Theme - Customize Custom Themes

Theme - Customize custom themes

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to customize a custom theme with custom taskbar, start menu etc.

   Note

To do this you need:

• ·A pre made custom theme from DeviantArt, in this tutorial I will be using one called Dark7mix
• ·Restorator (Shareware) or any other editor that is able to edit the msstyles file
• ·Photo editing software, Photoshop, Fireworks, paint.net, Gimp etc.
• ·Basic Photo Editing experience

Now go to Dark7mix Theme UPDATED by ~adrianodj25 on deviantART to download the pre made theme.


Unpack the rar/zip file, using winrar or a similar tool.

Now move the folder including the themepack file to: (Your drive letter):\Windows\Resources\Themes)

Now that you got the theme, go to the msstyles file (Inside the dark7mix folder, there should be a file called dark7mix)
Open that file with Restorator (or similar) and extract it to a new folder on your desktop.
Now all the images needed will be located in the new folder on your desktop (The one called IMAGE)

HOW TO APPLY THE CHANGED IMAGES:
To apply the images to the theme, switch to the windows 7 default theme, log off, log on, go to the theme folder (C:\Windows\Resources\Themes) Open the msstyles file, and edit the images as you wish to. Now hit save. Now go select the theme (right click, Personalization) and apply. If you have done it right the changes should show. When you want to apply a new change, do this step over again.

CUSTOMIZING TASKBAR:
The taskbar images in this theme are 921 and 1166. Customize these as you wish to.

START MENU:
The start menu pictures are the following: 870, 871, 872, 873, 875, 876, 880, 881, 882, 883, 884.
Customize these as you wish.

SCROLL BARS:
These are the scroll bar images: 769 (Vertical) and 770 (Horizontal)
Customize these as you wish.


Now you got the basics location of the files, try to mess around with these and more, usually you can easy figure out which image is where. If you got any questions or need a particular image location, give me a PM or ask a question in the thread and I will try to help you.

Have fun

Useful links:
Adobe Photoshop CS4 30-Day Trial: Adobe - Downloads

Paint.net (Freeware): www.paint.net

Gimp (Freeware): GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Enable Custom Themes without Modifing System Files
• Theme - Change or Save
• Theme Pack - Create, Save, Install, and Delete
• Desktop Icons - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change
• Mouse Pointers - Allow or Prevent Themes to Change
• User Account Control - UAC - Change Notification Settings

 

[mansrm81]

Fabulous keep up the great tutorials Sergio.

 

[edrik]

Just wanted to share..

the command module is number 1010
and the preview pane is number 1022

 

[Uber Philf]

Shame the numbers arent all the same for every theme, it makes it alot harder to modify.

 

[edrik]

I think it gives the same numbers for VSB users

 

[sergiogarcia9]

VSB has different sections like Taskbar, Buttons, boxes etc so it is a lot easier to use than doing it this way

 

[Uber Philf]

it is, but its still confusing everytime i edit something, it comes out in NON aero form

 

[Psych0t1c]

Just wanted to share..

the command module is number 1010
and the preview pane is number 1022



View attachment 35152

Do you mind uploading your theme? And your explorerframe if it's x64. I tried moding my frames but when I log off and log on explorrer won't run and I get an error.

 

[gohardsupreme]

can anybody tell me where to find a restorator like program thats free?

 

[moinmoin]

Anolis Resourcer for x32 and x64

Anolis - Releases

 

[gohardsupreme]

thanks

 

[gohardsupreme]

does anyone know what number the power button is on mr. grim's neon theme?

 

[evo1087]

I've started compiling a non VSB database for the Windows Aero theme and ive been doing my own modifactions to it for awhile, if anyone to add to it your more than welcome. My current objective is to make the explorer boarder and start menu white space transparent. Here is the thread
http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/65676-aero-msstyles-images-identified-my-clean-desktop.html

 

[Tatenforts]

First post, but a long time lurker.

This tutorial is helpful but I have a few questions. I currently have a theme that I like and I don't like the Dark7mix theme. The theme I am using doesn't have a custom background for the start menu like Dark7mix does.

Is it possible for me to add the customized start menu png from the Dark7mix theme into the theme I'm currently using? And how do I do so?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Sakata Gintoki]

i've try this but it's not working,,
I tried to change the image in the start menu (in black background) to be transparent, but had no effect,,

here the screen shot..