I can't learn from encrypted skins

Pirates are stiffling my education.

from WinCustomize Forums

I'm not sure this is the proper forum to address this, but I've been slowly trying to learn to skin.  Most advice from seasoned skinners is "take apart one you like and see how they did it."  Now, with the implementation of MyColors and Impulse, I can't take apart some skins because everything new that comes out through Impulse is encrypted.  I understand Stardock needed to do this to stop piracy, and to preserve their intellectual property.  I think probably what needs to be done, is somebody needs to make a skinner's bible or something...something that expands on the tutorials that are out there.  I have yet to figure out how to create an oversized, round start button (like the Vista orb).  I've searched in vain to find an "instruction book" that would take me through every section of Windowblinds and explain in depth how to skin it in fetus-skinner terms (REALLY newb!) -- I'd be willing to shell out up to $60 for such a manual, but it doesn't exist.

Up to this point, I've done some personal mods of skins, pulling in some of my favorite start buttons from other skins and importing them into the one I want to use, but now, with the encrypting thing, that ability is gone, and there is no real documentation for fetus-skinners such as myself. I can't dissect anything that is a MyColors skin, due to the encryption thing.

skinning
31,394 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you have OD, all the MyColors Inspirational themes (not ones that contain IP) also come in a zip file of their individual components which are not encrypted.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting KarmaGirl, reply 1
If you have OD, all the MyColors Inspirational themes (not ones that contain IP) also come in a zip file of their individual components which are not encrypted.

How do I obtain those? Do they automatically come with the Impulse download, or do I have to get them some place else?

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

That's true but there are plenty of non-mycolors skins which you can use as guides.

 

I'd suggest one of the Master's skins (not necessarily a "Master" skin) that you can use as a guide. For the Orb try something with "Aero" in the name....most have an Orb style button.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

How do I obtain those? Do they automatically come with the Impulse download, or do I have to get them some place else?

From the Wincustomize Home Page, click on "Settings" on the right next to your nickname.

Then click on the Registrations tab. You'll see some with DL1 and DL2, one of them will be a zip file of the unencrypted version.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Lantec, reply 4
How do I obtain those? Do they automatically come with the Impulse download, or do I have to get them some place else?

From the Wincustomize Home Page, click on "Settings" on the right next to your nickname.

Then click on the Registrations tab. You'll see some with DL1 and DL2, one of them will be a zip file of the unencrypted version.

 

Thank you SO much.  I'm a happy camper now.  I'm still dreaming of a skinners bible for fetus-skinners though....and a world with unicorns, and world peace. ;)

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There is a tutorial to guide people through creating a skin.

https://www.stardock.com/products/skinstudio/help

:)

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Island, reply 6
There is a tutorial to guide people through creating a skin.

https://www.stardock.com/products/skinstudio/help


 

Thanks, Island Dog.  That does address my wishes on the oversized start button.  I'm a little confused, though on, if  for example, I created an original new round start button in Photoshop, how would I chop the image up in the middle part to get the glow edges that extend over the task bar?  My skinning skills are extremely primitive, but I've done a pretty good job of teaching myself Photoshop.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Hey k10w3.  I suppose the easiest way, or one of them, to cut out the glows would be to use the marquee selection tool, top left corner, and drag your box out to select the middle section of the button.  Whatever size you want.  Then right click and select 'Layer Via Cut'.  In your layers to the right you'll see the cut out pieces.

Hope it helps.

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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

the start button you are talking about comes in two sections, the actual startbutton, and the 'glow'

do you use skin studio 6 or skin studio 5?

this is how i do the startbutton you talk about.

 

first i get the startbutton and glow image and copy and paste  them on a new blank canvas, so they are "one" and match up so I see the whole image, then i take it to photoshop and do my artwork on it to how i want it. 

Then I go back to serif (an art program) and start rubbing out the startbutton, leaving only the glow on the edges (i do this by first taking the original glow and comparing it to the new buttons i made, and measure so i know where to rub out)  after the rubbing out is done, i save this as the glow part of the button, then i do the opposite , rub out the glow and leave only the startbutton part....then save it as the startbutton.  (this method is probably totally backwards, but its how i work.. and it works for me)

in the start button section for either skin studio 6 or 5, there will be a 'glow' section where you can apply the glow and in skinstudio 6 under the startbutton section, if you click on the extras tab, the first option lets you "always show startbutton glow' and you have to check that so it shows up on your skin.

 

I hope this has helped you somewhat K..........:inlove:

 

you can always pm me if you need more help, I am always more than happy to help.

 

xx Kitty

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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I want to thank all of you so much for your help with this.  I started out having grand ideas when I first decided I would like to try skinning, but I've walked away in disgusted so many times, thinking I'm too clueless and should just wait for someone with much more skills that mine to come up with something like I have in mind.