Skinning in Windows 7

[napilopez]

I'm interested in seeing what will come in terms of skinning in Windows 7. While I quite like the default look, I'm sure many will want to customize. Check this out:

WindowBlinds 7 sneak screenshot - An Article by Frogboy

The most interesting part is that this skin ran without any modifications to the skin at all. I haven't tried skins on windows 7 because everything is so prettyful, but its interesting to note. I wonder If aero peek would still work correctly with skins(leaving the glass effect and stuff).

What would you guys like to see for Windows 7 Skins?

 

[smarteyeball]

I haven't gotten bored with the default skin yet, apart from the caption buttons.

Realistically, I'd prefer more MS allowed / pre-installed customising instead of having to patch files or use apps like WindowBlinds.

 

[napilopez]

Realistically, I'd prefer more MS allowed / pre-installed customising instead of having to patch files or use apps like WindowBlinds.

True, although WindowBlinds runs extremely smoothly, I believe it uses Microsofts own skinning system? But yea, it costs money, which is boo. I can't see myself switching past the default skin unless I see something amazing though.

 

[garbanzo]

i'm looking forward to skins too. i think Aero is too chunky, i'm used to much slimmer caption bars and such. i don't mind patching the uxtheme.dll file to run custom visual styles, i did it all the time in XP and never ran into problems. i even made a few themes of my own

here's another shot of someone playign with skinning Windows 7:

 

[damoh]

you would think after all these years with uxtheme being patched constantly that MS would give up and let us use custom themes. We pay for the OS after all and because we want a new theme then we have to cough up for software that supposidly does it. Stardock have a deal with MS. Thats well known. But i would like a windows that i can choose what theme i have without getting error messges. Come on MS give us what we want lol.

 

[garbanzo]

i think the reason they don't allow themes is simply to keep windows easily recognizable. 95% of the screenshots you see online use the default themes. you see one, and you can instantly recognize that it's windows.

but with patched uxtheme, windows can look like ubuntu, kde, leopard, or something else entirely.

by keeping the average user from changing this look, microsoft ensures brand recognition.

of course, i think most people wouldn't use custom themes, even if they knew they could. my wife's XP laptop has the defulat Luna theme on it. it drive me crazy when i have to use it, but she doesn't want a custom theme for some reason. my XP install is tweaked beyond recognition, and she hates it!

 

[smarteyeball]

Yep, I've been using patched uxtheme.dll in XP and Vista for a while too and never encountered any real problems (apart from from the occasional incompatible shell32.dll's that use to break the OS in a big way ). I used to take certain elements from quite a few different themes I liked to create 'tailored themes'.
But since windowblinds does cost $$$ and finding/creating custom themes sometimes can end up being time consuming (not to mention finding icons), it would be nice to just have a bit more 'out of the box' customizing options available for a change.

Different colours and boring wallpapers is a pretty poor substitute, especially since MS want the 'wow' factor returned to Windows.

by keeping the average user from changing this look, microsoft ensures brand recognition.

Too true unfortunately

 

[win7]

UxTheme.dll (well its a few files actually that need patching now) patch is already out for win7, if its allowed i will post it here??

I have only found one theme that actually makes use of it though, and it also changes explorer.exe and other dll files to change the start orb and more.

 

[Bellerophon]

Interesting...got any more details

Hi Win7,

Very Interesting...got any more details, software, how to etc? I want to take a look at skinning. Know about WindowsBlinds software, have had a quick look at that but if you know of any freeware that can be used or what files to change etc. would be most welcome and appreciated

THX.

 

[garbanzo]

let's see - transparent address bar and search box, new buttons, new gloss effect on windows, new start orb, blue progress bar... these are pretty minor tweaks. nothing too exciting yet.

but a few months after RTM, we'll get some good looking skins. i've seen some transparent Vista skins that look absolutely fantastic. i hope those talented artists get to work on 7 skins in the future!

 

[win7]

let's see - transparent address bar and search box, new buttons, new gloss effect on windows, new start orb, blue progress bar... these are pretty minor tweaks. nothing too exciting yet.

but a few months after RTM, we'll get some good looking skins. i've seen some transparent Vista skins that look absolutely fantastic. i hope those talented artists get to work on 7 skins in the future!

Its the best i have seen so far, if you can point me to any more decent themes that make use of the patch and have more/better tweaks, please do as i can't skin at all.

Hi Win7,

Very Interesting...got any more details, software, how to etc? I want to take a look at skinning. Know about WindowsBlinds software, have had a quick look at that but if you know of any freeware that can be used or what files to change etc. would be most welcome and appreciated

THX.

You can download it here: Aero Diamond for Win 7 update3 by ~alkhan on deviantART

I believe the latest update includes the uxtheme patch

As for win blind i personally wouldn't use it, you can get the same effe4cts almost with modded msstyles and no extra programs running.

I have a nice windows 7 theme in my xp partition hehe

 

[napilopez]

Interesting skin, I quite like all the blue .

As for aero being chunky, I reduced the size of some of the elements, so I'm fine .

 

[win7]

Yes i prefer the blue, not to keen on the new start orb though.

 

[GlobesStudios]

start orb a bit tacky i could design some cool orbs if somone here knows hoe to change the orb in windows 7

 

[win7]

start orb a bit tacky i could design some cool orbs if somone here knows hoe to change the orb in windows 7

I have no idea how to do it but i know it involves editing explorer.exe

 

[garbanzo]

no it's part of the .msstyles theme file. windows/resources/themes/aero/aero.msstyles

just use reshacker and you can get at it.

 

[greenlink23]

start orb a bit tacky i could design some cool orbs if somone here knows hoe to change the orb in windows 7

check this post out.
http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/3939-skinning-se7en-custom-start-buttons.html

 

[win7]

no it's part of the .msstyles theme file. windows/resources/themes/aero/aero.msstyles

just use reshacker and you can get at it.

It states on the site where i got the theme its explorer.exe and also the topic posted above confirms this...??

 

[garbanzo]

It states on the site where i got the theme its explorer.exe and also the topic posted above confirms this...??

sorry about that, i think i was mistaken. i'm mostly familiar with skinning XP, where it is part of the .msstyles file. but you're right, from what i've seen here, this particular image is part of explorer.exe

but in the end i can neither conform nor deny this. i have not taken the time to look for myself...

 

[greenlink23]

It states on the site where i got the theme its explorer.exe and also the topic posted above confirms this...??

i can confirm this....well cause i did it. check out my screen shots of my edited explorer.exe

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