PoSmedley PoSmedley

One Piece At A Time : Windowblind Tutorial Part I

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One Piece At A Time : Windowblind Tutorial Part I

Design : Start Menu and Taskbar

from WinCustomize Forums

 

 

Okay. This is it. I've been sitting on it most of the day after bugging a few folks  for their opinions.

2of3 offered to help me with this. Vampothika & neone6 also offered help and support.

I decided to go with something new to get a fresh start and came up with this. Hopefully, it's simple enough so as not to be problematic along the way, but stylish enough that a lot of you will like it and it won't be too easy so I (and you) can learn from it as we go along.

2of3 was kind enough to send me some files to follow as sort of a workflow to keep organized. We're gonna go one piece at a time and won't be moving on to the next until the one we are on is good.

PLEASE :

  • I am open to suggestions but may not use any of them. Please, don't be offended if I don't use yours.
  • Keep the image posting to the skin(s)
  • If you want to make a skin to go with this, PM me for the files. My PSD's tend to be a mess, but I save everything and will be happy to     share.
  • We'll be skinning for Windows7, maybe Vista. If someone wants to do XP, PM me and I will get you what you need.
  • Any files you request will come as I complete them. I won't be jumping ahead. Please be patient.

So...this is pretty much it. How the rest of this thread progresses and shapes up will depend on how the back and forth transpires. If I leave something out as we go along and you want me to back up, give a yell. I'll be happy to.

If this is the only skin I ever do, we're gonna go through it from start to finish so enjoy.

What you see above is the Start window (I'll probably be going with the darker of the two). (401 px x 500 px)

These were the drafts.

 

UPDATE 1/17/2012 : gmc2 is going to attempt to do the Wiki for this. Woot! Based on that, I think we'll be doing more than one thread as we progress. THIS particular thread will be the basic design/draft of all the parts. Hopefully, this will make it easier for gmc2 to do his thing and make it easier for anyone to follow the progress.

I'll be asking for suggestions from time to time. Feel free to PM me anything.

Also - If you want to make anything to go with, this here is a color chart if it helps. I'll be sticking to these colors. Any variations will be due to shading/effects or 'overlay' layers.

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NOTES: Start Menu and Taskbar -

  • Leather Effect - There are a lot of good tutorials for leather effects around. For Windowblinds there is the issue of tiling and stretching and the details of the effects can make or break the skin. I had to come up with my own to try to keep it simple. In PHOTOSHOP, make your object and go to Filters>Textures>Texturizer - Select Sandstone - Scaling 60 - Relief 2 - Lighting Top (IF you have a copy of Rust Flakes in your Texturizing filter, you can make a much more textured leather)
  • Thread/Stitch Effect : There are a lot of tutorials for this but most involve Adobe Illustrator at one point or another. My issue was keeping the stitching straight and uniform. (The draft on the far right of the second image above shows how it looks 'freehand' .) I did find one for Photoshop that was great (It was the only one I found that relied entirely on Photoshop). Besides helping me with this, it also shows what you can do with your brushes to get some different results and can be fun to play with if you're unfamiliar with this technique. Here is the link for the Photoshop Tutorial.
  • Start Menu - 401 px x 500 px (This was my choice after talking to Tim. I will get back here as to recommended size and why)
  • Taskbar  - 400 px x 50 px - If you have looked at a lot of skins like I have, you may notice that 35 to 38 px is pretty common. Some mentions have been made in this thread as to what specifically can alter/control your taskbar size. For this particular skin, I am going with a 50 px taskbar to accommodate the stitching. It is a 'rounded corner' taskbar' and the png is different than one you might use for a taskbar that spans the width of the screen. (I will post the png when it is ready) I will, for sake of this tutorial, skin all of the buttons for the taskbar so we can give an example of what the finished png might look like. (Again, I will post when I have it done.)
  • Taskbar Buttons - For this skin, mine will be 50px x 50 px - They will be in the following order normal ,pressed, disabled, highlighted, activated, activated & highlighted. (Picture to be posted when complete)

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If you're looking for Part I, II, III you can find them here:

One Piece At A Time : Windowblind Tutorial Part I

Design : Start Menu and Taskbar

 

One Piece At A Time : Windowblind Tutorial Part II

Design: Title Bars & Window Frames


One Piece At A Time : Windowblind Tutorial Part II

Design: Edit Controls


PLEASE :

  • I am open to suggestions but may not use any of them. Please, don't be offended if I don't use yours.
  • Keep the image posting to the skin(s)
  • If you want to make a skin to go with this, PM me for the files. My PSD's tend to be a mess, but I save everything and will be happy to     share. I am uploading the actual files to the Graphics Gallery here on Wincustomize.
  • We'll be skinning for Windows7, maybe Vista. If someone wants to do XP, PM me and I will get you what you need.
  • Any files you request will come as I complete them. I won't be jumping ahead. Please be patient.
  • ;)

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The PSD files for the  previous threads are in the Graphics Gallery.

Roan WB Title Bars and Window Frames  

  Roan WB Taskbar Buttons

Roan WB Title Bars and Window Frames  

  Roan WB Taskbar Buttons

291,829 views 227 replies
Reply #101 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Good morning.For anyone who cares, I had a rough night. For those bored by that shit, I slept like a gorram baby (insert big smile and sparkling, alert eyes) Either way, I'm looking forward to today. I think I have the taskbar done (start button is in limbo) and hope to get the start panel done today.

WebGizmo, just WOW.

Thanks for the start button ideas. Unfortunately, nothing is working for me. I may just stick with the 'O' or the 'A' and come back to it (because there are no excuses and nothings gonna hold this back). I need something that grabs me.

Reply #102 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 101
Good morning.For anyone who cares, I had a rough night

We don't care....... Just make the damn skin! ;)

WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #103 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting BoXXi, reply 102
We don't care....... Just make the damn skin!

THE IGNORE BUTTON IS A MYTH!

Reply #104 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Looks like a good start, Giz. The 'θ' actually looks very good too.

Reply #105 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 103
THE IGNORE BUTTON IS A MYTH!
As is every WB you have ever started.   X|

Reply #106 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sorry if I was unclear about the taskbar buttons states yesterday. Of course you need to have a button for every state (6 total) it is just not important what the pressed and disabled buttons look like as you will never see them.

 

As for the start button..... why not let it lie for a bit and go on to drafting the window frames? I find that one thing leads to another. Something you do in one section may inspire you to mirror in another. You are still in the design stage, so you are free to hop around as much as you like.

Details like what all the state of one button will look like are not as important at this stage as getting a fuller picture of what the skin "feels" like.

 

One final thing for now. If it takes me a while to reply to anything here, it is because I am

1. At sea....somewhere in between Norway and Germany

2. Not in the same time zone as the US

Reply #107 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting 2of3, reply 106
1. At sea....somewhere in between Norway and Germany
2. Not in the same time zone as the US

 

REALLY ??  I didn't know that .... o_O

Reply #108 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 

Quoting Zubaz, reply 105
blah blah yadda yadda derrrrrrrrrrp!

I see the short bus has arrived.

Reply #109 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 108

 

Like!

Reply #110 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting 2of3, reply 106
2. Not in the same time zone as the US

You , Vamp, and neone6 are 6 hours ahead of me.

You're all light-years ahead of Zubaz but that's a whole other derp.

Reply #111 from WinCustomize Forums Top

 

Hell yeah!!!    5* 5* 5* 5* 5* :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

 

 

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 110
Quoting 2of3, reply 1062. Not in the same time zone as the US

You , Vamp, and neone6 are 6 hours ahead of me.

You're all light-years ahead of Zubaz but that's a whole other derp.

 

Po, you are certifiable, I like you!

Reply #112 from WinCustomize Forums Top

here's a concept I made to share some of my ideas as well......

Start Button-- Ace --

Reply #113 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 112
here's a concept I made to share some of my ideas as well......

Nice. Very ornate.

I'm going with the last one I made. I have personal reasons and will explain later.

Quoting RedneckDude, reply 111
I like you!

Excuse me while I have my Sally Field moment.

.........

Okay, I'm back.

 

I know there are going to be a lot of issues with this.

REMEMBER - When you mention them, mention why so the other folks can follow. (Don't forget we're trying to update the Wiki from all of this)

  • I know I need to add a drop shadow to the menu I just don't know if/what the standard is.
  • I know the SHUTDOWN buttons are probably too large for the area (I may go to just one button and text any way.

If I'm missing or am off on something else, let me know.

 

Reply #114 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 113
Okay, I'm back.



 
logoff´s look nice , but they´re too big...Sks is very stubborn when it comes to that place... :\

-Actually it´s the Height that´s the main concern here, If you look at many skins they´re quite wide, well the left one is and the right one"arrow" is short. :sun:

button´s 216 x 25 px ;)

Edit: You can fiddle with it, but then you´ll have to have PNG-Air/space sideways to make it look shorter/smaller.

Reply #115 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting neone6, reply 114
-Actually it´s the Height that´s the main concern here, If you look at many skins they´re quite wide, well the left one is and the right one"arrow" is short.

button´s 216 x 25 px

ech.

Doesn't leave much room to play with.

okay.

Tell me about the search window. I've had issues with that as far as skinning.  Is that going to revert to some default when you try to enter text?

Reply #116 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Edit: You can fiddle with it, but then you´ll have to have PNG-Air/space sideways, That way you could actually have the design made 25 x 25 placed on a 216 x 25 png space.

Reply #117 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 115

Tell me about the search window. I've had issues with that as far as skinning.  Is that going to revert to some default when you try to enter text?
Don´t really understand what you mean.... I usually just skin it rectangular in the fashion I like it (plain/transparent) and it works fine

Reply #118 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting neone6, reply 117
Don´t really understand what you mean.... I usually just skin it rectangular in the fashion I like it (plain/transparent) and it works fine

When I have skinned it (the few times) whatever I make for it doesn't apply or vanishes on mouseover when I test it. I'll see if I have one of those disasters saved so you can see what I mean.

*N/M Can't find one to show you. I'll see how this goes. Probably something I'm doing wrong when I am in SKS.

Reply #119 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Added your new start button and threw in some other buttons to play with. :grin:

Reply #120 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 118
When I have skinned it (the few times) whatever I make for it doesn't apply or vanishes on mouseover when I test it. I'll see if I have one of those disasters saved so you can see what I mean.

1. what template are you using for it?

2.how high is your bottom part of your startmenu (height does matter in this case)

3. go into skin studio/edit startmenu and taskbar/edit startmenu

click on bottom bar and go to extra settings tab. scroll down until you see :

Search box horz offset

Search box Vert offset

what numbers are these set to? try setting them both to zero and see what happens

Reply #121 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Nice Job Po, wish I had the time to contribute but I cant even seem to get to my own work right now..

looks like your in good hands tho...

Keep up the good work. :)

Reply #122 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Xiandi, reply 60
Quoting PoSmedley, reply 542of3 mentioned fixing some of that with lighting masks (?) when we start putting it together.He may have been referring to the mask for the taskbar buttons. What that does is IF your buttons are transparent, you can set the mask to show where the default button colors show through.

Meaning, if you have your taskbar buttons transparent, and only have the stitching in the graphic, the color of the button is determined by what application is being used. In this case, you would not have to alter your button image much for each state. What I typically do in this case is make all the button states exactly the same, and add a subtle highlight glow for the active and active/highlighted states. Make sense?

they dont have to be transparent as far as i know if a mask exists the color defined by the program will be shown when you mouseover your Taskbarbutton and will move with your cursor...while the mask activates that feature + size of the mask will define the size of the area on your Taskbarbutton or over your taskbar button...
The mask section is or can be pretty neat if you trick it -using a full scale Mask size -while having smaller Taskbar button : That way you can achive a small afterglow effect in the same color as the program defines : i think my explaination is to weired but here is what i mean just if someone wanted to know...
 1.state ( left )mousover and mask applyd 2nd is the normal state ( the mask of the mouseover will glow 1 second longer when your mouse is already off the button ) if you look close the sides are still glowing... while this is only a little effect it can be amazing on a transparent taskbar...

Reply #123 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Vampothika, reply 120
what numbers are these set to? try setting them both to zero and see what happens

I haven't applied any of this yet. The other skins are on my Vista Boot.

Yeah, the horz and vert are a bitch with the start panels I have made. Like I said, it's my design and not knowing the limitations of the area. When I have tried to adjust the x/y on it I can only go so far because of the area I have allowed myself for it and what SKS will allow. When we get to SKS I'll do it the way I usually do and you'll see then. lol.

Reply #124 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting vStyler, reply 121
looks like your in good hands tho...

Keep up the good work.

Yup. :)

and thank you!

Quoting WebGizmos, reply 119
Added your new start button and threw in some other buttons to play with.

You're going to be done before I am!

* Note to self - New year, new List. Start updating.

Roloccolor, you lost me at 'mask'. Haven't played with that area of SKS yet but if you will hang around until we get to SKS you can try and inflict a migraine on me then. ;)

 

Reply #125 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting PoSmedley, reply 115
Tell me about the search window. I've had issues with that as far as skinning.

for me at least, if I skin the search window from the "edit vista/7 explorer parts", "search field background" it eliminates the need to do the start menu graphic and provides better results.