In late summer 2012 I received a first mail from Debbie Curtis, in which she had added a theme that did not work with BGBlitz yet. It still had a few bugs, but it was clear that she was very talented as a graphic designer. By the way, the board became "Antique Cherry, Black & White (DC)"
Our mail traffic intensified rapidly. She asked, for example, which boards I found particularly beautiful. I sent her a few links to great real boards and so a one and a half year intensive cooperation started. She had the highest demands on her work and was only satisfied when it was really first class. For example, she invested hours and days until the metal-framed stones really looked like true metal. And she had many ideas, e.g. that not all stones should look the same or she used unusual materials like cement. Some details were also based on photos I had taken, e.g. the checkers from the "Wood -- Oak, Natural Red, Maple & Burl (DC)" are based on a British backgammon board from the 30s and the dice from many boards (e.g. "Leather -- Rust, Terracotta & Maize (DC)") not only look like precision dice, but are based on my photos of real precision dice. And I spent several weekends with a macro, tripod, improvised lighting and a self-made stage until the photos were good enough for her, although they looked perfect to me long before.
Debbie worked tirelessly with her perfectionist approach on new boards and reached higher and higher levels until she created the most beautiful boards I have ever seen. At the same time, she gave me feedback on BGBlitz from her perspective and I gave her feedback on her boards. At that time it was not unusual that we exchanged up to 10 mails per day(!).
I also asked her to contact the other good backgammon program authors to offer them a cooperation, because I was afraid that the sales would be too low for her otherwise. She always denied this with the argument that BGBlitz is the only good native Mac program.
But we didn't only talk about backgammon but also about other things, e.g. politics, which is rather unusual for Americans, it is considered a taboo subject there. That was exciting for me, because this way I got not only insights into American views of politics in the USA, but also how Americans see Europe or Germany.
After the release in 2014 we didn't email each other that often anymore but when there were no mails from her for quite a while I emailed her and a little later she answered that she had been sick for quite some time. But I did't attach so much importance to that. Our mail contact continued in intervals until he fell asleep again. When her website was down and I didn't get any reaction to my emails, I was seriously worried.
A few months later I received an email from her brother that Debbie had passed away. It's clichéd, but right then it crossed my mind that there was a lot I didn't know about her and that it's impossible to catch up. The fact that she was only a year older than me makes one thoughtful and humble.
I contacted her brother and I'm much obliged that he allowed me to provide Debbie's graphics for BGBlitz for free in her memory. This way even more people can get to know and appreciate her work, but I would much prefer to exchange ideas with her. Much more.
![WoodCherryBlackWhite Theme](themes/WoodCherryBlackWhite_t.jpg) Antique Cherry, Black & White (DC) (big) (download 1.8 MB)
| ![WoodCherrySienna theme](themes/WoodCherrySienna_t.jpg) Antique Cherry & Sienna (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
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![AntiqueWoodCherryBurl Theme](themes/AntiqueWoodCherryBurl_t.png) Antique Cherry with Burl (Big, DC) (big) (already included)
| ![AntiqueWoodCherryCocobolo theme](themes/AntiqueWoodCherryCocobolo_t.jpg) Antique Cherry with Cocobolo (DC) (big) (already included)
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![AntiqueWoodMaroon Theme](themes/AntiqueWoodMaroon_t.jpg) Antique Wood with Maroon (Big, DC) (big) (already included)
| ![AntiqueWoodRed theme](themes/AntiqueWoodRed_t.jpg) Antique Wood with Red (Big, DC) (big) (already included)
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![ChristmasChromeMetalLED Theme](themes/ChristmasChromeMetalLED_t.jpg) Christmas Chrome Metal LED (DC) (big) (download 1.3 MB)
| ![ChristmasGoldMetalElectronic theme](themes/ChristmasGoldMetalElectronic_t.jpg) Christmas Gold Metal Electronic (DC) (big) (download 1.2 MB)
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![ChristmasSilverMetalLED Theme](themes/ChristmasSilverMetalLED_t.jpg) Christmas Silver Metal LED (DC) (big) (download 1.2 MB)
| ![Leather-Black-Silver-RedCroc theme](themes/Leather-Black-Silver-RedCroc_t.png) Leather -- Black, Silver & Red Croc (DC) (big) (download 2.1 MB)
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![Leather-Black-SilverCroc Theme](themes/Leather-Black-SilverCroc_t.png) Leather -- Black & Silver Croc (DC) (big) (download 2.1 MB)
| ![Leather-BlackGator-SilverTangerine theme](themes/Leather-BlackGator-SilverTangerine_t.png) Leather -- Black Gator, Silver & Tangerine (DC) (big) (download 2.0 MB)
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![Leather-BlackGrayWhite Theme](themes/Leather-BlackGrayWhite_t.png) Leather -- Black, Gray & White (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
| ![Leather-BlackGrayWhiteBlue theme](themes/Leather-BlackGrayWhiteBlue_t.png) Leather -- Black, Gray & White with Blue (DC) (big) (already included)
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![Leather-Croc-Brown-TealGray Theme](themes/Leather-Croc-Brown-TealGray_t.png) Leather -- Brown Croc, Teal & Gray (DC) (big) (download 2,4 MB)
| ![Leather-Croc-Brown-White theme](themes/Leather-Croc-Brown-White_t.png) Leather -- Brown & White Croc (DC) (big) (download 2.3 MB)
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![Leather-Croc-Burgundy-Teal Theme](themes/Leather-Croc-Burgundy-Teal_t.png) Leather -- Burgundy & Teal (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
| ![Leather-Gray-Black-White theme](themes/Leather-Gray-Black-White_t.png) Leather -- Gray, Black & White (DC) (big) (download 1.5 MB)
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![Leather-Green-Red-BlackClassic Theme](themes/Leather-Green-Red-BlackClassic_t.png) Leather -- Green-Red & Black Classic (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
| ![Leather-NavyBlue-Creme theme](themes/Leather-NavyBlue-Creme_t.png) Leather -- Navy Blue & Creme (DC) (big) (download 2.2 MB)
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![Leather-NavyBlue-White Theme](themes/Leather-NavyBlue-White_t.png) Leather -- Navy Blue & White (DC) (big) (already included)
| ![Leather-PrussianBlue-Creme theme](themes/Leather-PrussianBlue-Creme_t.png) Leather -- Prussian Blue & Creme (DC) (big) (download 2.5 MB)
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![Leather-PrussianBlue-White Theme](themes/Leather-PrussianBlue-White_t.png) Leather -- Prussian Blue & White (DC) (big) (download 2.0 MB)
| ![Leather-PurpleWhite theme](themes/Leather-PurpleWhite_t.png) Leather -- Purple & White (DC) (big) (download 1.8 MB)
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![Leather-Red-Green-BlackClassic Theme](themes/Leather-Red-Green-BlackClassic_t.png) Leather -- Red-Green & Black Classic (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
| ![Leather-Rust-Terracotta-Maize theme](themes/Leather-Rust-Terracotta-Maize_t.png) Leather -- Rust, Terracotta & Maize (DC) (big) (already included)
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![LeatherDarkTealWhite Theme](themes/LeatherDarkTealWhite_t.jpg) Leather Dark Teal & White (DC) (big) (download 2.6 MB)
| ![LeatherTealOstrich theme](themes/LeatherTealOstrich_t.jpg) Leather Teal Ostrich (DC) (big) (download 2.8 MB)
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![MARBLE-PeachWithPeachGray Theme](themes/MARBLE-PeachWithPeachGray_t.png) MARBLE -- Peach With Peach & Gray (DC) (big) (download 4.3 MB)
| ![MARBLE-TanTravertineWithChocolateWhite theme](themes/MARBLE-TanTravertineWithChocolateWhite_t.png) MARBLE -- Tan Travertine With Chocolate & White (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
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![MARBLE-TanWithChocolateSienna Theme](themes/MARBLE-TanWithChocolateSienna_t.png) MARBLE -- Tan With Chocolate & Sienna (DC) (big) (download 2.0 MB)
| ![MARBLE-TravertineWithChocolateSalmon theme](themes/MARBLE-TravertineWithChocolateSalmon_t.png) MARBLE -- Tan Travertine With Chocolate & Salmon (DC) (big) (download 2.0 MB)
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![MARBLE-TravertineWithChocolateSienna Theme](themes/MARBLE-TravertineWithChocolateSienna_t.png) MARBLE -- Tan Travertine With Chocolate & Sienna (DC) (big) (download 2.0 MB)
| ![MARBLE-White-BlackOnyxGreen theme](themes/MARBLE-White-BlackOnyxGreen_t.png) MARBLE -- White, Black & Onyx (DC) (big) (download 2.8 MB)
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![MARBLE-WhiteWithBlackGray Theme](themes/MARBLE-WhiteWithBlackGray_t.png) MARBLE -- White With Black & Gray (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
| ![MARBLE-WhiteWithGrayBlue theme](themes/MARBLE-WhiteWithGrayBlue_t.png) MARBLE -- White With Gray & Blue (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
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![MARBLE-WhiteWithTwoGreens Theme](themes/MARBLE-WhiteWithTwoGreens_t.png) MARBLE -- White With Two Greens (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
| ![MODERN-BlackWhite theme](themes/MODERN-BlackWhite_t.png) MODERN -- Black & White (DC) (big) (download 1,2 MB)
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![STONE-GrayConcrete-BlackWhite Theme](themes/STONE-GrayConcrete-BlackWhite_t.png) STONE -- Gray Concrete, Black & White (DC) (big) (download 1,4 MB)
| ![STONE-Taupe-RustJade theme](themes/STONE-Taupe-RustJade_t.png) STONE -- Taupe, Rust & Jade (DC) (big) (download 2.2 MB)
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![SteelBlackBlueGreenLEDTri-Digital Theme](themes/SteelBlackBlueGreenLEDTri-Digital_t.jpg) Steel - Black, Blue-Green LED Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (already included)
| ![SteelBlackGoldTri-Digital theme](themes/SteelBlackGoldTri-Digital_t.png) Steel - Black, Gold, Silver Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 667 KB)
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![SteelChampagneBlackWhiteLEDTri-Digital Theme](themes/SteelChampagneBlackWhiteLEDTri-Digital_t.jpg) Steel - Champagne, Black & White LED Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 892 KB)
| ![SteelSilver-CopperBlueDigital theme](themes/SteelSilver-CopperBlueDigital_t.png) Steel - Silver, Copper, Blue Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 1.6 MB)
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![SteelSilver-CopperCyanDigital Theme](themes/SteelSilver-CopperCyanDigital_t.png) Steel - Silver, Copper, Cyan Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 1.6 MB)
| ![SteelSilver-CopperPurpleAnalog theme](themes/SteelSilver-CopperPurpleAnalog_t.png) Steel - Silver, Copper, Purple Tri-Analog (DC) (big) (download 1.1 MB)
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![SteelSilver-CopperPurpleDigital Theme](themes/SteelSilver-CopperPurpleDigital_t.png) Steel - Silver, Copper, Purple Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 1.1 MB)
| ![SteelSilver-GreenPeachTri-Digital theme](themes/SteelSilver-GreenPeachTri-Digital_t.png) Steel - Silver, Green, Peach Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 988 KB)
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![SteelSilverBlackWhiteLEDTri-Digital Theme](themes/SteelSilverBlackWhiteLEDTri-Digital_t.jpg) Steel - Silver, Black & White LED Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 983 KB)
| ![SteelSilverBlueGreenLEDTri-Digital theme](themes/SteelSilverBlueGreenLEDTri-Digital_t.jpg) Steel - Silver, Blue-Green LED Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 1.0 MB)
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![SteelSilverGoldSilverElectronic Theme](themes/SteelSilverGoldSilverElectronic_t.jpg) Steel - Silver, Gold & Silver Electronic (DC) (big) (download 1.0 MB)
| ![SteelSilverGoldTri-Digital theme](themes/SteelSilverGoldTri-Digital_t.jpg) Steel - Silver, Gold Tri-Digital (DC) (big) (download 942 KB)
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![TEXTURE-ConcreteBlueSienna Theme](themes/TEXTURE-ConcreteBlueSienna_t.png) TEXTURE -- Concrete, Blue & Sienna (DC) (big) (download 2.3 MB)
| ![TEXTURE-PlasterSienna-Ivory theme](themes/TEXTURE-PlasterSienna-Ivory_t.png) TEXTURE -- Plaster, Sienna & Ivory (DC) (big) (download 2.2 MB)
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![TEXTURE-ScratchyBlue-Green Theme](themes/TEXTURE-ScratchyBlue-Green_t.png) TEXTURE -- Scratchy Blue & Green (DC) (big) (download 3.0 MB)
| ![TEXTURE-StoneTerracotta-Ivory theme](themes/TEXTURE-StoneTerracotta-Ivory_t.png) TEXTURE -- Stone, Terracotta & Ivory (DC) (big) (download 2.6 MB)
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![Wood_OakAntiqueMapleBurl Theme](themes/Wood_OakAntiqueMapleBurl_t.png) Wood -- Oak, Antique, Maple & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
| ![Wood -- OakGoldenMapleBurl theme](themes/Wood_OakGoldenMapleBurl_t.png) Wood -- Oak, Golden, Maple & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
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![Wood -- OakNaturalMapleBurl Theme](themes/Wood_OakNaturalMapleBurl_t.png) Wood -- Oak, Natural Red, Maple & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.5 MB)
| ![Wood -- OakRedMapleMahogany theme](themes/Wood_OakRedMapleMahogany_t.png) Wood -- Oak, Red, Maple & Mahogany (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
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![WoodWalnutBurl Theme](themes/WoodWalnutBurl_t.png) Wood Walnut & Burl (DC) (big) (download 2.8 MB)
| ![WoodWalnutTeakBurl theme](themes/WoodWalnutTeakBurl_t.png) Wood Walnut, Light Teak & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.7 MB)
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![WoodWalnutTeakWalnut Theme](themes/WoodWalnutTeakWalnut_t.png) Wood Walnut, Teak & Walnut (DC) (big) (download 1.6 MB)
| ![WoodZebrawoodBurgundyBurl theme](themes/WoodZebrawoodBurgundyBurl_t.png) Wood Zebrawood Burgundy & Burl (DC) (big) (download 2.1 MB)
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![WoodZebrawoodLeatherBurl Theme](themes/WoodZebrawoodLeatherBurl_t.png) Wood Zebrawood Camel Leather & Burl (DC) (big) (download 2.2 MB)
| ![WoodZebrawoodMahoganyBurl theme](themes/WoodZebrawoodMahoganyBurl_t.png) Wood Zebrawood Mahogany & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.9 MB)
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![WoodZebrawoodPoplarBurl Theme](themes/WoodZebrawoodPoplarBurl_t.png) Wood Zebrawood Poplar & Burl (DC) (big) (download 1.8 MB)
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