Windows 7: Adjust global icon transparency without altering .ICO files?

In the classic UI theme (not aero), is there a way to edit the shell DLLs so that any .ICO file is displayed with either half transparency or perhaps half brightness? Not only basic system icons, but ANY miscellaneous icon file displayed in the UI such as those that come with games and software.





Basically, I am creating a dark Windows Classic UI theme but am finding that the file icons now appear too bright and harsh to the eye compared to the rest of the UI. It would be great if the icons could just be faded by half, but editing individual .ICO files is not exactly ideal because there would be a very great many of them.

There must be some method of adjusting them via UI files, as you can see that some icons get inverted or colorized if you enable a high-contrast theme like this: http://toddkumpf.com/images/forums/theme_high-con.jpg

Plus, "hidden" files do get a slightly faded effect. This is actually exactly what I wish to replicate but permanently for all displayed icons in Windows Explorer, Task Bar, and Start Menu, mainly.

I'm just curious if anybody has some info on where to find out what is going on in the UI files to control icon display alterations.

I am just beginning to learn DLL editing, but have had success in making some minor shellstyle changes so far. Here's the progress of my dark UI theme. You can see that the icons might benefit from being slightly dimmer: http://toddkumpf.com/images/forums/desktop_Dark_v1.jpg

Thanks a ton guys!