Increase Shadow Value behind Windows/Boxes similar to OS X?

[Ramboy208]

I don't like Apple, I don't like Macs or any of that nonsense, But I love how deep the shadows are behind the separate windows on the screen. Is there a tweak somewhere, like the registry maybe, where the shadows can be deepened? I found a cool .exe on DeviantArt that added a shadow value to my taskbar, maybe there exists one for regular windows? I never had trouble customizing my PC in regards to themes and other appearances in any other way besides this. Help me out guys!

 

[Infinite]

Go to Control Panel, select System and go to Advanced System Settings, select Settings again and make sure these are enabled:

Show shadows under mouse pointers
Show shadows under windows
Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop


This tutorial may also interest you:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/13169-log-screen-text-shadow-change.html

 

[Ramboy208]

LOL I already know about this I'm not totally n00b ya know. If you saw my build I have a pretty fancy GPU that can handle all the visual things turned up full in basic Aero, so naturally I have the standard shadow. I want to make it deeper, darker, so it looks more 3D like OS X does. In other words, I'm looking to edit the shadows rather than turn them on or off. Which I would imagine you would do in the registry or run a 3rd party exe

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums
I do not know of any registry or third party app that will do this, but in the aero.msstyles in C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Aero there is a Steam image #971 is where those shadows are I have posted a screenshot out lining them you'll notice as example the right or left shadow on top it is darker that is active window the lighter second shadow is for inactive windows the top and bottom image the center should be split in half, half for the top half of the bottom same way the darkest part is for the active window the lightest part is for inactive windows. You could use any resource hacker to extract that image and then edit it.


I have Windows Style Builder which breaks down that Steam image into individual parts making it easier to edit. If you purchase Windows Style Builder (I will make you go to their forum and sign up with the e-mail address and the keycode that comes in a e-mail to you to verify your purchase)I could help you in editing that or
If you are using the default aero theme I can (Try to edit those shadows they are very tricky to edit) change that for you, using Windows Style Builder and post it here in a zip folder.
If you are using a custom theme you will need to ask the theme maker. It's not cool to change someone else work.
&
This will be a custom theme and you will need to do 1 of these 2 ways of Enabling custom themes for it to work.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/34579-enabling-custom-themes-windows-7-a.html
Or
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/28377-theme-how-apply-custom-themes.html?filter
In the screenshot below I quickly edited those shadows to show you what can be done.



If you want me to do it all's I need is a name for the custom theme from you.
Let me know.
Jerry

 

[Ramboy208]

I will look into it, I have a brother that can help me with all this he's a whiz. I've got a brutal work/school week in front of me so it will be next weekend roundabouts, but I'll let you know.

As for changing someone else's work, I'm not so sure I agree with what you are saying. I've downloaded tons of themes from DeviantArt and I switch them up all the time to whatever my mood is feeling, but not a single one edits the standard shadow value that comes with the normal Windows Aero theme. If I edited how the shadows behind the windows look, it would be like choosing what frame to put a painting in. I'm not messing with their hard work or redistributing it in any way, I was thinking that there was a setting somewhere that would affect the shadow value for all themes at once, like a standard shadow editor that runs regardless of what theme you are using. The themes that they make and put up on DeviantArt are themes that mess with the design of windows and taskbars, start orbs, and the like. Anything outside of that is all me, including shadows.

 

[sayonsom]

You should install the software called Yzshadow ! you can find it in any search engine, and that should serve your purpose