SkinStudio

About ten times I started to try to learn , got frustrated, felt stupid, quit. It just takes patience and time to gain the experience. This may sound bad but when I see one of the "masters" having trouble it makes me feel smarter.

Finding the right info about a prob you are having can be alot of work also.

Tip: If you are having trouble with an image, de lete it. Then import the same image as a .bmp into the skin. Excuse my lack of technical knowledge but some of the default images have wierd properties. I have had 100% success de leting an image or section and replacing it. Hope this is in line with your prob.

Also maybe the image you are trying to edit has two image states and the single image is being split into 2. What image are you having the prob with?


On a side note: Adam are you by any chance trying to do a wb skin to go with your aqaumarine theme? I have been waiting a long time. If you are not gonna do one, would you mind if someone else did?

Yes it's confusing at times, but if you think it's a pain to use, try building a
WB skin with notepad.

Any questions you might have about using SKS should be asked in the skinning section. And check out this thread. https://www.wincustomize.com/browser/msgboard.asp?BID=WCS&id=187649

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Though I haven't finished too many WB skins . I've started about a dozen now. The one thing that helped me get over most of the "details" and margin settings and tweaks was to make a skin just using MS Paint and two or three colors, no gradients, no bevels, no aqua, no animations, just focusing on the program and how it works. By using simple graphics it's easier to see where something is shifted a pixel or two this way or that.

making sure they are the same size but for some reason they don''''t fit properly

or you get one half on one state and the other on the next

This is where you need a design solution, solution design.
But seriously, the first problem sounds like a margin adjustment problem. It is not easy to make these things line up properly. If it is a Start Menu, don''''t get frustrated. Those things can be a pain in the arse. Images get stretched and it can be frustrating. The best thing for the Start Menu is a good template size. Luna will not work well if you want a good Start Menu template. To get a good template for that, try to find a windowblind that does what you are trying to do. Then, use the sizes and margins settings from that Start Menu as a guide. This way you will be close to getting what you want. I found that my Template was very close to the sizes that Mormegil was using, so I was quite happy with mine.

When working with buttons, there are a few things that are most important. 1. The size of each button. Skin Studio will tell you that before you open the image. 2. The full size of the image. This is important because the full size is a multiple of the single button size. If the button size is 2x2, and the full size is 6x6, then you know that there are three button states. Sometimes you can look in the Help pane for more info about the button too. Some buttons even have space reserved but there is no image there. That is where the help pane can help too.
Some sections even want the single button size defined. If that is not set properly, it could lead to the sort of problem you are mentioning. Although, if there are three states and your image is 6x6, I think it is simple math. But, later on sometimes you understand why. And, if you think button states are fun, wait until you get to button animations.

Any further questions, please be specific. I asked tons of questions when I created my first skin. Try to post a picture of your problem too if you can. This will be your first windowblind, afterwards you will surely find design solutions and innovations on your own.
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I found tutorials to be useless when creating a windowblind. There was one that helped me a little bit. http://www.aleksyandr.com/tutorial.htm Your best help is here. We are the artists. We are the World, We are the children.

Here's one member who's eagerly awaiting your questions.

I feel your pain SD. I've yet to "complete" a full WB skin, but have modified many.
PS - Anyone know how to get the imprint of my keyboard OFF of my forehead?

PS - Anyone know how to get the imprint of my keyboard OFF of my forehead?

20 grit sandpaper.

Ouch!

hmmmmmm..........

......has possibilities

Raw

Oops..wrong thread

I have about 3 designs that i have created, some of them are too complicated to start with.

I'm going to keep this skin as simple as possible

Don't compromise your talent. I said I'd help. It's the least I can do for all the great DesktopX themes you've shared with us.

I think the biggest problem with replacing the graphics in a skin is that the graphics you want to use are just different from the ones you are replacing so the margins will almost always be different, so unless "we" get in there and actually get in there and confobulate our own margins our skins will never look right. It's all trial and error (usually more error ) we are doomed untill we find out exactlly which margins control which settings/graphics and a general idea of how they work.


Just my oppinion

Ok heres a tip I have been hesitant to share. Some may find it unneccesary but It will make adjusting the graphics of your start panel so easy you will laugh. As far as the seam between the program list panel and the places list panel, it doesn''''t exist. Here goes, flame if you must,

In the start panel you have 5 basic images to work with the top (user pane image) , the program list image, the places list image, the more programs background image, and the botom bar image. Change the images to the following sizes:

top- 380x64
programlist- 190x306
placeslist-190x 336
moreprogrambackground-190x30
bottom bar - 380x40


Put those images together and you have a template 380 x 440. design your start panel as a full template and then break it down accordingly. I haven''t found a design yet where I can''t very easily get all the margins to work. If you have a difficult design then I suggest this method. The only images that will ever be stretched will be the center 2 panels.
[Message Edited] Hope it makes sense. I see alot , ALOT, of skins that could benefit from this method.

ps. Adam, im psyched that you are doing the aqua wb. Can''t wait. I offer my assistance as well.
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pictoratus's XPmenu template https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?library=18&SkinID=608

D'oh!