalty free images are exactly that. Royalty free, you don't have to pay anything for them, they have usually been donated or given up by the creator for usage across the board. Eminem uses alot of royalty free samples in his songs, for free.

LGC Make sure you don't just rip off Microsofts images or screenshots, make sure you save all the photoshops (or whatever graphics program you use) original source files, so if you need to prove you created an image, you can.

My suggestion if you are still trying to create a Vista skin is to get a good wallpaper, a FREE wallpaper and manipulate the colours to look more Vista-ish.

[gasclown]

yes royalty free means royalty free lol, which simply means there is no fee associated with its use.

however the actuality of 'royalty free' anything does not give anyone rights "across the board" for its use. In fact EVERY piece of royalty free are bound by usage conditions and usually forbid publishing without permission of the author or rights holder. this is as true for homemade samples found on the web as it is for wallpapers. copyright by an author of anything is automatic and assumed (and rarely managed lol - so no probs with a skin for xbox ).

eminem might use royalty free samples... for free, but i garantee he has to acquire licences to publish. even if its public domain/beyond copyright.

[Loaded_Gun_Complex]

Here is a very beta preview and it could change from this theme any time but this is something that will give anyone intrested an idea of what i have in mind.

All the images are created by hand as closely as i could make to original scrrens i have seen on the web.

I am looking for help with this skin as i only know the image side and i am really clueless with XML's so please anyone intrested in helping let me know.



Let me know what you think guys!

LGC

[THEKIDD]

thats good but plain wut else ur be putting

im willing to help out

[Loaded_Gun_Complex]

Do you have any suggestions? Also i know it's plain but i'm not really looking for something outlandish. I'm trying to stick to Vista

I'll also take any help you can provide. PM me.

[Jezz_X]

LGC you should also design it in the proper res that image you showed is 720x720 pal is 720x576 (you will get lots less space) but I think it looks good so far

[blaize]

Your not going to have a start button, system time, taskbar buttons etc ?
all that stuff is easy to code.. if anything i'll do it for you if you want, i can put most of it together in a few hours.

hell.. tonight/tomorrow i'll give you an example

This post has been edited by blaize: Oct 23 2006, 09:49 AM

[THEKIDD]

hmm i donno maybe some desktop icons(music,video,programs,etc)

the start button can be a sub menu

im not gd at ideas.

ima try some thing later

[blaize]

start menu, (music,video,programs,etc) can all be dialogs
on opening of the dialog you also let a taskbar button become visible.

man, i cant wait to get homeand put this home.xml together

[Blackbolt]

I think Microsoft would love to tell you to stop using their graphics for a skin, just like they did Kol who made the Vista skins for XP.

If you are going to make it a vista skin, make it just that bit different that they cant say anything, but it also looks 99% the same. And make sure you are designing it in the right Aspect ratio.

[Loaded_Gun_Complex]

LGC you should also design it in the proper res that image you showed is 720x720 pal is 720x576 (you will get lots less space) but I think it looks good so far

Thanx for the advice. What ratio should i be using?

I think Microsoft would love to tell you to stop using their graphics for a skin, just like they did Kol who made the Vista skins for XP.

If you are going to make it a vista skin, make it just that bit different that they cant say anything, but it also looks 99% the same. And make sure you are designing it in the right Aspect ratio.

What would you suggest for making a "bit" different? I am using a few screen shots for examples and building from there. ..... lol fun!

[mbay]

LGC, I really like what I see so far

[Loaded_Gun_Complex]

Here is a small update of what i am thinking about .... I think maybe the icons should be a bit smaller, and the shutdown menu will be hidden. And i'm not sure what to put in plce of the file explorer button on the bottom left but it will change. Any help with turning this into a usable skin would be great, and some ideas would be awesome!

[mbay]

I see what you're saying about the icons being a little smaller, LGC. maybe the border size of the icon can also be reduced slightly? Otherwise, I really like the schematics of the skin - it's clean, user-friendly thus far, and the color don't make you keep it up!

[Loaded_Gun_Complex]

I love this. The skin has changed drastically. Since i am now running Vista for my OS I see things more clearly. I'll be posting a few preview soon.