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Klatuu Berada
Klatuu Berada
Join Date 09/2001
+6

Help converting my old skins to Windows 7

October 19, 2010 1:53:05 PM from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Hi, some of you may remember me, I used to post a lot of skins here, and would like to contribute to this community again. Creating a windowblind skin used to be an easy task for me, but now that I have aged and had some health issues, and Windows has changed so much from XP, it is quite a challenge to "re-learn"

I would very much like to convert some of my old skins to Windows 7, but have not had much luck getting them to look right. If anyone would consider "updating" my OB1 skin, perhaps I could see the changes and figure out how to get back to creating skins that people will enjoy. Any help or comments would be greatly appriciated.

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Wizard1956
Klatuu Berada
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #1 October 19, 2010 3:21:19 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I downloaded your skin to give it a try and here's my advice:

 

I would redo the skin on a fresh template for windows 7. This was done in '05, right? That was what.......WB 4? Older skins sometimes don't update well (old code sometimes makes things weird).

Plus starting on a newer template (the one provided when you select "new skin" in sks) will give you an idea of the size/image state requirements for newer sections.

 

Any specific questions can be answered here on the forum by myself and others that are "up to date" on the latest stuff.

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Klatuu Berada
Klatuu Berada
Join Date 09/2001
+6
Reply #2 October 20, 2010 12:26:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Thanks Karma, that's probably the way to go. Although I've managed to "fix" quite a few things, starting with a fresh template and updating my graphics might save a lot of headache, and make the skin function/look better. I really appriciate the offer of help, I'm sure I will need it, especially when trying animation in the start menu. In fact, here's a question I have already. In 7, when you mouse over computer/control panel/documents etc... you get a different icon popping up at the top of the start menu. How do I disable this in skin studio? Thanks again for your reply, and for your help.

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Klatuu Berada
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #3 October 20, 2010 1:06:39 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

when you mouse over computer/control panel/documents etc... you get a different icon popping up at the top of the start menu. How do I disable this in skin studio?

In order to do that you will have to hide the user pic (can't have one without the other) Startmenu> top part > extra settings tab and scroll down to "hide user pic"

 

 

Also I would suggest that you stay away from .bmps as much as possible (yea, no magic pink). Use .tgas whenever you can (a .png image will auto convert to .tga when imported into sks).

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Klatuu Berada
Klatuu Berada
Join Date 09/2001
+6
Reply #4 October 20, 2010 2:32:02 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Karma I cannot thank you enough. I'm hip to the png tga thing, alpha trans way cooler than magic pink. I don't want to bother you too much, I know the best way to learn this is "get in there, find it, do it" but if I could trouble you with 2 more questions...Can I reposition those icons instead of disabling, and can I reposition or image change the power off/log off red/blue buton? Thank you so much again for your help. On an unrelated note, is Jafo still around?

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Klatuu Berada
Xiandi
Join Date 07/2007
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Reply #5 October 20, 2010 3:47:33 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Can I reposition those icons instead of disabling

Yes, the text margins for the top section of the start panel controls where that is positioned.

can I reposition or image change the power off/log off red/blue buton?

Yes, there is a section in SKS for the start panel log off images, so changing them is easy. Repositioning them top to bottom is controlled by the start menu bottom part text margins (the search bar will move too). They hug the left edge of the image you set for the right side of the start menu (not sure if if I worded that very well, lol).

is Jafo still around?
yes

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Klatuu Berada
Klatuu Berada
Join Date 09/2001
+6
Reply #6 October 20, 2010 8:23:27 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Well I managed to figure out the power button, thanks to you. But the "user pic" icons just won't move. I went to the "text margins for the top section of the start panel controls" but no changes I made there seemed to move the user pic and its subsequent icons. I'm sure my simple brain is missing something, but can't seem to figure out what it might be. Oh, scratch that, I did get it to move. Not where I wanted it to of course, but that will just take some playing with the settings. Thanks again for all your help!

 

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Klatuu Berada
Xiandi
Join Date 07/2007
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Reply #7 October 20, 2010 9:07:04 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

try negative numbers in the text margins....sometimes that is what you need.

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Klatuu Berada
WebGizmos
Join Date 09/2003
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Reply #8 October 20, 2010 9:20:49 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

And Klatuu...just for the record...the person you are referring to as "Karma" is actually known as 2of3..."karma" is under everyone's nic and the "karma" is something given to everyone for doing something nice for someone or any other reason you might feel they deserve it for...look above everyone's avatar for their correct nic.

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Klatuu Berada
2of3
Join Date 10/2006
+816
Reply #9 October 21, 2010 4:13:55 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Not where I wanted it to of course, but that will just take some playing with the settings. Thanks again for all your help!

 

When I was playing around with your blind OB1 to see if I could move the user pic to the center, I used these text margin values:

T = -10

B = 0

L = 94

R = 0

 

That should center the user pic nicely.

 

And Klatuu...just for the record...the person you are referring to as "Karma" is actually known as 2of3

And you may call me Tim as well if you want 

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Klatuu Berada
Klatuu Berada
Join Date 09/2001
+6
Reply #10 October 21, 2010 11:38:45 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Thanks Tim, please forgive my ignorance in regards to your name. I'm half blind, do to mini stroke, and not as sharp as I used to be when I was young. Anyway, I got the user pic icons lined up perfectly, did an animated tga for the top panel, and now I've just got to do all the little deatils. When I post the updated version, don't turn red from the credit I will be giving you. You definately have some good Karma coming your way, even if that is not your name. Thanks a million, again. I hope I can get back into contributing to this community, I really have missed it!

Your Friend,

Klatuu Berada

(Wade)

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