Transparency can be annoying!

from WinCustomize Forums
Love the fact that this feature/technology is available for skinners, but I've got to be honest: All these transparent titlebars and menus is making me crazy! I'm really looking forward to future skins where this "look" is used in great moderation. Even Aura, beatutiful though it may be, is a bit much for me. I would be interested to read other opinions on this issue, especially with Vista around the corner.

JP
windowblinds
4,376 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Agreeing here
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Its just because its new and a feature people have been longing for quite some time.

Take a look at TreeTog's Rusty Rooster (The WB5 version), that uses the new feature to smooth the onscreen edges rather than going for the glass look.
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Clearly......
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have been playing with the Vista beta and have to admit that the Arrow glass is already pritty old. They did not do the best job implementing the glass, and if gets annoying.

I make jokes that the first thing a skinner dose when he/she gets thier hads on Alpha Blending is "Glass", it is the most obvious thing. But Its not nessasarly the best Idea for something you work with evrery day. God knows I did the same thing with DesktopX V1 years ago. FauxS-X Version 1 Click on that for a example) I grew out of it. I think MS will learn as well.

The thing to remember about Vista, and even windowblinds 5.0 is that these new ablilitys will alow for the truely creatvie people out there to do things that have never been done before. In Vistas case. EVER been done. I for one am looking forward to it.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Agreed that it needs to be in moderation. I can think though that there will be some awesome designs coming for start menus and taskbars that think outside the box more since they can, which still being useful.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think the StealthOS skin is beautiful -- I like the look of the darker transparency it has, it's more subtle than the Arrow skin, but I haven't grown out of that one yet
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Pretty funny, Mormegil! I agree that skinners will use this ability better and better with each skin.

JourneyMan, Rusty Rooster WB5 is a beautiful skin, no question. However, whenever I use the dropdown menu I can't see the items if the window beneath the menu is contrast-y.

I appreciate everyone's thoughts!

Make no mistake, this is a great time to using WindowBlinds! (And the rest of the toys, er, tools that Stardock is producing).

JP
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree that this particular use of glass is a phase that will run it's course-- probably well before the release of Vista. Most likely, MS will have to change Vista's default GUI to avoid a ho-hum reception.

Needless to say, mormegil is right that the functionality is at it's jump-off point. In itself, the Vista look is so limited that new WB's with that style regularly get challenged as rips of each other. The other new WBs we've seen this week begin to show where the creative & artistic will take this functionality.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Transparency can be good, but full out transparency can be distracting. Eventually people will soak up the little facts like shadows and no more nasty edges and use tranparency sparingly. Till then I'm sure everyone will beat the transparent vista look into the ground like aqua.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try making one with the new features in SKS. AAaaaaaaaaagh



i've done one skin and updated it and now i'm working on a second and would have to agree with night train when he says AAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
At least you can get transparency to work..
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I suppose that it's somewhat the same what happends when people go from Paint to PhotoShop and finds the flare filter...

I'm pretty sure the transparency frenzy will moderate as soon as we all get over the fact that we can do it in XP now. But give it at least to the end of this year.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Depending upon what you have for wallpaper, transparent Start Menus can be either great or an undesirable strain on the eyes trying to read the text. As for transparent menus, depending upon the degree of transparency, I find they can be very appealing. Lastly, transparent borders are the least obtrusive and IMHO, they add a distinctive and desirable look to windows.