start orb replacement not displaying correctly

[decibelle]

I successfully replaced the start orb in explorer.exe, but it displays strangely, as if the brightness level were turned way up. The attachments show the original work as downloaded from this page: http://www.sevenforums.com/themes-styles/34951-custom-start-menu-button-collection.html, and the way it looks on my taskbar. Anyone have any idea what could be causing that?

Thanks,
Ellen

 

[Bongo]

How or what did you use to change it?

I used Change Windows 7 Start Orb with Windows 7 Start Button Changer on that Orb and it looks OK

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

I did it manually, with ResHacker. I guess I'll try it with that app, but it seems that it's not a matter of how I did it, but how it gets displayed afterward. But I'll get back to you after I try the other way.

 

[decibelle]

I used the app, and it's working now, but I'm only getting the first state of the button, no hover, no pressed. I'm using of 125% DPI setting, if that offers any clues. What could be wrong?

 

[Bongo]

It's most likely the DPI setting doing it.

Jerry

Edit: Just tested and it is the DPI.

 

[decibelle]

You're right. Can it be fixed?

 

[Bongo]

I think so, you need to edit the explorer.exe again and change 6807.bmp it's for 125% DPI

I edited the size of the start orb so it should work, it's in the zip folder at the bottom of this post.

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

Thanks for resizing for me. That's an improvement -- I get all three states -- but now it's too big. I think I can resize it, if you tell me what to try.

 

[Bongo]

You need to open the .bmp in a image editor and split it into 3 layers and resize each image in each layer then make a black background on the bottom and save as a .bmp.
The one in the screenshot is in the zip.

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

All right, that explains a lot, because I resized it the first time as one image and it didn't work. Could you please specify exactly how much to resize? Am I correct in that the width is supposed to be 66 pixels for 125% DPI? So, just resize each image retaining proportions to 66 pixels in width?

 

[Bongo]

The size should be the 81 pixels by 243 pixels, so each state is 81 x 81 pixels.

After you have split it into three 81 x 81 pixel layers you'll need to select one layer and resize the image with in that layer with most image editors it will be under Layers in the menu bar and then maybe something like Modify and then resize or size and then you will reduce it by a certain percentage which will be trial and error, and then do the other two layers exactly the same. When done you should still have a 81 pixel by 243 pixel image but each section should be smaller.

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

The 81x81 seems too big, I thought. It overflows the task bar.

Also, in the original explorer.exe, the midsize graphic is 66 x 198.

 

[Bongo]

I was going by image #6807 which is 81 x 243 pixels.

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

What works for me is 6802, which is 66 x 198. It works in explorer.exe, obviously, and if I export it on to my desktop or wherever, and use it with that start button app, it works that way too.

So why, when I took that very file, 6802, and just shifted the colors, not touching the size at all, did it not work? Is there some very limited palette of colors that work and everything outside that screws things up? Here's what it looks like when I change the colors. The bmp file is shown here as a png.

 

[Bongo]

What works for me is 6802, which is 66 x 198. It works in explorer.exe, obviously, and if I export it on to my desktop or wherever, and use it with that start button app, it works that way too.

Did you go to 100% on DPI if so that's way.

So why, when I took that very file, 6802, and just shifted the colors, not touching the size at all, did it not work? Is there some very limited palette of colors that work and everything outside that screws things up? Here's what it looks like when I change the colors. The bmp file is shown here as a png.

I am not sure.

Jerry

 

[decibelle]

>Did you go to 100% on DPI if so that's why.<

No, what I mean is it works for 125%.

 

[decibelle]

I've experimented with a bunch of variations in sizing and color, and I can't seem to change the color of an existing for without running into that same weird color washout problem, no matter what the DPI setting. It's completely baffling.