testing skin in windows

By kbmartin Posted January 5, 2007 18:04:29

Hello, Im sorry if this question is stupid, but Im a total noob to this. Although it has become my new obsession. Ive never tried to creat a skin before and never have used photoshop. Im learning photoshop quite quickly i think, but im having problems with skinstudio.. my main question now (im sure there will be more to follow) is how do I apply my skin to windows to see how it looks (without using windowblinds, 'casue I didnt like the program and it caused some problems) Ive saved my skin as a universal but, I cant figure out how to apply it.. any help would be appreciated.. also like I said, there will probably be many more stupid questions to come, so please bear with me..

Cheers!

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As we wait for your answer . . what didn't you like about WB and what do you plan to use to apply your skin when you are done?

SkinStudio is a WB skin maker, right?

WB can import from an msstyle to a wb skin
but not export from a wb skin to an msstyle

you could always make a wmp to look like what you want

I was under the impression that "Universal skin" actually meant universal.. Otherwise I would have chosen a windowblinds UIS1 or UIS2 format.. also its not that i really didnt like windowblinds, it just didnt run smooth.. even when I had it installed, trying totest my skin never worked. So, is it possible to create a skin for just windows and not WB with skinstudio?

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I guess I didnt answer your question above.. I was hoping for something simple to apply my skin.. I like to use Tune Up Utilities 2007 as I use it for other stuff, as I have limited HD Space to load other programs.. any other ideas on what to use would be appreciated..

Cheers!

I know of two ways to apply a skin:
1) Windowblinds
2) Style XP

To build skins for each you would use:
1) Skin Studio
2) Style Builder

Beyond that answer, I don't know how to help you. SkinStudio and WB go hand in hand. Same with Style builder and Style XP.

I was under the impression that "Universal skin" actually meant universal.

I've never understood what the Universal Skin Format was for exactly. And I can't find anything other than the vaguest of info on it.

As Zubaz points out, you have two choices for skinning Windows.....

I've never understood what the Universal Skin Format was for exactly. And I can't find anything other than the vaguest of info on it.

What formats does SkinStudio support?
----SkinStudio supports the following visual style
formats: UIS1, UIS2. These are the two WindowBlinds visual style
formats. What's particularly useful about this is that visual styles
created with this format can be used under Windows 98, ME, and 2000.

What is the difference between UIS1 and UIS2?
----UIS1 is faster but less flexible than UIS2
----The UIS1 (Basic) format is designed to be as fast and compatible as possible. Use this if you want as many people as possible to be able to use your skins with as many applications as possible. It also offers tool-window skinning.

----The UIS2 (Advanced) format has many features that are not available with UIS1 skins. You can have arbitrarily-sized borders (not just the top), animated titlebar and borders, and use WB scripting to enhance your skin. However, it tends to be slower and (slightly) more programs have problems with it.

For more information see the Stardock skin format doc (warning, it's old; like koop old!)

I have no info on Universal skins.

you need to use windows blinds to test skin

it even says this when you go to test it in skin studio as the free version asks whether you would like to download it now. There is an error in windows blinds download however as it downloads too quick and when I tested the application to try to install it...nothing happened.