Thanks; fixed and tested the link.

Here is my start menu.  It's what I need help figuring out where to make my slices.  This image is somewhat reduced from the original PSD.

Thanks for looking!

peace,

Mally

I used to have PSP on my machine, but it became outdated when I bought a used copy of PS7 on eBay years ago.  I only recently upgraded from that, but yes, I think they are similar enough.  You're a little over my head, though I think my son knows what you're talking about (he's asleep...don't think I should waken him to ask, might not get a coherent answer anyway) when you ask about having already made the alpha channel.  The background of this image is transparent as a PSD.

You said, "select the appropriate area and crop that rascal".  I don't know what the appropriate areas in my start menu might be.  Also, in what format would you suggest saving the PSD from which to make the cropped sections; png?

Is there a switch to toggle somewhere so I can receive notice of when new replies have been made?

Peace,

Mally

you'll want to save as a png to maintain the alpha channel integrity in the temppngs file folder. (sks will convert this to a tga). although your initial layer is transparent, when saved as anything other than a psd, the transparency will probably go to a solid color (usually white).

oh and I forgot to mention after a save you should be able to ctrl-z yourself back to the starting point and then do your next section.

not positive cause I don't use ps but I think you still need to make an alpha channel to designate what's transparent and what's not???

good luck.

Wow,wow...that never occurred to me.  It doesn't appear that there is anyplace that I've left possible to stretch.  It's all quite stiff.  Even the background I used would look funky unless the whole thing could be stretched simultaneously.  I think I've got a lot more thinking to do.  Thanks for the compliment, though!  It was very encouraging.

Yes, I see where you mean.  I may have glossed over that illustration too quickly, as I don't remember reading the image's tags before.  I'll blame it on my cheaters; they aren't doing their job so well anymore, and it's been easier to increase font size than go and buy another pair for 2 bucks at the Goodwill.

I'm trying to think of how to end up with something similar in appearance and style to what I have, but which has that ability to stretch.  Is there anyway I can bring some of the slices of my work into SS on two layers, one which can stretch, the other not (would include circular elements, etc)?

peace,

Dave

It`s also good to say which OS you are skinning. XP and Vista/Win7 act very differently

I only own a copy of XP Pro SP3.  I'll have to learn yet how to optimize it for Windows7 & Vista.

I just stumbled onto this... I like your style, and your attitude, lol. Just jump right in the deep end and go for it!

You are definitely going to need to use layers on that menu. Have you figured out how to do that yet? If not, let me know, cause you are going to need to know what parts go on what layers BEFORE you cut it up.

Keep in mind that the start panel stretches up and down, depending on how much stuff is in it. You see that by just adding things to your start menu, and taking stuff off. I recommend that the wood background be the only thing that you have stretch, everything else you can have on another layer and set it to tile instead.

The start menu has 5 pieces, each will have their own second (or third) layer, so you will end up with at least 10 different images that comprise the panel background. There does not seem to be a limit on how many layers you can have, but keep in mind that if you go crazy with them, it may slow down your PC because of how long it takes to draw all that.

I assume you are using Photoshop, or something similar,  since you mentioned PSD. Keep everything in layers! I can't tell you how many times I merged layers and regretted it later, lol.

Let me know if you need any help! You can reach me here in this thread, or can email me whenever you want. My email is xiandilee (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Hi, Xiandi & Disturbed; Your tutorials will come in very usefully, I'm sure.  Thank you for posting them here!

I did send you an IM, Xiandi, as suggested by 2of3 in his post #11.  I'm glad that you stumbled on this thread instead, though.  In that same post, Tim was explaining about using SKS Layer Function, and at the same time he was writing that, I was asking if such a thing were possible (post #12).  I've worked with graphics enough to know to leave all layers intact in PSD (yes, I use Photoshop) files.  Period.  I had to learn that the hard way on more than one occasion, but I did learn it.

It's kind of my nature to dive in head first at the deep end, as you say, before checking how deep it is, or even how cold it is.  There always seem to be a forum to which I can write with occasional questions, and this one is anything but cold.  So thank you for your encouragement.

As of this time, I haven't downloaded the Stardock Office Desktop Suite, but I don't think it's available as a trial anyway.  Neither have I done enough research nor asked if there is an advantage to buying the Ultimate version over the standard, or if that's a marketing tool.  Any suggestions?

I'm out of work, am 53 with little to nothing in the way of job prospects, so it'll be hard to scrape up enough for the software; my bills are usually late as it is.  Wah.     Anyway, for right now, I can use the various tutes I've found to work on the graphics, and to some degree, familiarize myself with the GUI, what does what, and where to find it.  Your fourth paragraph answers precisely what I wanted to know about grouping my PSD's layers.

Thank you, and everyone who has responded.  You've already been a lot of help.  If it's ok, I would like to keep posting to this thread so that 1. I can find, and refresh my memory all in one place, and 2. it might help another new person with a similarly voracious appetite to know how to do this.

peace,

Mally

You´ll do fine Mally

Thanks glad you like them

the Thanks goes all to Vampothika she made them I just pointed you to them  just wanted to be sure, you knew I did not make them..