I currently use the "Smoked Glass" with "Reduced Glass Color" for Both Start
Menu & All Programs Skin
I would like to slightly change the Shade of color it is.
Here is a Screenshot below.
I've circled in red the color shade of what I would like to change the current
Smoked Glass skin color to match it. As you can see what I've circled in red
is what the stock aero win7 uses for part of it's Start Menu already - and
that's the color I would like to match the Smoked Glass too be that same
shade. http://i42.tinypic.com/jrg1sk.jpg
Is that possible?
I've used Resource Hacker a few times before.
I've read over the "How To Skin a Start Menu" page.
Would someone please give me a few pointers to get me started please, or
perhaps someone has matched the same shade already?
Thank you
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Anonymous
-
2012-02-24
You didn't say anything about the Windows 7 Aero, Windows 7 Basic and Windows
Vista Aero Start Menu skins that are already included with Classic Shell.
Don't those skin colors work for you?
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Yes everything on Classic Shell works great. I've tried all the different
skins and they are great, and I've tried most all the different options which
there's plenty of them and are really well done and well thought out too.
Every option that I've seen and tried so far works great; you have an
excellent program and did a great job.
The way you have worded your reply has me wondering though, did I miss a
setting in Classic Shell that you have where I can slightly change the 'shade
of color' on the current "Smoked Glass" skin I'm using now? Did I miss that
option?
Everything else about the "Smoked Glass" skin is perfect and very well done
indeed ...I would just like to slide its translucent smoke/green color
slightly more toward blue is all.
again for skins I'm using your "Smoked Glass" with "Reduced Glass Color" for
Both the Start Menu & All Programs Skin,
I made a new Screenshot hopefully to better illustrate what I'm asking:
If you don't have an easy option to do what I want within Classic Shell, then
if I can use Resource Hacker to do it I will, but I'm asking for a few
pointers in the right direction.
I've read through your Skin Tutorial webpage, and I have Resource Hacker open
right now with the Smoked Glass.skin loaded - I see: 'Skin' 'Bitmap' 'Icon'
'Icon Group' '24'
Looking through the first listing: Skin>1033 ...and reading all the things in
there - is this where I can just edit some values to slightly change the shade
of color to what I would like?
OR
...is it that I have to save Bitmap # 1 & 2 (if that's where I need to be for
what I want to do?) ..and save them out of reshacker, and then edit their
shade of color in Photoshop, and then reshacker 'Replace Resource' on those
same ones?
Whatever it is I need to do I can do it, I just need pointers in the right
direction please if it's allowed here I don't know, that's why I'm asking.
Thank you
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I think what xpclient was trying to say is that the second column of the
Windows 7 Aero skin was designed to look close to the standard Windows 7 menu.
So if you modify the bitmaps in the smoked glass skin to be more like the Win7
Aero skin, you may get something close to what you need.
On the technical side, the color and the transparency are in the bitmap
resources, not in the values. So you will have to experiment with tweaking the
hue and the transparency of the bitmap to get the result you want. Make sure
to use an image editor that preserves the alpha channel (like Photoshop).
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Anonymous
-
2012-02-24
What I meant was the colors in the Windows 7 Aero, Windows 7 Basic and Windows
Vista Aero Start Menu skins already match the shade of color you want which
you pointed inside the red box. Or at least I thought they match the color.
You don't have to use the Smoked Glass skin, right? The skin called "Windows 7
Aero" most definitely is that shade you highlighted.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
ibeltchev,
At first I did not see that Two Column option on the Windows 7 Aero, but
looking now yes I see it and so tried it. That flavor shows itself on the left
for the One Column option too, which importantly has the OS logo on the side
which is very nice. The problem here with Win7 Aero for both, the rest of the
expanding/cascading programs menu goes into what MS has, and that's why I
think the "Smoked Glass" skin is so special because it puts it all together
very nice, with its translucent effects expanding/cascading out into the
submenus too which btw is a Brilliant idea! ..it even does the option
'Cascading' 'All Programs Menu' as well - I think the combination of both is
also a Brilliant idea! The only tiny change here I'd like to see is instead of
each having the smoke/gray shade of translucency throughout, I'd prefer having
it be more toward the ms blue shade pointed out....imho anyway; and so that's
what I'm after to have on both the Start Menu skin as well as on the cascading
All Programs Skin - of which I use Both worlds depending.
Okay, you're saying that I can change to the color shade I want, and that it's
in the Bitmap itself.
I assume it's in #1 and #2 ? ? ..since that's the only ones I see that are
close.
I do have and Older version of Photoshop v7.01 which hopefully that is
capable? I'll look around in it for the option you mention to make sure it
'preserves the alpha channel' of which I've never used before I don't think.
..hopefully I'm not over my head o:) ...but if it's only those two Bitmaps ? ?
? then how hard can it be? ...I don't really know, yet.
xpclient,
I saw what you mean today yes, it would need to be just a tad darker blue of a
shade maybe but I can't see enough of it to tell, but as you can see by the
screenshot - my choice clearly is the Translucent menus that cascade out into
the sections that they do - that option of Translucent effect to go with the
ms Aero theme - is simply a Brilliant idea! ! !
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I think the idea and option of all the 'Translucent' Cascading Menus, that
goes so well with the aero desktop theme background - is simply a Brilliant
idea !
ps again,
If I was mr bill gates and saw this program with what you've done, I would
personally ask to use it on Windows 7 SP2, and reward the idea for a few
$million dollars$.
Why... well I think, rather I know - these features of yours would sell
millions more copies of Win7, and therefore pay for itself paying you, but
as.. if not more importantly, it would help people who come from XP/Vista up
to Win7 enjoy to use it better than what we are greeted with now = the stock
dysfunctional Start Menu they give us that is sometimes exasperating!
..well this is all imho anyway.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Actually after my last post I really should say that All the different skins
you made are excellent really, I looked at every one and they were excellent,
and each and every one of them together surly fits the tastes of everyone
'serving the many rather than the few' ..again very nice job.
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay after I opened up Resource Hacker and Photoshop working with each of
these programs again quickly came back to me. I exported the Bitmaps I thought
were the ones, which were 1, 2, 4 & 10, then opened them in PS and varying the
three colors slides around a bit to get a close match, then out of that to
then set levels, marking down each setting along the way, then quickly did
same procedure on all four bitmaps. The alpha channel and transparency were
already set to preserve, so saved the bitmaps, went into RH and replaced in
those same bitmaps, updated resources, put the Smoked Glass.skin back where it
went, turned CS back on... and this is what I see...
Not bad for the first try - I may vary the color a little on the set of
bitmaps tomorrow, to get them closer if I feel the need, and will have a
refreshed with sleep mindset anyway.
One little detail that you may keep in mind. The more transparent you make the
bitmap, the more you will see from the system's glass color. If you make your
bitmap completely transparent the background will be pure glass - but not
completely transparent. Depending on the Aero glass color you choose in the
system settings you will see a different result. So you can try to vary both
the bitmap hue and the glass color to get the result you want. I can't afford
to do that in the default skins because they have to work with any glass color
you choose. But since you are looking for a specific custom look, it will work
for you.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I understand you're points about the details mentioned to keep in mind.
I did looked at the Systems settings too, and there are a number of choices to
play with which is nice for peoples different desires; for my taste though it
just so happens that the default settings on that page are the ones I prefer,
but it's nice to have other choices if needed.
For your default skins on your Smoked & Full Glass options, I understand your
point you want to keep them the smoked grey neutral color so that if someone
chooses any of the dozen different System colors given, then your default
color will blend with the most of those choices, that way you don't have to
make multiple sets of bitmaps to give more color choices if you wanted to
expand on your default color for the Smoked & Full Glass options... would be
cool though. Speaking of which, that Full Glass skin is a keeper too, and I
could imagine me doing the same shade color change on those 4 bitmaps to
achieve my desires there as well.
I took some time this morning and toggled through all your Skins again, and
have to say you really did a very great job on Each and Every one, not
forgetting to mention your whole idea with the CS program itself, which is
amazingly well done as well.
I can't say this enough, I think the idea and option of those 'Translucent'
Cascading Menus on your Smoked & Full Glass skins, that goes so well with the
Aero desktop stock theme background - is simply a Brilliant idea !
Thank you so much for what you do.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I currently use the "Smoked Glass" with "Reduced Glass Color" for Both Start
Menu & All Programs Skin
I would like to slightly change the Shade of color it is.
Here is a Screenshot below.
I've circled in red the color shade of what I would like to change the current
Smoked Glass skin color to match it. As you can see what I've circled in red
is what the stock aero win7 uses for part of it's Start Menu already - and
that's the color I would like to match the Smoked Glass too be that same
shade.
http://i42.tinypic.com/jrg1sk.jpg
Is that possible?
I've used Resource Hacker a few times before.
I've read over the "How To Skin a Start Menu" page.
Would someone please give me a few pointers to get me started please, or
perhaps someone has matched the same shade already?
Thank you
You didn't say anything about the Windows 7 Aero, Windows 7 Basic and Windows
Vista Aero Start Menu skins that are already included with Classic Shell.
Don't those skin colors work for you?
hello,
Yes everything on Classic Shell works great. I've tried all the different
skins and they are great, and I've tried most all the different options which
there's plenty of them and are really well done and well thought out too.
Every option that I've seen and tried so far works great; you have an
excellent program and did a great job.
The way you have worded your reply has me wondering though, did I miss a
setting in Classic Shell that you have where I can slightly change the 'shade
of color' on the current "Smoked Glass" skin I'm using now? Did I miss that
option?
Everything else about the "Smoked Glass" skin is perfect and very well done
indeed ...I would just like to slide its translucent smoke/green color
slightly more toward blue is all.
again for skins I'm using your "Smoked Glass" with "Reduced Glass Color" for
Both the Start Menu & All Programs Skin,
I made a new Screenshot hopefully to better illustrate what I'm asking:
http://i44.tinypic.com/24mfach.png
~~~~~~~~~~~
If you don't have an easy option to do what I want within Classic Shell, then
if I can use Resource Hacker to do it I will, but I'm asking for a few
pointers in the right direction.
I've read through your Skin Tutorial webpage, and I have Resource Hacker open
right now with the Smoked Glass.skin loaded - I see: 'Skin' 'Bitmap' 'Icon'
'Icon Group' '24'
Looking through the first listing: Skin>1033 ...and reading all the things in
there - is this where I can just edit some values to slightly change the shade
of color to what I would like?
OR
...is it that I have to save Bitmap # 1 & 2 (if that's where I need to be for
what I want to do?) ..and save them out of reshacker, and then edit their
shade of color in Photoshop, and then reshacker 'Replace Resource' on those
same ones?
Whatever it is I need to do I can do it, I just need pointers in the right
direction please if it's allowed here I don't know, that's why I'm asking.
Thank you
I think what xpclient was trying to say is that the second column of the
Windows 7 Aero skin was designed to look close to the standard Windows 7 menu.
So if you modify the bitmaps in the smoked glass skin to be more like the Win7
Aero skin, you may get something close to what you need.
On the technical side, the color and the transparency are in the bitmap
resources, not in the values. So you will have to experiment with tweaking the
hue and the transparency of the bitmap to get the result you want. Make sure
to use an image editor that preserves the alpha channel (like Photoshop).
What I meant was the colors in the Windows 7 Aero, Windows 7 Basic and Windows
Vista Aero Start Menu skins already match the shade of color you want which
you pointed inside the red box. Or at least I thought they match the color.
You don't have to use the Smoked Glass skin, right? The skin called "Windows 7
Aero" most definitely is that shade you highlighted.
ibeltchev,
At first I did not see that Two Column option on the Windows 7 Aero, but
looking now yes I see it and so tried it. That flavor shows itself on the left
for the One Column option too, which importantly has the OS logo on the side
which is very nice. The problem here with Win7 Aero for both, the rest of the
expanding/cascading programs menu goes into what MS has, and that's why I
think the "Smoked Glass" skin is so special because it puts it all together
very nice, with its translucent effects expanding/cascading out into the
submenus too which btw is a Brilliant idea! ..it even does the option
'Cascading' 'All Programs Menu' as well - I think the combination of both is
also a Brilliant idea! The only tiny change here I'd like to see is instead of
each having the smoke/gray shade of translucency throughout, I'd prefer having
it be more toward the ms blue shade pointed out....imho anyway; and so that's
what I'm after to have on both the Start Menu skin as well as on the cascading
All Programs Skin - of which I use Both worlds depending.
Okay, you're saying that I can change to the color shade I want, and that it's
in the Bitmap itself.
I assume it's in #1 and #2 ? ? ..since that's the only ones I see that are
close.
I do have and Older version of Photoshop v7.01 which hopefully that is
capable? I'll look around in it for the option you mention to make sure it
'preserves the alpha channel' of which I've never used before I don't think.
..hopefully I'm not over my head o:) ...but if it's only those two Bitmaps ? ?
? then how hard can it be? ...I don't really know, yet.
xpclient,
I saw what you mean today yes, it would need to be just a tad darker blue of a
shade maybe but I can't see enough of it to tell, but as you can see by the
screenshot - my choice clearly is the Translucent menus that cascade out into
the sections that they do - that option of Translucent effect to go with the
ms Aero theme - is simply a Brilliant idea! ! !
ps,
I'd like to repeat that once again please.
I think the idea and option of all the 'Translucent' Cascading Menus, that
goes so well with the aero desktop theme background - is simply a Brilliant
idea !
ps again,
If I was mr bill gates and saw this program with what you've done, I would
personally ask to use it on Windows 7 SP2, and reward the idea for a few
$million dollars$.
Why... well I think, rather I know - these features of yours would sell
millions more copies of Win7, and therefore pay for itself paying you, but
as.. if not more importantly, it would help people who come from XP/Vista up
to Win7 enjoy to use it better than what we are greeted with now = the stock
dysfunctional Start Menu they give us that is sometimes exasperating!
..well this is all imho anyway.
Actually after my last post I really should say that All the different skins
you made are excellent really, I looked at every one and they were excellent,
and each and every one of them together surly fits the tastes of everyone
'serving the many rather than the few' ..again very nice job.
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay after I opened up Resource Hacker and Photoshop working with each of
these programs again quickly came back to me. I exported the Bitmaps I thought
were the ones, which were 1, 2, 4 & 10, then opened them in PS and varying the
three colors slides around a bit to get a close match, then out of that to
then set levels, marking down each setting along the way, then quickly did
same procedure on all four bitmaps. The alpha channel and transparency were
already set to preserve, so saved the bitmaps, went into RH and replaced in
those same bitmaps, updated resources, put the Smoked Glass.skin back where it
went, turned CS back on... and this is what I see...
Not bad for the first try - I may vary the color a little on the set of
bitmaps tomorrow, to get them closer if I feel the need, and will have a
refreshed with sleep mindset anyway.
http://i41.tinypic.com/160trio.png
Thank you for your guidance
Great, you seem to figured it out :)
One little detail that you may keep in mind. The more transparent you make the
bitmap, the more you will see from the system's glass color. If you make your
bitmap completely transparent the background will be pure glass - but not
completely transparent. Depending on the Aero glass color you choose in the
system settings you will see a different result. So you can try to vary both
the bitmap hue and the glass color to get the result you want. I can't afford
to do that in the default skins because they have to work with any glass color
you choose. But since you are looking for a specific custom look, it will work
for you.
Ivo,
I understand you're points about the details mentioned to keep in mind.
I did looked at the Systems settings too, and there are a number of choices to
play with which is nice for peoples different desires; for my taste though it
just so happens that the default settings on that page are the ones I prefer,
but it's nice to have other choices if needed.
For your default skins on your Smoked & Full Glass options, I understand your
point you want to keep them the smoked grey neutral color so that if someone
chooses any of the dozen different System colors given, then your default
color will blend with the most of those choices, that way you don't have to
make multiple sets of bitmaps to give more color choices if you wanted to
expand on your default color for the Smoked & Full Glass options... would be
cool though. Speaking of which, that Full Glass skin is a keeper too, and I
could imagine me doing the same shade color change on those 4 bitmaps to
achieve my desires there as well.
I took some time this morning and toggled through all your Skins again, and
have to say you really did a very great job on Each and Every one, not
forgetting to mention your whole idea with the CS program itself, which is
amazingly well done as well.
I can't say this enough, I think the idea and option of those 'Translucent'
Cascading Menus on your Smoked & Full Glass skins, that goes so well with the
Aero desktop stock theme background - is simply a Brilliant idea !
Thank you so much for what you do.