aero doesn't work correct in maximized windows

First, i'm using Windowblinds 7 trial, my os is Windows 7 Pro x64

 

My problem is, that when i'm using a windowblinds vs and i maximize a window (e.g. windows explorer, most annoying in firefox) only the titlebar is transparent, the other transparent parts of the window turn black (screen: http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2820/38405420.png)

 

is there a way to fix this problem?

7,676 views 32 replies
Reply #1 Top

Since you are using a trial version some features my not work.  Best to wait for a response from a Stardock rep. :sun:

Reply #2 Top

can at least someone say if i would still experience the same bug in the full (purchased) version?

Reply #3 Top

I believe the dark maximized glass toolbar is normal for that skin.

Reply #4 Top

I have Windows 7 64 bit, paid version of Windowblinds 7, use Firefox 3.6.3. and have the same problem with maximizing the windows.

Here is a screenshot of my windows...

Reply #5 Top

I have removed your link as it involves system file patching.

As I mentioned above the skins probably have a solid image used for the toolbar when maximized.

The skin author would also need to add the following to the skin :

[WindowFrame.PerPixel]
AllowMaximizedGlass = 1

Reply #6 Top

I have removed your link as it involves system file patching.

As I mentioned above the skins probably have a solid image used for the toolbar when maximized.

The skin author would also need to add the following to the skin :

[WindowFrame.PerPixel]
AllowMaximizedGlass = 1
End of quote

 

So Neil, can the end user add those last 2 lines of you mentioned somewhere in SkinStudio for each blind, because I think every skin has that problem on the navigation line of windows

Reply #7 Top

hm i don't believe that it is normal, because in every other theme i use, the very same problem occures, in the maximized window the titlebar stays transparent, but the complete rest of the window (where is should also be transparent) becomes black

i have also the same problem with firefox ;)

 

i don't think that vistaglazz could solve this problem, because the problem is with windowblinds not windows 7 (where everything works fine, when usinf aero or another non-windowblinds theme) where vistaglazz would make it's changes

Reply #8 Top

To test it out, I reverted back to Windows Aero by Microsoft and maximized my windows (including Firefox) and they were all transparent at the top the way they should be. Went back into Windowblinds, tried a bunch of blinds and that Navigation bar goes dark or black for all of them. So, it is an issue within Windowblinds.

How can it be corrected, it is a bit of a pain having to size my windows all the time.

Reply #9 Top

As I have already stated twice in this thread, this is a matter for the skin author.

WindowBlinds does what the skin author wants.

Reply #10 Top

Neil, I am not putting down Windowblinds, I am a staunch supporter and purchaser of all things Stardock, but I am trying to find out how to correct the problem.

I am not a skinner, so I do not know why the transparency changes when the window is maximized. Your answers above state that it is something that the skin author is doing or not doing. Does this mean that if the skin author designs their blind differently, the transparency would work the way it should.

I asked in Reply #6, if this is something that the end user can change themselves using SkinStudio - can it

Reply #11 Top

oops

Reply #12 Top

hmm, where can i change the needed option in the theme? i can't find the option in skinstudio.

 

i can't find even one skin where the option "use aero borders" is disabled and the described problem doesn't occur

Reply #13 Top

Neil, since when has any transparency been supported in Maxed windows? Its never worked for any element in any theme for me.

Reply #14 Top

Okay, I think I figured it out. If it's an aero/aero-type skin, go int:

Windowblinds

Settings

Advanced settings (UIS2/1 only)

and put a check in the box "I want to use Aero window frames but keep the rest of the skin'. Then when you maximize windows they won't go black.

But you have to uncheck it when you want to use a non-aero blind or it looks ridiculous.

Reply #15 Top

Nope-it's not really a fix, because the window frame is then the same no matter what skin you choose! Damn!

Reply #16 Top

The skin author would also need to add the following to the skin :

[WindowFrame.PerPixel]

AllowMaximizedGlass = 1
End of quote

How would we know to add something we havnt ever seen or heard of Neil?Is there somewhere all these little hidden tricks are documented?Sure would save a lot of confusion.

We love getting these little tidbits from you Neil...wish we didnt have to drag them out of you. :D

Reply #17 Top

well I got the code in there but it still goes dark where the glass blur is...which doesnt reach all the way to the top or sides of the image.

if you mouseover into the titlebar buttons the dark goes away but the glass blur still is incomplete.

 

On Vista. 8|  Maybe FixExplorerGlassToolbar=1 ?:X ^_^

Reply #18 Top

We love getting these little tidbits from you Neil...wish we didnt have to drag them out of you.
End of quote

Amen!

Reply #19 Top

i added the line to the file "skinname".uis but now it seems to not work correct, when i maximize the navigationbar still turns black, but after unfocusing the window it becomes transparent

or has anybody found a better way to apply this?



concerning firefox, i have a transparent firefox skin, but only the titlebar is skinned by the theme, this can be solved easily?

Reply #20 Top

The skin author would also need to add the following to the skin :

[WindowFrame.PerPixel]
AllowMaximizedGlass = 1
End of quote

 

We can't add what we dont know about.

 

It does work on windows 7 perfectly, however, how the heck are we supposed to have known this?

 

Please, please, PLEASE start posting these extra codes and any others you have as you add them or discover them , otherwise, we skinners, are doomed to constantly update our skins, after spending HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS skinning around this sort of issue.

 

Now again, I have a bunch of skins that do not work as well as they could, need updated and reuploaded and redownloaded.

 

...an extreme amount of wasted time on everyones part. x_x

Reply #21 Top

Couldnt make mine work so I'll move along...only thing John and I could figure is my skin has no glass frames(just normal translucent perpixel frames)

What are the glass frames for anyways?I've never seen them explained anywhere. >_>

Reply #22 Top
Quoting vStyler, reply 20

It does work on windows 7 perfectly

 

on my windows 7 (pro x64) it doesn't work perfectly, it works, but not perfectly, the black parts still appear when maximizing the window, but disappear, after unfocusing them.

 

 

Quoting I.R. Brainiac, reply 21

What are the glass frames for anyways?I've never seen them explained anywhere.

 

if i guess right, they are used in the explorer and internet explorer window.

when looking at the theme sabertooth there is a black line at the bottom of the titlebar

in explorer and ie, this black line doesn't appear.

after looking at the images used, the black line is in the normal titlebar image, but not in the glass image

 

correct me if i'm wrong ;)

Reply #23 Top

Glass frames are versions of the normal per pixel frames which are used next to a glassy area of a window.  So in explorer & IE this would be at the top.  The left & right glass frames will also be used for the area next to the glassy top of those windows.

As mainname suggests this is so a skin author can produce a smooth blend between the titlebar and the glass toolbar as on some skins the skin author may have added an internal border which would look wrong.

If a skin uses a per pixel menubar then the glass frames will also be used for the area where this is next to the frames.

Reply #24 Top

Hi Neil...John tried to tell me the same thing but I guess I'm being thickheaded.

I already designed my frames with no inner border or stroke...my perpixel frames are just translucency next to translucency...is there some reason using the glass frames sections would work better?

 

thanks for the help Neil. We forget sometimes how busy you must be.

Reply #25 Top

I think I see it now...I zoomed in in photoshop and where there should be a perfectly matching trans to trans ,the inner row of pixels was the right color but not translucent...never noticed it because the match in color was so close.(and I never blurred my frames)  :cylon: