View Full Version : Work In Progress: Zest
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 16:16
Hi Guys,
I wanted to start working on a fresh skin, whilst Pandora is under construction. I am more than capable to do the graphic work, but have no inclination to learn xml coding in order to make this work.
Therefore, I am hoping that there are some experienced xml people out there who would like to join up with me to get this skin up and running. I will be relying on you to tell me what you want, what size, when you want it, etc. I am on hand to get this running..
...so if you want in, then please pm me.
Here are the mockups of what I had in mind:
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/homemock.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/homemockdirty.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/albumlist.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/albumscreen.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/albumscreendirty.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/videocontextmenu.jpg
That is about it for now...hopefully it would be fairly easy skin to get going and work on, due to there being no greatly complicated graphics to deal with. Ok, with no lack of respect, I would prefer experienced xml people, as I would like this to begin sooner rather than later.
PM me if interested.
Thanks
Jyra
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 16:17
that missing image was this one...
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/homemock_dirty.jpg
I love the tone of the skin. However the simple white text lists looks abit plain sorta. They'd need some sort of border on the side they are aligned to, wich also shows where the list ends on the top and bottom.
just imho
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 16:31
well it could definately be a work in progress...I'm just really excited about it and what to get started soon
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 17:03
ok...looked at the list thing and came up with the following. I didnt want anything too flashy...simple is the name of the game with this one.
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/albumlistalternative.jpg
No offence, but I prefer the Pandora skin, hope it will arrive soon.
One thing I hope you don't cut out from Pandora is the tracklisting on album view in music. I've never seen that in any other skin, and maybe it's not even possible to execute, but it looks stunning and provides superb information while scrolling through albums.:cool:
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 17:12
...and maybe even an alternative to the above album list.
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/albumlistalternative2.jpg
Wreezig...thats cool mate, Pandora will be out but it's going to take a while. Everyone has thier own tastes!
looks alot nicer. another option could be to just have the [ part of the [], it just let the lines on top and bottom fade out, so you only have half a rectangle.
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 17:15
amended...but didnt like the fade idea...not just yet anyway
that missing image was this one...
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/homemock_dirty.jpg
Funny, i had kinda the same idea for Vinci :)
http://i2.turboimagehost.com/t/340386_movieoverlay.jpg (http://i.turboimagehost.com/p/340386/movieoverlay.jpg.html)
Nice mockups, feels very 'summer'. You could create a tone for every season ;)
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 17:36
You should grab me on ICQ...I added you. I have that very thought about the seasons.
I like your ideas by the way.
You might want to be careful about using fonts as the main graphical elements. It can be hard to predict how well they behave in other languages.
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 18:32
not sure...do you mean, as in English? I was thinking about using only Windows-based fonts...if thats of any help
i think he means [photos] in polish might be 10 - 12 letters long or what ever!!!!
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 20:04
Ahhh ok...well not a lot I can do about that, as I want a textual skin....the polish might not be able to use it :D
MikeBeecham
2007-07-13, 21:25
Many thanks to Mantis for the inspiration (dude is SCARILY similiar to me design-wise) on this alternative home screen.
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/homemockwinter.jpg
MikeBeecham
2007-07-14, 13:01
Hmmm...it would seem that pretty much no-one is interested in making this skin...perhaps I was too forceful with the "I want experienced coders".
Well, I really want this skin to be made, so if you think you might have the knowledge to help me get this skin running I would be more than happy to hear from you.
I really like the looks of this skin man :nod:
Especially the Music layout! More skins should have that mode, xTv has something similar I think. Homescreen is beautiful and simple!
I really hope you're gonna get some help with thisone! Keep up the good work! :cool:
LoL ;)
MikeBeecham
2007-07-15, 16:39
Thanks mate...well the good news is that someone has offered to code Zest for me, which I'm really pleased about. I now have two of the best coders doing my two skins, Pandora and Zest.
The great news about Zest, is that it should be fairly simple to create different colour themes, so I'm looking forward to doing the blue skin afterwards...probably named either Ice or Surf...Not sure as yet!
Here we go!
MikeBeecham
2007-07-16, 00:26
Been working pretty hard today on the graphics for Zest (working title), but there is a coder now, and this is pretty much what you can expect from the skin...
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/controlsmockup.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/filemanagermockup.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/icon1mockup.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/icon3mockup.jpg
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/icon4mockup.jpg
I am also considering putting in the functionality for changing the background. The only issue with this is that some of the colours have been adopted to match the current background. We'll see!
Wasn't this excited about a skin for a long time.
Will be my new default skin :)
MikeBeecham
2007-07-17, 14:31
Login page now completed:
http://mbeecham.fireflyinternet.co.uk/mike/design/Zest/login.jpg
This lookes very nice. I like the tab-like elements on the top and bottom. All of the other "Now Playing" screens while not in Full screen look so out of place and just stuck there. This looks a lot cleaner. Also I like the color scheme. Can't wait to load this on my 42" plasma!
Looks great Jyra... cannot wait :)
MikeBeecham
2007-07-19, 00:20
thanks guys for the comments. I got a great coder on it at the moment, and I'm really excited about how it's progressing. I'm sure there will be an alpha / beta soon!
devilrejects
2008-12-07, 01:21
Any news about this skin? Looks promising
MikeBeecham
2008-12-08, 12:12
oh wow...I'd forgotten about this. Sorry mate,but no. I lost all of the files, ended up managing and working on MediaStream, and the coder has stuff to do of his own...so it never really happened
I was a big fan of this as well.
If you happen to come up with the images I'll code it up :)