Window management buttons-- alternate visual metaphors

[MaxIBoy]

I've seen a few visual metaphors for these very abstract actions. There's the standard "line, square, X" one, the "line, plus, circle" one, and the "down, up, X" one. I don't really like any of them. Here's my attempt at creating a new one:
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Green+lightning?content=89775
The button layout is, from left to right:
Minimize, Maximize/restore, toggle always on top, close. Best used in conjunction with "roll up/shade" set as the double-click window title item.

First of all, what do you think of my visual metaphors? Second of all, what other visual metaphors have you seen?

[cammin]

The point of using visual metaphors, in this instance, is that they should be self explanatory.
Do you feel you've accomplished that?

[MaxIBoy]

I actually feel like I have. Read it left to right, along the line (which is shared by every button.)


__
/ L /
/ \/

[xakh]

What does that line accomplish? I see what you're trying to do, but in my opinion, it's a little hard to read. I had to check your guide at least two or three times when I was reading that screenshot. Now, it's always bugged me as well that these three symbols seem to be the only way to go, and I like the newer themes with an up and down arrow for minimize and maximize. I dunno about this one though.

[MaxIBoy]

See, that's valuable feedback. If I'm to continue theming, I need to know what isn't working.


I do like the up/down arrows metaphor (that's what I'm using now.) But that "X" just hasn't seemed like it makes sense. Maybe it should be a little bomb.

EDIT: just figured it out:
v ^ [] < > *
From left to right, the controls are:
-Minimize
-Maximize
-Toggle always on top
-Move to workspace left
-Move to workspace right
-Close

[xakh]

Now that makes sense to me. I'd definitely use a theme like that.

[MaxIBoy]

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it's possible to have workspace right and left buttons in the title bar. It's definitely not a feature of Emerald, which is what I'm most comfortable with. Maybe it's possible with gtk+2.