WinAmp Skins Creator Instructions
 
 
 

Table of contents
	Introduction
	Creating a skin step-by-step
	Additional information
	Conclusion
	Back

  The main purpose of this program is to help in creating skins for WinAmp mp3 player. The program does not need an installation. Simply extract the archive WinAmpSC.zip and run SkinCreator.exe. After that you will be asked to specify WinAmp directory... do it :). Thats all, Skin Creator is ready to work.
 

  First of all let us select a picture from which the skin will be created. The bigger picture is, the better. Then select the type of skin on the "Main" bookmark(at the top of the window), "One Big Background for All", will allow to make a skin from a big picture. To see it all you need to place WinAmp modules in the following order: WinAmp, Equalizer, Playlist. - See the example on the left - looks pretty, doesn't it? Another option - to use "One Picture For All Background" type. In this mode the program merely copy one background for all modules. Can be useful if Eaualizer/Playlist (or both) are rarely used or original picture is very small. After selecting the mode, press "Load Picture" on the same bookmark and choose it.

Then, you will be asked to select a part of the picture (the part you like best i guess - translator's remark ;) from which the skin will be created. Here you have two options, "Cut" and "Scale". The first one just cuts the part with necessary proportions, the second - automatically adjusts the scale of the selection. If the desireble part in "Cut" mode too big or too small to fit the selection box, try "Scale" - it will surely work :) , just click on this button in the upper panel, then on the picture and stretch the selection rectangle untill the needed size. When the selection is ready, press "Ok". After previewing press "Close".

After that, we already can see what is happening with our skin, although in draft version, press "Preview" (that a colourful button in the bottom of the Main screen) to do it. The skin to be will appear in the left window. But buttons and appearance of the whole skin is tasteless, isn't it? Want to improve it? Try another style, or even create one! :) Styles are a composition of filters, which define the WinAmp's look. They are available in the "Main" bookmark, "Styles" group. More styles can be downloaded from here, or by pressing "Download More" button in program.

After sketching the appearence, lets define the colours. It doesn't happens often that colours blend in well in the first try. Try using bookmarks "Main Form", "Equalizer", "Playlist". WinAmp's Main windows, Equalizer and Playlist's colours can be adjusted there. You can change element's colour by clicking on the coulored box opposite the element's name and brief description. Keep clicking on the "Preview" button from time to time to observe changes.

Found a great palette? Great! :) We are almost done! Now all that our skin needs - is something to underline the uniqueness of it :) - hmmm, the skin's name will do it... as well as the skin's author information. This can be done at "Misk" bookmark. Write your skin's name in "Skin Name" box, your name (or nick, which is much more fun - translator's remark ;) in "Skin Autor" box, yours e-mail and home page (if exists) in "E-mail" and "Web" respectively.

Ok, one final step - just press "Create Skin". Your skin will be written in WinAmp's skin folder. Try it - run WinAmp, press "Ctrl+S" or select "Options -> Skin", find your creation and say "Hail Sarabi!" after all ;) - Ok, ok translator's remark again ;)
 

  Time of skin-generating varies from 1 to 20 sec. depending on your PC. It can be found at "Misk" in "Other" group, "Last Making Time" field. You can also change the program's interface, if you don't like it, in "Misk" -> "Interface" (try Lion King - it is cool - you know who's this remark is ;). Language also can be changed there. Also, if Russian or English is not your native languages, try to download others here. And if someone even can translate this program into different languages - you are always welcome at dimonius@dimonius.ru. It is possible to adjust colours (see the picture on the right) using three different methods - press "Random" to fill with random colours; Press the Gradient" button to use a gradient tool (you can choose the first colour (before "=>") and the last of the gradient); The third method - direct colour selecting. Click on the bar and choose the colour yourself.
 
 
 

  Author does not take any responsibility for the possible errors and damage caused by this program. Suggestions and comments are welcome dimonius@dimonius.ru or dimonius@kseniya.ru. Check for the newer version or other useful progs at http://www.dimonius.ru.