Start button

from WinCustomize Forums
Can you make the start button a different width? I'd like to do a slightly wider one but I'm new to skining so just picking it up as I go.

Another question, how does windows blinds know what part the image to display during different actions? Is it just the gap between the images?

Any help welcome, thanks.
skinning
2,733 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'd like to do a slightly wider one


The size of the start button image determines how wide when applied.

Another question, how does windows blinds know what part the image to display during different actions? Is it just the gap between the images?


Which version of SkinStudio are you using. There are 5 states for start button, you need the image to have 5 frames, one for each state. For say a 100 pixel wide start button your image will be 500xheight.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for your help. Im on the skindstudio 6 (beta I think, it's a little glitchy). So if I did each frame 100px wide and the image 500 wide, the images will virtually be touching each other, how does it know which part of the image is which frame? Can it see that gaps between images, or does it just use the force?

At the moment I'm just using one I've downloaded as a template and doing my images inside the exact same place
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
how does it know which part of the image is which frame? Can it see that gaps between images, or does it just use the force?


It knows by the image count, by default it is 5, you will see this when on image tab for start button. Click the help tab it you will see the 5 default states and the order you need to have them on your image.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
So if I did each frame 100px wide and the image 500 wide, the images will virtually be touching each other


correct
how does it know which part of the image is which frame? Can it see that gaps between images, or does it just use the force?


It knows the # of states so it divides your final image size by that #.In this case it is 5,for ex. your Taskbar buttons are 6 states so it would be divided by 6.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah now it makes sense! So it just divides what ever size image you load, into the amount of different button states it knows it will need. Thanks guys, really helpfull!
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ah now it makes sense! So it just divides what ever size image you load, into the amount of different button states it knows it will need.


;) Glad to help if you have any more ?'s feel free to ask or PM me.
AV
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It also displays transparent areas as space. So if you wanted your button image to be small, but say 100 pixels from the left of the screen, you can simply put 100px of empty space in the image itself as padding.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Extra info.

The buttons states are:

1 - Normal
2 - Pressed (when the start panel is showing)
3 - Disabled (not used)
4 - Focused/mouseover
5 - Default (not used)

If you add extra frames, they will be animation frames from
the Focused/mouseover state, like this.

6 - Focused/mouseover (aniamtion frame 2)
7 - Focused/mouseover (aniamtion frame 3)
8 - Focused/mouseover (aniamtion frame 4)
9 - Focused/mouseover (aniamtion frame 5)
etc, etc, etc...

you will use this extra frames only if you want to animate
the Focused/mouseover state, other way, stop on #5

PS incase of you're adding start button glow, the glow structure
will follow the same method.