I have been trying to create a skin suite for over two years now and these are the obstacles I have come across.
Tools: Obviously you always need the right tools. I started on Paint Shop Pro 7, and found is to be quite adequate, though I could never quite get results I wanted. I moved up to Photoshop 7 when finances allowed, and while different from PSP I found it more to my liking. The obstacles here are obviously the money required to purchase the right tools but also the learning how to use them, as well as the skills to actually produce a result of decent quality.
Creativity: To create a suite you need an idea, a look you want to achieve and then you need the creativity and ability to convert that idea. Coming up with something new that has not been done already is not that easy. With skinning being a global thing with so many minds working on new ideas its hard to find something unique. Yes, they say skin for yourself, but every artist likes his work to be appreciated and not flamed because it looks too much like this or resembles that.
Know how: Once you actually have a good quality graphic that is a unique idea, it is heart breaking to find it does not stretch this way or tile that way. With icons something that looks great at 128 by 128 looks awful at 64 by 64 not to mention 32 by 32 or 16 by 16. How many icons can you draw, in how many sizes, before you just give up.
Time: Being a working person I do not have much free time to my disposal, although not being a parent I have more than most. Time I find is the biggest obstacle in creating a suite or skin. It’s the time taken to acquire those tools, learn how to use them. Improving your skills so that your skin does not get moderated or rated 3. Coming up with an idea that is usable then changing your mind halfway thru and having to apply your changes to everything you’ve already done. Learning the skinning programs and how skins fit together. Skinning all the different applications out there and actually putting the skins together. It’s amazing how long it actually takes to turn 150 png’s into 50 icons.
Well I have not given up yet. Still trying.
Please excuse my writing skills, they’re almost as good as my skinning.