Is there a practical way to commission skin creation for Win10?

from WinCustomize Forums

I 'have to' migrate away from Windows 7 and I basically hate the default themes available for Win10.

I need something that isn't as contrast as default setups (which use either black or white as backgrounds). E.g. on my old Win7 setup it looks something like this:

I definitely do not need anything fancy or flashy with funny windows decorations etc; just a basic plain appearance that is not high-contract and does not use smooth fonts (absolutely hate those).

I tried to figure out something myself, but it's not trivial and I lack artistic talent.

So -- as the title says -- is there a practical way to commission a skin for my own use?

wincustomize talk
33,892 views 22 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

o_O

Not exactly sure what you mean, but I could make you something.

PM Me here or mail to [email protected] for closer talks on style & the cost for this.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Solforo I see you're a new member. Welcome to Wincustomize!

The themes you see here require Stardock's Windowblinds/Object Desktop to apply them to your OS. 

Should you have questions regarding that, one of our Community Support assistants or members of the community will be glad to try and help you.

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have done several custom skins for people in the past so please feel free to contact me also if you wish. neone6 is a great skinner too. :-)

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

neone6 and LightStar, never even realised custom skins could be created. I would be very interested in a Windowblinds skin to Mirror the Tron Legacy Theme i use on my Win 11 daily machine.

Feel free to contact me to talk about this, Happy Days

 

Tron Leacy

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Commissioned, or commercial skins have been around for a little over 20 years. They are a "thing", but it's important to be aware that bespoke skinning can be more expensive than you might imagine...;)
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Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 5

Commissioned, or commercial skins have been around for a little over 20 years.
They are a "thing", but it's important to be aware that bespoke skinning can be more expensive than you might imagine...;)
End of Jafo's quote

I would imagine it is not cheap, if a skin is made bespoke for 1 member. So would such a skin be exclusive to the person commissioning it, or would it still go on general sale similar to a Masterskin.

Do i have this right ie bespoke costs more as it will Not go on General release, or am i wrong and it will still be put up for sale like all Masterskins.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 6

Do i have this right ie bespoke costs more as it will Not go on General release, or am i wrong and it will still be put up for sale like all Masterskins.
End of naroon1's quote
If it is a skin that only happens because you ordered and paid for it, it is Exclusivle Yours ! }:)  

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting neone6, reply 7


Quoting naroon1,
reply 6

Do i have this right ie bespoke costs more as it will Not go on General release, or am i wrong and it will still be put up for sale like all Masterskins.

If it is a skin that only happens because you ordered and paid for it, it is Exclusivle Yours ! }:)  

End of neone6's quote

Thanks for the update, feel free noeone6 to throw some numbers by way of a PM please. May as well know if this is something to consider.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes, as with all commercial art, the purchase price is that which is commissioned.

If you want it pink with purple spots...you engage someone to create it for you.

Copyright Law defines the owner as the creator, not the purchaser...so if there were to be a second 'sale' that's the sole responsibility of the creator.

If you were to engage the work to be 'exclusive' and have the rights transmitted to the purchaser you can...but that's always with the consent of the original rights holder...aka the creator.

Hopefully that makes sense....50 years in Architecture I "know my rights" ...;)

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 4

neone6 and LightStar, never even realised custom skins could be created. I would be very interested in a Windowblinds skin to Mirror the Tron Legacy Theme i use on my Win 11 daily machine.

Feel free to contact me to talk about this, Happy Days

 

Reduced 52%
Tron Leacy
Original 1280 x 720


End of naroon1's quote

I'll leave that one up to neone6, as it is his work. Have fun with it if you get the job Andy! :-)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 2

The themes you see here require Stardock's Windowblinds/Object Desktop to apply them to your OS. 
End of DrJBHL's quote

Thanks for making sure this is understood!

In my case I do know about this, currently running trial version, expecting to purchase it soon.

I will contact people who responded about making skins privately, thanks!

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Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting LightStar, reply 10


Quoting naroon1,
reply 4

neone6 and LightStar, never even realised custom skins could be created. I would be very interested in a Windowblinds skin to Mirror the Tron Legacy Theme i use on my Win 11 daily machine.

Feel free to contact me to talk about this, Happy Days

 




Reduced 52%

Tron Leacy

Original 1280 x 720





I'll leave that one up to neone6, as it is his work. Have fun with it if you get the job Andy! :)

End of LightStar's quote

Hi LightStar hope you are well.

That is not neone6 work, i think you may be confusing it with another theme i posted early in my Learning Themes screenshots. It was neone6s Tron Skin that was chopped up to make a theme i found on a Theme site. I passed over all the info to neone6 as it was the right thing to do(he spent the time and work on the original).

This is actually Tron Legacy Theme For Windows 10, Tweaked by me to work on Win 11 . It was a Premium Theme for sale on another site.

 

neone6 Correct me if i am wrong.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 9

Yes, as with all commercial art, the purchase price is that which is commissioned.

If you want it pink with purple spots...you engage someone to create it for you.

Copyright Law defines the owner as the creator, not the purchaser...so if there were to be a second 'sale' that's the sole responsibility of the creator.

If you were to engage the work to be 'exclusive' and have the rights transmitted to the purchaser you can...but that's always with the consent of the original rights holder...aka the creator.

Hopefully that makes sense....50 years in Architecture I "know my rights" ...;)
End of Jafo's quote

So Jafo, it would be two prices needed.

 

One for it being Exclusive.

And,

One That May Be put up for general sale too.

May as well have all the numbers for both possibilities, this is new territory for me, so more than Curious

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Solforo, reply 11

Thanks for making sure this is understood!
End of Solforo's quote

You're welcome. :)

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Solforo.

For Windowblinds to Skin Correctly, you will need Start10 or 11 , was not sure if you knew this too.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 15

For Windowblinds to Skin Correctly, you will need Start10 or 11 , was not sure if you knew this too.
End of naroon1's quote

That's just for start menu itself though, no? Seems to skin fine(-ish) without Start10

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 15

Solforo.

For Windowblinds to Skin Correctly, you will need Start10 or 11 , was not sure if you knew this too.
End of naroon1's quote

This is why I linked him to Object Desktop, naroon1.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting naroon1, reply 13

So Jafo, it would be two prices needed.

 

One for it being Exclusive.

And,

One That May Be put up for general sale too.
End of naroon1's quote

No, the original owner [creator] can decide how he wants to relinquish his work to a customer...so if you really want it to be 'yours alone' and no-one else's you'd need to set it up that way.

The first 'real' commercial skins were contracted by various companies in the industry, like Alienware, etc.  and in that regard there would have been a 2 way 'licence' in that the skinner was given permission to use trademarks/graphics etc from the Company but then as it was both their IP and their contracted work any/all subsequent use and distribution was controlled by them, not the artist.

As with all agreements between parties....terms can differ...;)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Solforo, reply 16


Quoting naroon1,
reply 15

For Windowblinds to Skin Correctly, you will need Start10 or 11 , was not sure if you knew this too.



That's just for start menu itself though, no? Seems to skin fine(-ish) without Start10

End of Solforo's quote

Hi Solforo.

Some of our members here can be Serious about what they consider to be A Skinned Desktop "fine(-ish)" will make some choke on there coffee:rofl:  :rofl:  Not Me Though, Glad you are were you want to be.

Believe me i know, something of mine posted was around 99% functional but 1% was not quite right, an aesthetic thing to me, but sacrilege and a stoning offence to some others.:rofl:  :rofl:  

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Jafo, reply 18


Quoting naroon1,
reply 13

So Jafo, it would be two prices needed.

 

One for it being Exclusive.

And,

One That May Be put up for general sale too.



No, the original owner [creator] can decide how he wants to relinquish his work to a customer...so if you really want it to be 'yours alone' and no-one else's you'd need to set it up that way.

The first 'real' commercial skins were contracted by various companies in the industry, like Alienware, etc.  and in that regard there would have been a 2 way 'licence' in that the skinner was given permission to use trademarks/graphics etc from the Company but then as it was both their IP and their contracted work any/all subsequent use and distribution was controlled by them, not the artist.

As with all agreements between parties....terms can differ...;)

End of Jafo's quote

Cheers Jafo, starting to get the gist of it.

 

Maybe any Master Skinner replying can give me all prices to cover all eventualities, best to be sure.

Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Quoting naroon1, reply 19

 Not Me Though, Glad you are were you want to be.

End of naroon1's quote

Not yet, unfortunately.

I'm talking to a couple of skinners to see what they can do to help me out.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Solforo, reply 21


Quoting naroon1,
reply 19


 Not Me Though, Glad you are were you want to be.




Not yet, unfortunately.

I'm talking to a couple of skinners to see what they can do to help me out.

End of Solforo's quote

The Talent here will surely get you to that point, you could not be in better hands