So I was trying to show Ryan what I meant by making a wallpaper that made it look like the taskbar was glowing. I ended up trying to sketch it in PS for him, and it turned out to be more than just a sketch.

Either way, I like how it turned out. It's not terrific, I know. I wasn't planning on doing more than just showing Ryan a quick doodle of what I meant.

Ignore the wallpaper.

Now that I've designed the simplest part of a taskbar, I'm thinking of going through with it, and perhaps having Ryan put it together for me.

It would look like this, but much more refined. I was thinking I would do a white and black version.

My point is: I want critiques. I want ideas. If I go through with making this visual style (and it will be the first either of us have even attempted to make) what do you think I should change, based on this simple illustration? Do you have any ideas for what should be included such as the buttons on windows, the start menu, etc? I'd really like to hear them, because I'm getting kind of excited about this project. So PLEASE let me know

(I do realize this is hardly a layout. I also realize that compared to other visual styles, it's basically craptacular. Ryan's already warned me that ya'll aren't usually too terribly nice to "novice attempts". If all you have to say is that it looks like crap, please, spare me. )

You can click on the image for a larger preview.

[attachmentid=164407]

looks nice

Thank you. That's an awesome first comment

too chunky for me sorri..

Chunky how? I'm not asking if you like it, I'm asking for suggestions on making it better.

its not chunky IMHO. i think to make the wallpaper better, dont use that bevel for the heart. try to use a texture or something that makes it fit the stuff around the heart or something.

the VS looks really nice so far. do you have any more screenshots?


keep up the great work

I'm not gonna work on the wallpaper

The only reason I made that was to go with the "visual style" to show my fiance the glowy bit that I was talking about. I'm not going to release it, or anything. I don't even have a version for me (I do like the bevel, though )

As for the VS, no. This is just a very very rough draft. It's not even a screenshot. I haven't even designed more than just this much of it. I just made this whole image from scratch in Photoshop.

Hopefully I can put it into working order, though (or my fiance can for me) so that I WILL be able to get some screenshots. Once I DO make the visual style, I'll make a more fitting walpaper.

I just dnt like the start bar, the button is not very nice everything seems a bit to over beveled, and the little arrow doesnt look very nice where the system tray is!

im sure my sister would use it , personally i dont like it. SOrry.

Again, telling me you don't like it doesn't help me at all.

Theres not much there too judge.. but from what i see... lighten up on the bevel some.. and get ur teeth into a start menu.

the bevel is too cheap, lol thats the only thing i think you can fix on i, then everyone else is ok i not going to tell if i like it or not cuz it looks like a personal vs the name says it all.