[mac15]

Themers, just a small question. After or half way through making a theme do most of you go meh this sucks, why am even bothering with it. Or your stoaked on it from start to finish?

I go through several feelings/stages. The initial elements makes me go wow yeah I rule! Then as things get done I think..... meh this sucks and then when its done I'm ever so proud. Maybe its just me, but themers/wanna-be-themers please ramble on like I just did.

[swiz]

It depends, in the early days of themeing for OSX pretty much anything I would do, so long as it was created well made me go, yeah this is gonna be a tight theme. Now though with the offerings getting better and better its much harder to stoke even yourself because you keep comparing it to themes already available, and maybe make changres to better individuyalize it, changes which may not even be necessary but it puts a big question mark in your head, and may ultimately sacrifice everything you love about it and then you lose your vigor in working on it. Then when you get into the position I am in, all those question marks and a busy schedule make it seem more attractive to just watch the other guys do the deal.

[sixz]

Originally posted by mac15:
Themers, just a small question. After or half way through making a theme do most of you go meh this sucks, why am even bothering with it. Or your stoaked on it from start to finish?

I go through several feelings/stages. The initial elements makes me go wow yeah I rule! Then as things get done I think..... meh this sucks and then when its done I'm ever so proud. Maybe its just me, but themers/wanna-be-themers please ramble on like I just did.

I think those feelings can be generalized to all
artisans and I'm sorry for the platitudes I'm about
to unleash...

[A] wow, it's like someone else has done this.
[B] Someone else could have done this better.

Some artists I know will rave all the way through
a project and go on showing it off well after it's finished.
It's as if they didn't really think they were up to it and
are really chuffed and pleased with the result.
Their expectations were a little lower so the reward
was greater and lasts longer.
Where as some have far too high expectations and get
dishearten by their failure to live up to them. Soon as a works
finished they don't want to see or work on it again.

You seen to be stuck somewhere in the middle -

My suggestion would be to put the project down for a while
when you are getting those low ebb feelings -
- walk away and do something completely different and
when you return you will see everything with renewed/refreshed
and invigorated eyes - hopefully.

As with a lot of art - you must do it to please yourself first
otherwise it becomes a job.

[mac15]

I couldn't agree more too both replies. I'm not stuck or sick of theming infact I'm loving it more and more daily. Check out what I'm doing now, the metal window shown got me all buzzin' http://mac15.ambitiouslemon.com/

[cube3]

loads of effort, and there is always someone who complains. I will go about my next theme completly differently, and I haven't even released my first.

[CarbonG4]

Originally posted by mac15:
...I'm not stuck or sick of theming infact I'm loving it more and more daily...

uh huh... fear not, that will go away eventually...

//carbon

[miloszwl]

i think that Your theme looks very sexy

[Frisbee]

I've lost some interest in my theme I'm working on now. I had a week of school vacation in April, I did a ton of work, and now I can't find as much time to devote, which is discouraging. I'm confident I'll be able to do a lot of stuff over the summer, though.

[fireside]

Originally posted by mac15:
I couldn't agree more too both replies. I'm not stuck or sick of theming infact I'm loving it more and more daily. Check out what I'm doing now, the metal window shown got me all buzzin' http://mac15.ambitiouslemon.com/

i demand more previews.

[wibs]

I'm kind of an odd duck, I guess. Most people seem to be able to manage their time around a number of things, but when I decide to do something I just go full speed and tend to neglect other things that are probably more important. Basically I've been going full speed on about 3 things in my life for the past 6 months, and theming is one of them. If I don't feel like actually opening themepark, I start messing around with my website to see what cool things can be done with it (right now I'm tinkering with the MySQL database to see if I can do nifty TikiWiki tricks, rather than old and stale MovableType tricks).

So basically my point is that I don't think about the outcome, or really even how much I enjoy it. I either enjoy it, and I do it until it's done, or I don't do it. For about 4 years I made tons of levels for a game, really just went crazy on it. No idea if theming is going to be the same for me, but it seems to be starting at about the same pace so who knows.

and chris, ashen is hot

[kwyjiboy]

Originally posted by CarbonG4:
uh huh... fear not, that will go away eventually...

//carbon

Don't poison his mind!

[fireside]

Originally posted by mac15:
After or half way through making a theme do most of you go meh this sucks, why am even bothering with it.

thats what i do, then i just stop making the theme. thats why you haven't seen a theme from me. because i just realize that it blows then i just stop. *i wanted to work on Vector Cell but that good for nothing original author b0se decides to walk on my territory and tell me that he is going to make the theme himself. who does he think he is? doesn't even reply to my email. what a loser.*

give me ideas. i can't come up with any good original ideas to make into a theme.




disclaimer: the areas inbetween the *s mean i was saying this in jest. though he hasn't responded to my email.

[deej5871]

Originally posted by fireside:
give me ideas. i can't come up with any good original ideas to make into a theme.

Whatever happened to your labels theme? I thought that could've turned into something good, depending on how you worked it.. Like for all the variations maybe buttons would look like labels, etc. I thought that seemed interesting.

[fireside]

Originally posted by deej5871:
Whatever happened to your labels theme? I thought that could've turned into something good, depending on how you worked it.. Like for all the variations maybe buttons would look like labels, etc. I thought that seemed interesting.

i got bored of it. i didn't think it would look well with the buttons to look like the current labels and i didn't want to make an aqua mod. guess i'm just picky.

[JoE950]

i usually die in the mockup stage.

[wagmedia]

Originally posted by JoE950:
i usually die in the mockup stage.

Yep. I get the mock-up done, then don't have the energy or time to ever finish the dang thing.

[Komisar]

How do you guys feel when you get the response from the "masses"

[swiz]

Originally posted by Komisar:
How do you guys feel when you get the response from the "masses"

You have to take it all with a grain of salt. Some will make you feel like you've just created the greatest thing ever while others wonder what the hell you were thinking. Just stick to what you know you like and you cant go wrong. Dont get into theme-dev for others, do it for yourself and share with those who show an interest in your efforts.

[wibs]

Originally posted by swiz:
You have to take it all with a grain of salt. Some will make you feel like you've just created the greatest thing ever while others wonder what the hell you were thinking.

Definitely.

Personally, I love getting the feedback, be it good, bad, or a resounding "meh". For every comment that inflates my head, there's another to bring me down, and I think it makes for a good balance. Just the right amount of positive feedback to keep me working while not getting an ego .

[wagmedia]

Speaking of not finishing a theme, I started this one a while ago and did some of the resource work, but just don't have the time or energy to finish it. Anyone out there want to complete it?

[Dave-o™]

Originally posted by wagmedia:
Speaking of not finishing a theme, I started this one a while ago and did some of the resource work, but just don't have the time or energy to finish it. Anyone out there want to complete it?

Calling Fireside.. Hello is anyone out there....

[wagmedia]

Originally posted by Dave-o™:
Calling Fireside.. Hello is anyone out there....

lol, he'd be a good one to work on it.

[Dave-o™]

I thought so too Wag, he like to do mods and ports of themes.. this might be the perfect thing for him to work on.. You should PM him and see what you two can work out.. Just a thought

[Komisar]

i like that theme you should have finished it.... it has a sorta look to it.... if you ever decide to finish it.... that would be pretty sweet

[wagmedia]

Originally posted by Komisar:
i like that theme you should have finished it.... it has a sorta look to it.... if you ever decide to finish it.... that would be pretty sweet

Well, I'm definitely going to have to have someone help me with it. I designed it over a year ago and it's still not done. I think the only ones that have seen it are Carbon and Smeger.

[fireside]

Originally posted by Dave-o™:
Calling fireside.. Hello is anyone out there....

what the hell is that supposed to mean?

ps: its a lowercase "f"

[Komisar]

yeah lets try and keep this conversation on topic