Window Blinds isn't the only program

from WinCustomize Forums
i don't know how many people know this but there's another app that skins windows. it's called chroma and it's at http://www.thematic.com/

so far it only skins windows and not menus,etc. but either it's a more powerful program or the people that make themes for it are just more creative cause they have some wicked stuff i've never seen before in a WB skin. i mean look for the skin with a spring in the scrollbars, it looks as if the spring expands/contracts, as you move the scrollbar. awesome.
5,368 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Most know about chroma, it's been out for quite a while. I tried it once a long time ago on a Win 95 box and it acted wacky. I uninstalled and went back to Windowblinds and will never go back. I'm sticking with the Best which is Windowblinds.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Chroma's nice, but the skins available aren't all that impressive, and there's not a lot of them, either. Considering it costs the same as WB, I think the choice is clear, for me, anyway.


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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried this in my early days of windows customization. I didn't even realise it was still in development. But like most others, I soon returned to WB, for the massive and varied choice of skins and ease of use. If I remember correctly, the skinning method, (Chromumll) is very complicated. Well, it looked that way to me at the time! I think I'll stick with WB, thanks.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Chroma is an old app which I think is not in development anymore. Or at least its going slowly.

Certainly their web site has not been updated since september 2000 and that was about their server HD crashing.

The latest version is 1.1 which was released at the end of August 2000. A bit before WindowBlinds 2 was released.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Chroma is an excellent app with the most sophisticated skinning language available. It skinning is truly a language complete with variables and objects that skin authors can do incredible things with.

For example, its scrollbars can have multiple (infinite) states if the skin author wants. One favorite Chroma skin of mine is one where the scrollbars have a wire that stretches and contracts based on the position of the thumb. It's very clever.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I tried it quite awhile back, and liked it. If it was being developed as actively as Windowblinds, it could possibly give it a run for the money.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i downloaded it but since i'm running litestep, you hafta change the shell to chroma which then loads litestep or something, and i didnt feel like messing with it, so i just deleted it.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You're remiss in having a post of this title w/o mentioning the other window skinners, as well.

Illumination
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Park/6797/illumination.html
Allows, to a degree, "direct" porting of enlightenment themes. Was capable of effects WB couldn't do, at one time, although WB can duplicate its abilities now. Open source (delphi)

efx
http://www.thirty4.com/efx/
Perhaps decrepidly ancient by now, but still useable. Very lightweight.

There was another w/ a name something like TitleBarChanger or somesuch, but not being able to recall the exact title = not being able to find it... no matter, IIRC it was payware, and not very capable.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think that one was Windows Pictures?
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes...that rings a bell....