333 lines
19 KiB
PHP
333 lines
19 KiB
PHP
@extends('layouts.nova.content-layout')
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@section('page-content')
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<div class="max-w-3xl space-y-10">
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{{-- Intro --}}
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<div>
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<p class="text-neutral-400 text-sm mb-2">Last updated: March 1, 2026</p>
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<p class="text-neutral-300 leading-relaxed">
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Answers to the questions we hear most often. If something isn't covered here, feel free to reach out to
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any <a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff member</a> — we're happy to help.
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</p>
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</div>
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{{-- Table of Contents --}}
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<nav class="rounded-xl border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.03] p-5">
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<p class="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-neutral-400 mb-3">Contents</p>
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<ol class="space-y-1.5 text-sm text-sky-400">
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<li><a href="#about" class="hover:underline">01 — About Skinbase</a></li>
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<li><a href="#uploading" class="hover:underline">02 — Uploading & Submissions</a></li>
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<li><a href="#copyright" class="hover:underline">03 — Copyright & Photoskins</a></li>
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<li><a href="#skinning" class="hover:underline">04 — Skinning Help</a></li>
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<li><a href="#account" class="hover:underline">05 — Account & Profile</a></li>
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<li><a href="#community" class="hover:underline">06 — Community & Forums</a></li>
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<li><a href="#policies" class="hover:underline">07 — Policies & Conduct</a></li>
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</ol>
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</nav>
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{{-- 01 About Skinbase --}}
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<section id="about">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">01</span>
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About Skinbase
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What is Skinbase?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Skinbase is a community gallery for desktop customisation — skins, themes, wallpapers, icons, and
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more. Members upload their own creations, collect favourites, leave feedback, and discuss all things
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design in the forums. We've been online since 2001 and still going strong.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Is Skinbase free to use?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Yes, completely. Browsing and downloading are free without an account. Registering (also free)
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unlocks uploading, commenting, favourites, collections, and messaging.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Who runs Skinbase?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Skinbase is maintained by a small volunteer <a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff team</a>.
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Staff moderate uploads, help members, and keep the lights on. There is no corporate ownership —
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this is a community project.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How can I support Skinbase?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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The best support is participation — upload your work, leave constructive comments, report problems,
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and invite other creators. You can also help by flagging rule-breaking content so staff can review it quickly.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 02 Uploading & Submissions --}}
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<section id="uploading">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">02</span>
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Uploading & Submissions
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What file types are accepted?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Skins and resources are generally uploaded as <strong class="text-white">.zip</strong> archives.
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Preview images are accepted as JPG, PNG, or WebP. Wallpapers may be uploaded directly as image files.
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Check the upload form for the exact size and type limits per category.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Is there a file size limit?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Yes. The current limit is displayed on the upload page. If your file exceeds the limit, try removing
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any unnecessary assets from the archive before re-uploading.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Why was my upload removed?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Uploads are removed when they break the <a href="/rules-and-guidelines" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">Rules & Guidelines</a> —
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most commonly for containing photographs you don't own (photoskins), missing preview images, or
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violating copyright. You will usually receive a message explaining the reason.
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If you believe a removal was in error, contact a staff member.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Can I upload work-in-progress skins?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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You may share works-in-progress in the forums for feedback. The main gallery is intended for
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finished, download-ready submissions only.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 03 Copyright & Photoskins --}}
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<section id="copyright">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">03</span>
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Copyright & Photoskins
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What is a photoskin?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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A photoskin is a skin that uses photographic images — typically sourced from the internet — as its
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primary visual element. Because those photos belong to the photographer (or their publisher), using
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them without permission is copyright infringement.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Can I upload photoskins?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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<strong class="text-white">No.</strong> Photoskins are not allowed on Skinbase. All artwork in a
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skin must be created by you, or you must include written proof of permission from the original
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artist inside the zip file. Stock images with a licence that explicitly permits use in
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redistributed works are allowed — include a copy of that licence in the zip.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Can I base my skin on someone else's artwork?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Only with documented permission. Include the permission statement (email, forum post, etc.) inside
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your zip file and note it in your upload description. Staff may still remove the work if we cannot
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verify the permission.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Someone uploaded my artwork without permission. What do I do?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Use the Report button on the artwork's page, or contact a
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<a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff member</a> directly.
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Provide a link to the infringing upload and evidence that you are the copyright holder.
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We take copyright complaints seriously and act promptly.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 04 Skinning Help --}}
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<section id="skinning">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">04</span>
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Skinning Help
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I make a skin?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Every application is different, but skins generally consist of a folder of images and small
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text/config files. A good starting point is to unpack an existing skin (many Winamp skins are
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simply renamed <code class="text-sky-300">.zip</code> files), study the structure, then replace the
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images with your own artwork. Check the application's official documentation for its exact format.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I apply a Windows theme?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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To change the visual style of Windows you typically need a third-party tool such as
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<strong class="text-white">WindowBlinds</strong>, <strong class="text-white">SecureUxTheme</strong>,
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or a patched <code class="text-sky-300">uxtheme.dll</code>. Install your chosen tool, download a
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compatible theme from Skinbase, then follow the tool's instructions to apply it.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Where can I get help with a specific application?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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The forums are the best place — there are dedicated sections for popular skinnable applications.
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You can also check the comments on popular skins for tips from other members.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What image editing software do skinners use?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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The community uses a wide range of tools. Popular choices include
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<strong class="text-white">Adobe Photoshop</strong>, <strong class="text-white">GIMP</strong> (free),
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<strong class="text-white">Affinity Designer</strong>, <strong class="text-white">Figma</strong>,
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and <strong class="text-white">Krita</strong> (free). The best tool is the one you're comfortable with.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 05 Account & Profile --}}
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<section id="account">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">05</span>
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Account & Profile
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I set a profile picture?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Go to <strong class="text-white">Settings → Avatar</strong>, choose an image from your device, and
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save. Your avatar appears on your profile page and next to all your comments.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Can I change my username?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Username changes are handled by staff. Send a message to a
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<a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff member</a> with your requested new name.
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We reserve the right to decline requests that are inappropriate or conflict with an existing account.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I delete my account?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Account deletion requests must be sent to staff. Please be aware that your publicly submitted
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artwork may remain in the gallery under your username unless you also request removal of specific
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uploads. See our <a href="/privacy-policy" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">Privacy Policy</a>
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for details on data retention.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">I forgot my password. How do I reset it?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Use the <strong class="text-white">Forgot password?</strong> link on the login page. An email with
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a reset link will be sent to the address on your account. If you no longer have access to that
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email, contact a staff member for assistance.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 06 Community & Forums --}}
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<section id="community">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">06</span>
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Community & Forums
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Do I need an account to use the forums?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Guests can read most forum threads without an account. Posting, replying, and creating new topics
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require a registered account.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Can I promote my own work in the forums?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Yes — there are dedicated showcase and feedback sections. Limit self-promotion to those areas and
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avoid spamming multiple threads with the same content.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I report a bad comment or forum post?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Every comment and post has a Report link. Use it to flag content that breaks the rules; staff will
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review it promptly. For urgent issues, message a
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<a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff member</a> directly.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What are the messaging rules?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Private messaging is for genuine one-to-one communication. Do not use it to harass, solicit, or
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send unsolicited promotional material. Violations can result in messaging being disabled on your account.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- 07 Policies & Conduct --}}
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<section id="policies">
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<h2 class="flex items-center gap-2 text-xl font-bold text-white border-b border-white/10 pb-3 mb-6">
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<span class="text-sky-400 font-mono text-base">07</span>
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Policies & Conduct
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</h2>
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<dl class="space-y-6">
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">Are there many rules to follow?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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We keep the rules straightforward: respect everyone, only upload work you own or have permission to
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share, and keep it drama-free. The full list is in our
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<a href="/rules-and-guidelines" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">Rules & Guidelines</a>.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">What happens if I break the rules?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Depending on severity, staff may issue a warning, remove the offending content, temporarily
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restrict your account, or permanently ban you. Serious offences (harassment, illegal content)
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result in an immediate permanent ban with no prior warning.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">How do I appeal a ban or removed upload?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Contact a senior staff member and explain the situation calmly. Provide any supporting evidence.
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Staff decisions can be reversed when new information comes to light, but appeals submitted
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aggressively or repeatedly will not be reconsidered.
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</dd>
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</div>
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<div>
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<dt class="font-medium text-white">I still can't find what I need. What now?</dt>
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<dd class="mt-1.5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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Send a private message to any <a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff member</a>
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or post in the Help section of the forums. Someone from the community will usually respond
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quickly.
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</dd>
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</div>
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</dl>
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</section>
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{{-- Footer note --}}
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<div class="rounded-xl border border-white/10 bg-white/[0.03] p-5 text-sm text-neutral-400 leading-relaxed">
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This FAQ is reviewed periodically. For legal matters such as copyright, data, or account deletion,
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please refer to our <a href="/privacy-policy" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">Privacy Policy</a>
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and <a href="/rules-and-guidelines" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">Rules & Guidelines</a>,
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or contact the <a href="/staff" class="text-sky-400 hover:underline">staff team</a> directly.
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</div>
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</div>
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@endsection
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