Combining two visual styles into one

JohnWells · 25 Sep 2012

Dear All,

I have in my disposal a Windows 8 Release preview theme (obtained here, direct link to download) and a more-windows-8-like Windows 8 RTM style (obtained here, direct link to download).

The problem is I like both the glassy RP style and some elements of the RTM style.
I tried figuring out how to replace stuff using ResHacker\Windows Style Builder, but I am no longer that young to figure it out )

Since I like the glassy look of cp more, I'd rather start with it and modify it to include some of the RTM's elements.

What I want is:

1. Remove the taskbar "bevel" of CP and replace it with a slightly darker line of RTM.
You can see the comparison of what is now (above) to what I want (below) in the following image.

2. Make the taskbar a bit more transparent, I guess about ~15% more than it is now in RTM. If the blurring of the underlying image is separate from transparency, I'd also love to decrease that somewhat, by about the same amount.

3. Remove the CP's glossy effects from taskbar buttons (you can compare "The Bat!" button in the above image) to have RTM's more subdued look

4. Make CP's active window's "glass" less transparent (say again ~15%), so it is more colored and more pronounced than that of an inactive window. However, it should not be non-transparent - unlike the RTM windows which are not glassy at all. Glass color should stay as is (I really like how Aura changes my glass color to that of the desktop wallpaper), only the transparency should decrease.

5. Make minimize\restore\close buttons in the top-right windows corner glow brighter on mouse-over. Currently, the glow is very mild in CP, I'd love to have it much more saturated\bright.

So, I'd really appreciate if anybody with the knowledge would point me in the right direction as to what properties images to change \ replace using e.g. Windows Style Builder to modify the win 8 cp theme to meet the above requirements.

Thank you!

Bongo · 25 Sep 2012

Welcome to the Seven Forums

Here are some screenshots showing the locations for the item you want to change, what you will need to do is Export the images you want to use from the .msstyles and then switch to the .msstyles you want to use an Import the images back in the new .msstyles
Here is for the taskbar

Combining two visual styles into one-1.png

Combining two visual styles into one-2.png

Combining two visual styles into one-3.png

Combining two visual styles into one-4.png

Here is for the taskbar buttons

Combining two visual styles into one-buttons.png

Here is for the active and inactive frame and the glows around the close/minimize/maximize buttons you'll probably need a image editor to change some of the transparencies and glow colors that you want.

Combining two visual styles into one-frame-_-glow.png

Jerry

JohnWells · 25 Sep 2012

Thank you very much! You must have spent a lot of time making those detailed screenshots...
It worked wonderfully, the taskbar is now just the way I want it!
It also worked with the caption button glow.

I'll have to check the window borders later, and see how it works.
Please let me know if there is any kind of reputation\karma stuff on this forum I can use to thank you :)

Bongo · 26 Sep 2012

You're Very Welcome

Making the screenshots makes it easier for everybody to understand.

If you want to add to anybody's reputation in the top right corner of each post there is a scale just click on it and a window will open and you can add to somebody's reputation.

If you need any more help let me know.

Jerry