1.  I clicked the "Hide Shadow On Start Menu" because it was casting an odd line on my computer (I'm on Vista right now -- boy is it weird to see Microsoft Luna on this!)

2.  I would make the "More Programs Arrow" the same size as "More Programs Background" -- you have the arrow image 57 pixels high, and the More programs background is only 46 pixels high.  

I love your start button animation -- you're a brave woman to try that on your first blind.  It took me quite a few blinds before I got the gutz to figure out how to do that.

I really LOVE your system tray arrow!  That's awesome...my favorite part of this blind.    The entire tray, actually...very, very nice. 

Just my taste/opinion, but I would try to add some depth to the start menu -- right now it's kind of plain, and I'm a rather flamboyant person.  Like I said, just my tastes.  Maybe you like that minimalist look.  I'm not a fan of that, but I know others here are big on that.

Now you need to move on to the Titlebars and Frames.  I think you're doing a great job, considering this is your first.  Keep it up!!!

I want to decrease the width of my right panel separator no matter what I size it at it still runs into the right edge any clue's?

You need to leave transparent gaps at each end of your seperators so that they don't run into the edge of the start panel.

Ok I'm starting on Control Panel Section and I applied the background one from someone elses skin to see where it would popup as Im not familiar with where to look for these images to show up and well it doesnt appear where I see in when I'm using the other skin no clue what to do now totally lost a visual image of each part of the control panel would be very helpful to get me familiar with this if anyone can help me out of my confusion lol

Thanks Lisa

Yes XP its under xp specific > Shellstyle > control panel those areas in there 2 are images background and do not modify then the other 2 I changed are header and vertical separator which are just colors nothing is showing up Im using 2 images from another skin that do show up inder the view Ive been using which isnt classic view but I thought classic view was only the start menu guess I'm not to familiar with the areas and lingo.

So I guess I'm a bit confused as to why the other skin does change those areas with the exact same images and color adjustments and not change to the view.

I only know how to change the start menu view which when I do change to classic view makes my start menu I made disappear not so under my current view whatever the name is of it I have no idea where to look to change that one.

Thanks Lisa

The Background and Do not Modify images show up on the control panel in the 'catagory view'. They are the large icons in the bottom right of the screen. The Do Not Modify image occupies the same place as the Background, but only shows at certain times. It's best to use .bmp images here.

I have never seen the header in action, but there are 2 colors to change there. Check the dropdown in that section.

The vertical seperator is the 1 pixel line the runs between the main part of the window and the left section. There are 2 colors to change here as well. If it is similar to your window color, it will blend in and you wont see it.

Check all the dropdowns in all the sections. There are lots of colors to set in them. Your best bet if you can't find where a color is changed, is to make that color lime green or hot pink and then look for it.....it will jump out at you then!

Hope that helps a little.

Wow thanks for the visuals it helps yes I did change the color to a dramatic one black well maybe not dramatic but a color the opposite of white and I see it in skinstudio when i do this but not applied the only change is the mouseover color and the the vertical wont show because my view doesnt have that side panel for the vertical and the image doesnt appear either I read somewhere that the shellstyles are dll files dont know if it has something to do with this maybe if I save the whole thing as a wba and apply it if that will do the trick I will try that next.

Can you go back to Vista if you dont like Windows 7? I know upgrades go smooth from what i've read never did it myself I did a recovery once or twice but I read that downgrading is sometimes not possble at least from vista to xp.

Goodluck if you do get brave.

Thanks Lisa

do not modify is hardly ever seen,  the background image for the control panel will show BUT you must make sure that the controlpanel background is exactly the same colour as the windows background colour, if it is not, it will not show up.

you will have to be very precise and get it correct. you can put whatever image or design you want on top of the control background image (for example.... a shape of a spanner), but just make sure that its background is the same colour as the windows background colour.

the windows colour by default is white, go to  change skin colours (which is just above the change skin fonts) tab and

you will see an explorer box that says " show me the skin colour presets" click on the arrow beside it and choose the option below which says: "show me the skin defined system colours"

this is where you see your window colour and its called " Window background"  this is the colour you have to match with the control panel background image. if not, it wont show up.

hope this helps.

been awhile since i used xp my bad.......but still a good tip for the shell images.. im sure with all our help diva will pull off a wb for sure.

Yep it worked Kitty the color changed now to get the image to display.