How do you create custom visual styles?

[Billt Joe]

Is it possible to create visual styles freely? Someone in another post in this forum asked the same or similar question but the answers didn't help me much. More of what I'm looking for is what the process for creating a visual style is. I googled a lot before posting here but I couldn't find much of anything. Thanks for any help guys!

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi Billt Joe,

If by 'freely' you mean actually free, then I'm not sure. But Ave's Vista StyleBuilder has Windows 7 support now, and it's only about $25.80 USD. Here's an SF thread about it that describes some of the process you're interested in. You might consider posting there also, or PM'ing those that have used it personally, to get a recommendation. Sorry if you've come across this already!

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[Legacy Code]

The process is to first back up or make a COPY of the .dll your about to edit. So take ownership/change permissions on a .dll and rename it for example :

Lets use Wmploc.dll. So navigate to \Windows\System32.

This dll that contains all the bitmaps for windows media player 12. So rename the original to wmploc.dll.OLD, now open up your COPY in resource editor such as Resource hacker or Restorator.

Extract the bitmaps you want( most are in the either the BITMAP folder or 257 folder) , edit them in an image editing application like Photoshop and then replace the files back into the original location.

Then you replace the .dll back into the system.

Restart explorer.exe or in this case wmp12 and view your alterations.

Repeat process on other .dlls and explorer.exe until your blue in the face/bored/dead/give up or complete lol.

list of some windows7 system files to be hacked using resource hacker

As WhalkerA WinTeam suggested Ave's Vista StyleBuilder is a good option but im sorry i dont use it so i cant comment to much on it but i hear its an easier option to do things. I cant comment on windows blinds either , that may/maynot be easier to use ?

I have not seen any tutorials what so ever on the web on how to create a full visual style. To be honest its trial an error until you work out what goes where.

Sent you a PM.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Wow, thanks for that Legacy Code! That would indeed be a free method Billt Joe, let us know which one you try, whether you are successful, and feel free to share any of your creations!

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[woolswell]

Is it possible to create visual styles freely? Someone in another post in this forum asked the same or similar question but the answers didn't help me much. More of what I'm looking for is what the process for creating a visual style is. I googled a lot before posting here but I couldn't find much of anything. Thanks for any help guys!

I don't know who can create the visual styles for Windows 7 except the Microsoft.

I believe the MS is the only creator, and I believe those 3rd party themes are all based
on the themes of Windows 7, untill now.

To my knowledge, it is possible to modify the visual styles of Windows 7 today, and
perhaps in the future someone will be able to 'create' the visual styles based not on
the visual style of Windows 7.

 

[sergiogarcia9]

Windows Style Builder (also known as Ave's vista stylebuilder) is by FAR the best to create Visual Styles. It's easier to navigate, if you cant find something use the search, and simple to change margins, images, fonts, colors etc.

It's not easy in the beginning, but with time you will learn it. (Thats mostly about locations though)

Also you will need Photoshop or another photo editing program before you can start doing the visual style

Here are 2 places you can find tutorials
Virtual Customs - Home
VistaStyleBuilder - Index


Oh BTW i got a big WSB location tutorial coming out soon, so that should help you a bunch

 

[Billt Joe]

The process is to first back up or make a COPY of the .dll your about to edit. So take ownership/change permissions on a .dll and rename it for example :

Lets use Wmploc.dll. So navigate to \Windows\System32.

This dll that contains all the bitmaps for windows media player 12. So rename the original to wmploc.dll.OLD, now open up your COPY in resource editor such as Resource hacker or Restorator.

Extract the bitmaps you want( most are in the either the BITMAP folder or 257 folder) , edit them in an image editing application like Photoshop and then replace the files back into the original location.

Then you replace the .dll back into the system.

Restart explorer.exe or in this case wmp12 and view your alterations.

Repeat process on other .dlls and explorer.exe until your blue in the face/bored/dead/give up or complete lol.

list of some windows7 system files to be hacked using resource hacker

I will certainly try this, I'm surprised I couldn't find this info with google. And the only reason I won't buy that Visual Style builder is because there is no demo and I don't want to waste money on something I'm not sure I can or can't do X0

 

[Legacy Code]

You can create a new folder on your desktop and call it what you want and extract the whole folder you wish to edit into it

When your done editing you can drag the whole folder back from your desktop onto the relevant folder ( lets say 257 ) in to Restorator (Sorry not to sure about res hacker , but read the site tutorial and you wont go wrong ) and it will auto allocate each file you have edited... or you can do one by one and be bored for an hour or 3 lol.

As Sergio said , its probably easier to use style builder ( he knows what he's talking about as well ) but i dont use it ...but if anyone want to buy it for me please feel free.

Good luck with your themes and if you get stuck with anything just ask and im sure someone will help you out.

Welcome to the forum Billt Joe.

 

[Greg S]

Oh BTW i got a big WSB location tutorial coming out soon, so that should help you a bunch

Look forward to this.

 

[Legacy Code]

Oh BTW i got a big WSB location tutorial coming out soon, so that should help you a bunch

Look forward to this.

Join the club Greg S, me as well Thats why i love this forum , with every post you learn a little.

 

[alphacoordinate]

I want to ask you.How to hack msstyle in order that right pane start menu as here https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_CBHE-68Q9o/TuhhesK6aJI/AAAAAAAAAMg/tAfVO50MUJQ/s878/jh.png.please give tutorial