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Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 04:34 PM

I just spent the last few hours designing some custom icons for my files and a few apps and stuff... I'm just wondering how much the other graphicy people on here mess with the look of OS X? I don't use anything like shape shifter (cause I'm cheap) but I do do custom background images for nearly all my major directories, and I've made somewhere around 40 different types of icons for folders (stuff like, stuff from one app goes into a folder that looks more like it and stuff) this is largely the result of having to much time in class listening to lectures that I'm not getting anything out of

So do you leave OS X looking pretty out of the box, or do you screw around with a lot of stuff? Normally I leave Application icons the way they come aside form in a few ugly cases (Adium, VLC, Quicktime Player, Cyberduck)

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 15, 2005, 04:37 PM

I don't want to instal anything that could effect the stability is the slightest. I also think OSX is nice enough looking as it is since 10.3.

At most I change the desktop and use sexy icons.

RonnieoftheRose · Feb 15, 2005, 04:37 PM

Most use a drab grey background, graphite theme and lots of files on the desktop.

Deimos · Feb 15, 2005, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Most use a drab grey background, graphite theme and lots of files on the desktop.

That'll be mine.

To the OP. I'm not one for garish colours, or anything that blinds me, but a little customisation goes a long way to making the computer a bit nicer to stare at.

TheBadgerHunter · Feb 15, 2005, 05:32 PM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
I don't want to instal anything that could effect the stability is the slightest. I also think OSX is nice enough looking as it is since 10.3.

At most I change the desktop and use sexy icons.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Heheh

effgee · Feb 15, 2005, 05:44 PM

I use custom folders (rad-e8's SNOW.E + Panic's CandyBar) because I can't have baby-blue folders - too kitschy, grey or blue'ish desktop background and a couple of SNOW.E's colored folders to organize various work/office/project folders 'cause I hate the implementation of Finder labels in OS X.

I like it simple and am more the "Bauhaus instead of Pop Art" kind of person.

malvolio · Feb 15, 2005, 05:44 PM

Folks who do real graphics work (like for money) tend to "drab down" OS X. A neutral gray work area is best for their purposes.

The Godfather · Feb 15, 2005, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
this is largely the result of having to much time in class listening to lectures that I'm not getting anything out of

Ah. The clueless youth...

Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by The Godfather:
Ah. The clueless youth...

When sitting in a world religions class where a bunch of sheltered rural manitobans continue to shoot their hands up and make such worth while comments as "Seeks... they have knives... right?" yah... I don't think I got to much out of that lecture.

Mastrap · Feb 15, 2005, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by malvolio:
Folks who do real graphics work (like for money) tend to "drab down" OS X. A neutral gray work area is best for their purposes.

Aye. I used to have a plain white desktop, but have now switched to a blue grey. The last thing you need is distraction. I hide everything, disks, network, the lot. Open new windows in column view and I'm sorted.

RAILhead · Feb 15, 2005, 06:25 PM

No.

demograph68 · Feb 15, 2005, 06:32 PM

I don't see what's so distracting about using a nice looking theme compared to a drab looking one. (I'm using Siro right now, as it is my favorite theme.) But besides that, I think the GUI forum would have been more appropriate for this topic.

Agasthya · Feb 15, 2005, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
When sitting in a world religions class where a bunch of sheltered rural manitobans continue to shoot their hands up and make such worth while comments as "Seeks... they have knives... right?" yah... I don't think I got to much out of that lecture.

What the hell is a Seek? Or do you mean Sheik?

Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by Agasthya:
What the hell is a Seek? Or do you mean Sheik?

OK perhaps I should have paid attention to the spelling of it...

iREZ · Feb 15, 2005, 06:50 PM

I have different icons that I use, and yeah I switch icons from some progs that I like better with others (like the stupid onyx icon, I switch it with the macjanitor icon). When I work I use a simple grey background that apple supplies, works for me.

Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 06:54 PM

Hmm... I have a nice lake side sketch I did as my BG... do none of you use your own work as your backgrounds?

Xeo · Feb 15, 2005, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by Agasthya:
What the hell is a Seek? Or do you mean Sheik?

I had no idea either, but as with many times I just overlook it.

ironknee · Feb 15, 2005, 07:20 PM

i make icons to sort my jobs

i like the out of the box look of osx...especially panther...for backgrounds, i use the default pattern...the blue swirls...

malvolio · Feb 15, 2005, 07:21 PM

Originally posted by Agasthya:
What the hell is a Seek? Or do you mean Sheik?

He means Sikhs.

KeriVit · Feb 15, 2005, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by RonnieoftheRose:
Most use a drab grey background, graphite theme and lots of files on the desktop.

yeah- that'd be me too.

Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 07:38 PM

Originally posted by malvolio:
He means Sikhs.

Ahhh, that's the right spelling. Thanks... though... that's a very strange well of spelling... I like mine more

paully dub · Feb 15, 2005, 07:46 PM

every once in a while I change my desktop to one of my recent pics in iPhoto. Sometimes I'll downloads some new icons. Did shapeshifter ages ago, but didn't bother with it when I upgraded to Panther.

Panther's not exactly ugly, by the way, and it doesn't get in the way, so I'm fine with it.

Agasthya · Feb 15, 2005, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by malvolio:
He means Sikhs.

Oops

Thanks for the correction.

khufuu · Feb 15, 2005, 10:21 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Ahhh, that's the right spelling. Thanks... though... that's a very strange well of spelling... I like mine more

Give a whole new meaning to, "Seek and ye shall find.."

CD Hanks · Feb 15, 2005, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
When sitting in a world religions class where a bunch of sheltered rural manitobans continue to shoot their hands up and make such worth while comments as "Seeks... they have knives... right?" yah... I don't think I got to much out of that lecture.

You're not paying attention in a class where you just demonstrated you don't know what you're talking while simply referring to the class you're not paying attention to?

Ladies and gentlemen, this is idiocy as it's absolute finest.

Superchicken · Feb 15, 2005, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
You're not paying attention in a class where you just demonstrated you don't know what you're talking while simply referring to the class you're not paying attention to?

Ladies and gentlemen, this is idiocy as it's absolute finest.

Ohhh... so you're one of those obnoxious newbies people were talking about... now it's all clear... you know... can't remember who posted that but... they're right... our newbies are becoming lil rude buggers.

DeathMan · Feb 16, 2005, 01:10 AM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Ohhh... so you're one of those obnoxious newbies people were talking about... now it's all clear... you know... can't remember who posted that but... they're right... our newbies are becoming lil rude buggers.

ask and it shall be given unto you.

roberto blanco · Feb 16, 2005, 01:36 AM

Originally posted by effgee:
I use custom folders (rad-e8's SNOW.E ...

have you seen his newest set MINIMUM�? pretty damn smooth...

i use quite a few custom icons, and different background pics...not as much as i did in the old days (os9>) though...i used to tally mess up my system hacking just about everything from the bootscreen to the trash can icon...

JohnSmithXTREME · Feb 16, 2005, 01:57 AM

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
You're not paying attention in a class where you just demonstrated you don't know what you're talking while simply referring to the class you're not paying attention to?

Ladies and gentlemen, this is idiocy as it's absolute finest.

There's a surprise, another mean-spirited post by CD Hanks!

(awaiting retort from CDHanks beginning with "There's a surprise, another ...")

Randman · Feb 16, 2005, 02:22 AM

Hmm, this track got derailed quickly.

With my PB17, I have the space so I use various icons (prefer to pick and choose icons I like rather than an entire set). I also have a functional yet colorful menubar. But I prefer a simple, clean desktop picture as not to distract me when I'm actually doing work.

I also use themes as I don't see any slowdown from having eye candy. In themes, I prefer something a little more muted but also functional. The recent Xiap theme is very nice. Max's themes are usually good and I love Section 9 and the Mizu water theme.

demograph68 · Feb 16, 2005, 02:33 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
But I prefer a simple, clean desktop picture as not to distract me when I'm actually doing work.

Tried this?

ASIMO · Feb 16, 2005, 02:34 AM

Originally posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker:
I don't want to instal anything that could effect the stability is the slightest. I also think OSX is nice enough looking as it is since 10.3.

At most I change the desktop and use sexy icons.

In other words, yes.

Randman · Feb 16, 2005, 02:36 AM

Originally posted by demograph68:
Tried this?

That would look great with that yellow theme that floated by some time ago. Just need to drink a bunch of absinthe and all will be great. Thanks. Won't even need a second monitor to see double.

Superchicken · Feb 16, 2005, 11:30 AM

Hmmm I was thinking as to why my backgrounds never bother me... and I realized that's because my 1024/768 screen is entirely taken up when I work in Fireworks or Photoshop... and the backgrounds for those are grey... makes sense now...

turtle777 · Feb 16, 2005, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
this is largely the result of having to much time in class listening to lectures that I'm not getting anything out of

Pfff, those were the good old days.

Can't do this at Grad school or work...
And I have a life AFTER that

-t

Superchicken · Feb 16, 2005, 11:38 AM

Yah but when you're paying 10 grand a year to hear from a guy who has little clue what he's talking about and doesn't know how to teach...

turtle777 · Feb 16, 2005, 11:41 AM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Yah but when you're paying 10 grand a year to hear from a guy who has little clue what he's talking about and doesn't know how to teach...

You might as well call it the most expensive icon set EVAARRR !

-t

Deimos · Feb 16, 2005, 11:44 AM

I'm just new to this site, but I've been perusing the various forums in here and had a look at the GUI customisation one. Wow, I never realised that the classy Aqua could be abused to such a degree. Here's me thinking Mac users had taste.

All jokes aside, it's quite refreshing to see how people mod up their systems. Nice going.

mitchell_pgh · Feb 16, 2005, 11:52 AM

Other then the occasional desktop shift... OS X is just fine.

CD Hanks · Feb 16, 2005, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Ohhh... so you're one of those obnoxious newbies people were talking about... now it's all clear... you know... can't remember who posted that but... they're right... our newbies are becoming lil rude buggers.

I've been here since March 2000. Feel free to continue blowing it out your ass.

Originally posted by JohnSmithXTREME:
There's a surprise, another mean-spirited post by CD Hanks!

(awaiting retort from CDHanks beginning with "There's a surprise, another ...")

Stop posting.

edit: (BECAUSE I HAD TO)

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Yah but when you're paying 10 grand a year to hear from a guy who has little clue what he's talking about and doesn't know how to teach...

Exactly. You could just talk to yourself and do the same thing for free!