Start8 full logo flatI thought it would be fun to have a quick mini-contest as we think about a bigger competition for the end of the year.  I chose Start8 as it’s easy to make start buttons for and can include a broader reach of people.  This is also a great to get some exposure as Start8 has been downloaded millions of times and is in the top lists of sites like download.com. 

Link: Start8

A start button for use in Start8 is just an image file with 3 vertically stacked images in a .png format.

Here’s a short guide on creating them: https://forums.wincustomize.com/436004/page/1/

Rules

  • This is a quick, casual contest so the rules are few.  Most importantly the images used must be yours or have the relevant permissions included, which is the case for most skins uploaded on WinCustomize.com.  Judging will be done by WinCustomize admins and moderators by voting to determine the top 3 start buttons.  We will be looking for the most creative buttons you can come up with, that still works well with the start menu.

Uploading

  • Upload your Start8 start buttons to the Start8 gallery by clicking here, or through the Upload page on WinCustomize.  In the description, make sure the first line is “Start8 Mini-Contest” so we know which ones to include in judging.  Submit as many as you like, just remember quality goes a lot farther than quantity.

Dates and Prizes

Entries can start today, August 5th, 2013 and we’ll conclude the contest on Monday, August 26th, at noon.  Judging will commence after that and the winners will be announced shortly after that.

1st – One year subscription/renewal to Object Desktop.

2nd – One year subscription/renewal to WinCustomize, and a license for Start8

3rd -  License for Start8

Have fun and lets see some cool buttons!


Comments (Page 2)
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on Aug 06, 2013

thanks for the link.

need a volunteer with win/start8 installed to check an image for me and give me back a screen shot for future reference.

on Aug 06, 2013

gmc2, this is just my guess but the folks having Win 8/Start 8 installed will more than likely be entering the contest.  It's just my opinion and lord knows I've been wrong alot lately. 

on Aug 06, 2013

RedneckDude
Is it just me, or do you have to unload WindowBlinds in order to use these buttons?

 

I ask again...  

on Aug 06, 2013

Philly0381

gmc2, this is just my guess but the folks having Win 8/Start 8 installed will more than likely be entering the contest.  It's just my opinion and lord knows I've been wrong alot lately. 

You aren't wrong a lot John. However any button I would look at wouldn't effect anything I would make anyway. I already know aht sizes I can use and really these are the easiest things that can be made.Have no idea from all the entries I think will come how just 3 buttons can be picked but it will have to be done. I would think there will be many great ones and i mean many.

need a volunteer with win/start8 installed to check an image for me and give me back a screen shot for future reference.

You should have my email address. I will look at any for you.

on Aug 06, 2013

RedneckDude


Quoting RedneckDude, reply 9Is it just me, or do you have to unload WindowBlinds in order to use these buttons?

 

I ask again...  

WindowBlinds uses the button associated with the WB skin.  To use a custom image you would need to unload WB.

 

on Aug 06, 2013

RedneckDude


Quoting RedneckDude, reply 9Is it just me, or do you have to unload WindowBlinds in order to use these buttons?

 

I ask again...  

This is all I know. I have windowblinds installed as you know I need that for making skins. Start 8 will only work if the default WB skin is applied. I could uninstall WB to check for you but it's running good so don't want to mess with it.

The only other thing I can guess at is this. i'm sure many people only run start8 from all the things I have read all over the web. I find it hard to believe it won't run on win8 without WB. Hopefully someone will come in and have something else to add.

on Aug 06, 2013

I was a few seconds when late and Spencer had the answer. Do remember that it will only work with the default wb skin applied. It's the first WB and says default just in case I thought I would add that.

on Aug 06, 2013

DaveBax
I could uninstall WB to check for you but it's running good so don't want to mess with it.

No need, Dave, but thanks. By unloaded, I meant using the default Windows8 skin.

 

Thanks ID. I thought I was missing something. Was getting frustrated trying to use both. 

on Aug 06, 2013

I'm on Win7. I can still make a button or three. Don't need Start8 to do that.

Although I think someone will have to test it. 

on Aug 06, 2013

As long as the spacing is the same on all 3 states, it should work. My advice would be to download an existing start 8 image from the gallery and use it as a sizing guide.

 

Of course I would never upload anything before testing it (or having someone who has windows 8 test it), but if the spacing and size were correct, then it would really be necessary.

on Aug 06, 2013

There are also several included images which you can find in the Start8 directory for reference.

on Aug 06, 2013

Philly0381
gmc2, this is just my guess but the folks having Win 8/Start 8 installed will more than likely be entering the contest.  It's just my opinion and lord knows I've been wrong alot lately. 

I think that anyone that works skinstudio will be able to create the image and enter their work. It's a pretty basic 3 image count, vertical placement image. I don't have win8/start8 so I would need some help in determining how size impacts the overall scheme by testing them and giving me back a screenie. Just piddling here...

DaveBax
You should have my email address. I will look at any for you.

Thanks Dave, I'll do that, are you using win8/start8?

 

on Aug 06, 2013

gmc2 I'm a user of skins not a skinner and I'm not running Windows 8 so pretty much useless. 

on Aug 06, 2013

Thaks 2of3. Just want to make sure first.

on Aug 06, 2013

Philly0381
gmc2 I'm a user of skins not a skinner and I'm not running Windows 8 so pretty much useless. 

useless, never, you're one of the good guys.

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