DirectSkin

from Stardock Forums
Is there anyone here who's familiar with DirectSkin? The demo program seems a bit limited and I'm trying to find out whether the purchased copy would contain any of the things I'd need to create skins - or does it only offer the means to distribute skins on an app-by-app basis? In other words, does DirectSkin contain any of the elements from Object Desktop (such as Skin Studio)? I'm thinking of purchasing Object Desktop quite soon, with a view to purchasing DirectSkin sometime later. However, I don't want to purchase Object Desktop only to find out later that most of what I needed was already present with DirectSkin. Hope that makes snese....
11,797 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I believe that Direct Skin is a program which application developers use to give their products a customized look. If all you want to do is create skins for your existing applications Object Desktop includes WindowBlinds and Skin Studio for you to do just that.

I think that's what you were asking
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Not quite, Werewolf.... I do need to create a custom look for certain applications that I've written myself. But I need that custom look to appear - even on systems that don't have WindowBlinds installed. That's what DirectSkin does, if my understanding is correct. My main reservation is that DirectSkin is vastly more expensive than either WindowBlinds or Object Desktop and I'm trying to figure out why.... I'm really just wondering what exactly does DirectSkin contain for all that extra money?
SoundPackager - Customize the Windows sound scheme
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm really just wondering what exactly does DirectSkin contain for all that extra money?


I believe the main difference is "license to distribute".

Link

Sort of same as you can't use DesktopX Pro to create an entire redistributable desktop, you need Enterprise for that.

See license usage:

Link
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
So if I purchase Object Desktop to start with, I'm not going to be paying for components that I'd have gotten anyway?
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That I don't know for sure.
you might want to contact sales and see if they can give you a breakdown and answer those questions.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks - but I'm at the end of my tether here.... I've already emailed Support (and pre-sales support) at Stardock as well as a special Support team who deal exclusively with DirectSkin but they don't seem to want to reply. To me, it seems such a simple question.... Does DirectSkin contain everything I need to produce skins for my apps - or does it only contain the means to apply and distribute skins? In other words, will I also need to buy extra packages, such as SkinStudio or Object Desktop? I've made it clear in 3 emails that I have cash waiting to make a purchase - so I can't understand why they won't reply to me. This is my first encounter with Stardock but if this is indicitaive of the quality of their support, I think I might look somewhere else.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for the email addy Neil. In the meantime, I've found a similar product called SkinCrafter which I'm going to try out tomorrow. If it's good enough for what I want, I'll email lkuperman and say exactly why I bought somebody else's product instead of DirectSkin..!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Did you get no reply at all?  Nothing even from an autoresponder?
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, my first enquiry was about Object Desktop. I had a technical enquiry and a licensing enquiry. Kim, form Stardock, answered the licensing enquiry while Mike (also from Stardock) recommended that I should consider DirectSkin which he reckoned would be more suitable than Object Desktop. However, I noticed that DirectSkin is one helluva lot more expensive than Object Desktop - since when, I've been trying to clarify what exactly I'd be getting for the money. I've gathered that SkinStudio is needed to actually design the skins. SkinStudio is available in Object Desktop - but I'd be foolish to buy Object Desktop if SkinStudio is also included in DirectSkin. So to answer your question.... yes, I had an initial response - but the initial response generated further questions which nobody will answer...   
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi, johne53. I am not sure what email address you used, but I apologize if you did not receive a prompt reply to any query about DirectSkin. Skins for DirectSkin are created using SkinStudio. There is even a special version of SkinStudio designed especially for application developers, called SkinStudio DE (for Developer's Edition.) We do reference this on the DirectSkin License options page: "Looking to design your own interface? Use SkinStudio DE, the premier application interface design tool for software developers." There are a number of reasons why corporations large and small choose DirectSkin. One of those reasons is our excellent support, which obviously broke in your case. Please feel free to write me about how we can improve. Larry Kuperman lkuperman@stardock.com