I have a Q! What are you looking for in a Dashboard skin?

[citats]

Ok just like the title of the thread says...
What makes you click on the download button for a skin?
Included a poll to get some ideas.... just what should I be doing when skinning ;)

[IronGuy]

One of the problems I see in MANY skins is the contrast between text and picture. There are SO many skins that seem as if someone placed any old picture into a theme without regard for text readability. The pics are gorgeous but if you can't read the test why bother? If there's a picture of a ountain lake where the sky is light blue, the water is blue green, trees are dark green, and dirt is medium brown, what color text do you use?

My personal preference is dark graphic with light text, although light graphic with dark test is OK too. I like graphics that are subtle. My current Dash theme is the LCARS interface used in conjunction with ICbar for a total screen effect. I've tried to add the pic. Subdued graphics with light text (excpet for the red, but since I know it's important, I try to read it harder).

[rickh]

I use my PPC for work (sales) and I often have to look up phone numbers, addresses and contact info on the fly--sometimes even while driving. Needless to say, I like big, easy-to-hit icons!

[citats]

Ironguy: I agree. I've seen some skins and said to myself... myself how the heck can anyone read anything...

rickh: In the past I have made skins with icons of different sizes. One size for the portrait ver and smaller for a landscape version of the skin. I have stopped making landscape skins as of late. I find I don't use it much. No one has complained about the lack of it. But it would be pretty easy to do a skin with two versions a minimalistic version and an accessibility version (for lack of a better description ;) )

I prefere icons somewhere in the middle not too big not too small.

What about a skin that hides some of the modules?
this is possible. For example I do not use the task module and by elimanating it from the skin gives you more room for other items... once again something like this could be done in two versions.

Ideas? anyone else?

[Len]

Static,

I agree about hiding modules. I just created a modified version of the DefaultBlue skin that hides the Mail module, since I never use it. In addition, I hid the date (since I have that on WisBar), and also the page name so I could have as much screen real estate as possible for PIM and plug in items.

Personally, I use the Today Themes and specify a skin to use with them. Due to the way I use Dashboard, the problem that I am frustrated by is that the great icons that skin designers make are not useable on anything but their skins.So, I end up using the default Snoopsoft modue icons, and just finding a skin that allows the most real estate for the PIM data and plug in's.

I would sure love to see some nicer icons for the modules that would work regardless of the background image (as the default icons do).

Len

[citats]

Thank you to everyone who has offered input. It really is helping this creative block...

I would like to add a new Q:

What are you using to skin your task bar and manage your tasks. (close apps and switch)

I am currently experimenting with Wisbar Advanced... I like it and will most likely use it with any new themes...

[playamenace]

i'm still using icbar because wisbar advance doesn't give you the option to apply options, volume control,etc. to all buttons independently.
i think this is a great option because i can put the menu/task switcher to open when tapping the time and thereby avoiding another button in the bar.

cheers,

p

[rickh]

I tried Wisbar Advance for about 15 minutes, then went back to the standard version. For reasons mentioned above, I like having the date and time visible in large characters and that wasn't possible in Advance. The benefits of the new version didn't outweigh what was taken away.

[citats]

Change is difficult for sure but inevitable. I would think I could continue to support wisbar as long as dashboard does. I have yet to really take a look at Icbar. I will have to download and try it out.

One of the big pluses of wisbar advanced it the ability to poll dynamic icons from below the skin and show them in a small window.

[synapse]

One of the big pluses of wisbar advanced it the ability to poll dynamic icons from below the skin and show them in a small window.


Off topic a little - What does that mean exactly? I have never understood what that function did. Thanks!

-Dan

[citats]

If you use an application that has a dynamic icon that it places on the task bar (like a signal strength indicator for wireless cards) any program that skins the bar covers over all icons replacing it with the standard close, ok, today screen etc. Wisbar advance looks at those icons and allows you to show it ontop of the skin.
I think Icbar does this as well.
polling = looking below the skin based on how often you tell it to.

I hope this helps you understand it a bit better.

You should disable this if you do not need it. I notice it is a bit buggy still and causes flickering on my iPaq.

[synapse]

Thanks for the info. I understand now - I just never had any icons like that before.

-Dan