Creating own theme pack windows 7

[Bongo]

1
To make this theme like you want to you will need to purchase Windows Style Builder because there are some things (like adding properties and the changing menu colors (they are fill colors not images)) to the .msstyles that can only be done with Windows Style Builder
2
Can make a transparent theme some of the images need to be black in some of the images can have all of the color remove it depends on the location, to make square or sharp corners you are going to have to edit and make your own images with square or sharp corners.
3
Yes first party theme are the original that came with Windows 7, third-party themes are all custom themes made by others.

Jerry

Ok. This time I could open .msystyle in Ave's windows style builder. I have opened copy of Aero. But many images are not displaying in image box of builder. And I didn't understand your 2nd point about full transparency.

I found ave's windows style builder has very less option/features than Restorater but will use Ave because you are saying some things that i can make only with it.

What version of Windows style builder do you have 1.4 or 1.5 etc.
and where did you get it at.

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

Ok. This time I could open .msystyle in Ave's windows style builder. I have opened copy of Aero. But many images are not displaying in image box of builder. And I didn't understand your 2nd point about full transparency.

I found ave's windows style builder has very less option/features than Restorater but will use Ave because you are saying some things that i can make only with it.

What version of Windows style builder do you have 1.4 or 1.5 etc.
and where did you get it at.

Jerry

1.5.0.0

If you can, please create a tutorial on How to edit and make clear transparent image of Menu, Taskbar and Windows Title Bar in windows 7

 

[amithapase]

Having some problems :

1] With GIMP. When I open image in GIMP sometimes it opens in very bad quality even after i try to open it again and again.

Let me tell how I am doing it now :

Yesterday I downloaded Blend theme and applied to pc. Effect were appeared when applied.

Then I copied blend folder and blend theme file (2kb outside of folder) from windows/source/theme and created new folder i.e. theme project in D:
Now In Visual style software, I opened .msstyle existed in Blend folder in theme project folder but when I started editing that and tried to save, it couldn't overwrite the .msstyle in Blend folder in theme project folder.
So, I saved .msstyle in D:
Then closed Visual style software. and Copied .msstyle saved in D: and overwrite in D:>themproject>Blend

But problem was
2] While editing in Visual styles, my current (applied) theme of Blend color was changed even I was editing a copy of blend from D:

3] After overwritten in D:>themproject>Blend,
I changed theme to basic Aero, then I copied Blend folder and Blend them file (2kb) from D:>themproject and overwrited to Windows>Resource>Theme
and when i applied it from personalize, my theme was still Aero.

 

[amithapase]

Bongo ??

 

[Bongo]

1.5.0.0

If you can, please create a tutorial on How to edit and make clear transparent image of Menu, Taskbar and Windows Title Bar in windows 7

It may be easier for you to modify that transparent theme adding the white parts to the start menu than trying to create a complete transparent theme it is very time-consuming and I do not know all of the steps involved.

Having some problems :

1] With GIMP. When I open image in GIMP sometimes it opens in very bad quality even after i try to open it again and again.

Let me tell how I am doing it now :

Yesterday I downloaded Blend theme and applied to pc. Effect were appeared when applied.

Then I copied blend folder and blend theme file (2kb outside of folder) from windows/source/theme and created new folder i.e. theme project in D:
Now In Visual style software, I opened .msstyle existed in Blend folder in theme project folder but when I started editing that and tried to save, it couldn't overwrite the .msstyle in Blend folder in theme project folder.
So, I saved .msstyle in D:
Then closed Visual style software. and Copied .msstyle saved in D: and overwrite in D:>themproject>Blend

But problem was
2] While editing in Visual styles, my current (applied) theme of Blend color was changed even I was editing a copy of blend from D:

3] After overwritten in D:>themproject>Blend,
I changed theme to basic Aero, then I copied Blend folder and Blend them file (2kb) from D:>themproject and overwrited to Windows>Resource>Theme
and when i applied it from personalize, my theme was still Aero.

I am a little confused at what you are trying to say here but I will try to make things a little simpler.
You cannot edit a theme while it is in use, you need to switch to a different theme/aero or basic theme then log off and then log on then you can edit the custom theme you are trying to edit.
I always put copies of the theme I am trying to edit on my desktop and do the editing from their and the testing with Windows Style Builder then I move it to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and remember if you edit any theme in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and then test it and it needs edit it again you need to switch to a different theme and then logoff log on and then do the editing (repeat as needed)

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

I am a little confused at what you are trying to say here but I will try to make things a little simpler.
You cannot edit a theme while it is in use, you need to switch to a different theme/aero or basic theme then log off and then log on then you can edit the custom theme you are trying to edit.
I always put copies of the theme I am trying to edit on my desktop and do the editing from their and the testing with Windows Style Builder then I move it to C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and remember if you edit any theme in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes and then test it and it needs edit it again you need to switch to a different theme and then logoff log on and then do the editing (repeat as needed)

Jerry

I did the same thing :

1] I applied Blend theme. (The name of theme that i am modifying is Blend) Ok. I applied the blend theme.
2] Then I copied the theme file and folder from Resource and pasted in directory D
3] Then I started modifying THE COPIED theme file in the theme folder (of directory D).

(So, now there must be no relation between the copied theme which is being modified and the original applied theme)

Now the problem occurs as follows :
(Info : the original blend theme which I applied, has own effect)

but, when I start modifying (The theme copied in D),
my (original) applied blend theme loses it's effect. for ex : task bar color changes while editing on screen

I mean how is that possible? The original blend theme existed in Resource, changes it's own effects automatically when I start modifying the COPIED theme existed in D !!

Not only effect but also changes images in copied theme which is being modified in Builder.

For ex. Suppose,
In original applied blend them, the close button looks Brown.
And when i start modifying the COPY (existed in D) of that blend them,
there is normal red close button image exists in Builder instead of brown.

in short:
I don't find original effects as well as images in copied theme as per above example while modifying COPIED them file existed in D

 

[Bongo]

I have never had that happen before. Instead of using Blend theme use a different theme and try editing Blend in D and see what happens.

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

what is the location to change window title bar text color in Vista style builder ?

 

[Bongo]

Fonts, Colors & System Metrics > Fonts & System Metrics > CAPTIONTEXT:COLOR

Fonts, Colors & System Metrics > Fonts & System Metrics > INACTIVECAPTIONTEXT:COLOR


Windows and Caption Buttons > Aero > Dwm Window > Frames > Normal > Top > MaxActive > TEXTCOLOR:COLOR


Windows and Caption Buttons > Aero > Dwm Window > Frames > Normal > Top > MaxInactive > TEXTCOLOR:COLOR

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

thanks

 

[Bongo]

You're welcome

 

[amithapase]

How to make sharp corners of user picture border?

Location of image in vista style builder ?

 

[Bongo]

How to make sharp corners of user picture border?

Location of image in vista style builder ?

That image cannot be edited with Windows style builder.

That user picture frame is bitmap image # 7013 in explorer.exe in C:\Windows you'll need a resource hacker of some kind and extract that image and then edit it with a image editor and then imported back in. Be sure to work on a copy so you do not corrupt the original.

To properly change a system file you need to take ownership give yourself permission and rename the old file and then copy in the new one look at Post #6 of this thread will tell you how to do it http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/179502-basic-networking-information.html#post1525656

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

As per above image. I want to change shape of taskbar. What are the locations of images in Vista style builder to edit and make taskbar look like this (red arrow) ?

 

[Bongo]

Large icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand > BackgroundBottom

Small icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (SmallIcons) > BackgroundBottom


You will need to set the taskbar to "Always combine, hide labels" for it to work.

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

Large icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand > BackgroundBottom

Small icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (SmallIcons) > BackgroundBottom


You will need to set the taskbar to "Always combine, hide labels" for it to work.

Jerry

I did set taskbar to "Always combine, hide labels" but it doesn't work. There is a faint line behind application icons on task bar but it didn't taken complete shape.

 

[Bongo]

Export that image you edited and post it here and I will look at it.

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

I assigned above image at

Large icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand > BackgroundBottom

Small icons:
Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (SmallIcons) > BackgroundBottom

 

[Bongo]

You need to use .png not .jpg for images try converting it to .png.

Jerry

 

[amithapase]

You need to use .png not .jpg for images try converting it to .png.

Jerry

It is png. I uploaded it it tinypic.com to share with you so that's why its extension is jpg