Need some serious help with Skin Studio!

from WinCustomize Forums
OK here goes I'm trying to make my first skin in Windowblinds and i want it to be special.So i'm seeking for help from anyone who knows something about skinning Windows.
To get started, please do not send me to any Windowblinds help & support page, nor the tutorials in Stardock.I've already read them and haven't been much help. Listed below are the problems i have in skinning:
a. I've created some toolbar icons, yet for some reason when i apply the skin they do not work, although i have all the required options ed in Windowblinds (I use WinXP and Win Me - Millennium).Also these icons are recognisable in which format (i've made them as Bitmaps,bmp).Do i have to convert it in ico file to work?
b. I'm trying to create some animations (for the move-copy files, downloading from the Internet etc.).How do i make them. I already tried the frame by frame creation in Ulead Video Studio and compressed it(that resulted into a blurry movie).Codec is MS RLE,at 10 frames/sec,video only,at 272x60. Is there any program to help with, or what kind of codec is it used to get these movies compressed without loosing quality?
c. I'm trying to enhance the skin with Winamp buttons.How is it done. I already read the help files for the WBAmp.dll plugin but are not of so much help.How do you make Skin Studio to actually recognise the plugin.I tried by ping the plugin into the folder(with all the text and def files for it),got it seen in Skin Studio,set my attributes as in the help files, but when i tried to actually run the skin Winamp does not respond to any commands.Is there some kind of def file i have to edit to make it work on my system,or any option in Windowblinds to set on/off?
d. Finally i'd like to ask which version of Windowblinds supports:Winamp Controls, Animations & Toolbar Icons.(I've got WB4).Plus i'd like to ask if what i seek help for are just the things not supported by SkinStudio 3 Free Version.

Well that would be all.Thanks in advance for any kind of help you may provide.I will appreciate it truly.Thanks .
2,272 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I could say that the 'Help' section of the Board would be the ideal place to post 'serious help' requests....but I won't, as that will be judged counter-productive and irrelevant.

I could suggest trial and error experimentation...or pulling apart an existing skin that succeeds where you do not....but I won't, as that will be judged counter-productive and irritating.

I could say that the WA plugin is older than XP and therefore worked back on WB 2.....[being one of the early testers] but I won't, as that'd probably only help...

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Dear Jafo,

a.Sorry i've sent this post to the wrong part of the site. I'll be moving it where it belongs.
b.What do you mean when you say about trial and experimentations.As for pulling apart another skin,that is impossible for: a.Skin Studio 3 Trial does not support this function,is disabled,from this edition, b.I'm working WB skinning for the first time,so i said i'll do it the right way.I'm creating my first skin on MS Paint,so all the skin is original,no doubts there.
c.If the WA Plugin is older than XP then why some skins (Like Tactile),still have support for it, even in Win XP. You could say that is because they were created for WB2 in a past edition of Skin Studio.The question is: Part of the support code for this plugin has been lost or omitted from the newer editions?How can i make it possible to work with XP,do i have to add code,or is there a newer version of the plugin with XP support,can you point me to a url for that or even e-mail it to me (mi mail: [email protected])?
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
First off, why are you still using version 3? Version 4.1 has been out since Feb.   You say SkinStudio won't allow you to take other skins apart......... that can't be true. I've never used the free version, but I don't see how it can stop you from opening any skin you want.



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Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
for animation use imageforge free edition make image in 272,60 in 256 colors,save in avi with imageforge and in the demand compress video click yes and choose microsoft RLE only in 256 colors and choose best quality compression.
this solution is free and very good.
for toolbaricon the format is TGA but for free solution click on skinstudio in edit with ,gimp for free or other,and skinstudio convert or import png files and recompresse auto in TGA ,is simple !!!

just for your help!!!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
To save other people having to search, the software Xav73 refers to can be found here: http://www.cursorarts.com/ca_imffw.html and here http://www.gimp.org/

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
for animation look my current desktop (tutorial with imageforge free edition)