Decor8 v0.99 Beta Available

from Stardock Forums

The v0.99 beta update for Decor8 is now available.  Windows 8 limits your start screen customization options to only 10 provided background images and a few pre-defined color schemes. Decor8 removes these limitations and provides the freedom to personalize your start screen with your own images and colors.

UPDATED

  • Additional filter options for start screen backgrounds
  • Support for quickly and conveniently changing the lock screen background
  • Additional wallpapers (including some extra wide versions from Vladstudio), and more!

FEATURES

  • Personalize the Windows 8 Start screen with background images and colors
  • Dozens of additional backgrounds included
  • Use your own personal photos and images
  • Randomize the background images at timed intervals for a unique look
  • Customize the start screen color scheme
  • Control the number of rows of tiles available on the start screen

HOW TO GET IT

Download the fully-functional 30 day trial from https://www.stardock.com/products/decor8/download.asp. Decor8,  Start8, Fences, WindowFX, and more desktop enhancements are also available as part of Object Desktop (https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt).

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

  • Windows 8

decor8
3,269 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Thank you.

 

Feedback:

1) The blur effect is over the top even at min levels. Can you scale it down further so it blurs less at min value?

2) If you have your desktop background set to change/shuffle the start menu doesn't change with it if set to match desktop background. You have to go to the desktop and back to have it change.

 

Requests:

1) Ability to auto match Taskbar color to Start UI. (or allow taskbar color to change to auto match background the way the start menu does)

2) Ability to set transparency level of Tile background colors.

3) Ability to change tile backgrounds to textures such as Aero-glass like with nice rounded edges. (wink)

 

 

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting taldren_dr, reply 1
Thank you.

 

Feedback:

1) The blur effect is over the top even at min levels. Can you scale it down further so it blurs less at min value?

2) If you have your desktop background set to change/shuffle the start menu doesn't change with it if set to match desktop background. You have to go to the desktop and back to have it change.

 

Requests:

1) Ability to auto match Taskbar color to Start UI. (or allow taskbar color to change to auto match background the way the start menu does)

2) Ability to set transparency level of Tile background colors.

3) Ability to change tile backgrounds to textures such as Aero-glass like with nice rounded edges. (wink)

 

 
End of taldren_dr's quote

The blur effect is limited to reasonably strong levels due to a GDI+ limitation.  We are looking into using an alternative blur system to handle the lower levels of blur.

Do you have your desktop background set to change so often that issue 2 becomes a problem?

The taskbar colour should be matching against the desktop wallpaper, and given you seem to be using the desktop background option in Decor8, I am unsure what you mean by making it auto match the taskbar colour.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 2

The blur effect is limited to reasonably strong levels due to a GDI+ limitation.  We are looking into using an alternative blur system to handle the lower levels of blur.

Do you have your desktop background set to change so often that issue 2 becomes a problem?

The taskbar colour should be matching against the desktop wallpaper, and given you seem to be using the desktop background option in Decor8, I am unsure what you mean by making it auto match the taskbar colour.
End of Neil's quote

My wife has her background changing every 30 seconds and it was just something she noticed.

As for the taskbar color I am actually suggesting the opposite ... have the taskbar color change to match the background. Currently under the Decor8 Color option there is a checkbox that will auto generate a color scheme based on the background, but that is limited to the Start menu. I am suggesting it be expanded to the taskbar in desktop as well.

 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting taldren_dr, reply 3
Quoting Neil Banfield, reply 2
The blur effect is limited to reasonably strong levels due to a GDI+ limitation.  We are looking into using an alternative blur system to handle the lower levels of blur.

Do you have your desktop background set to change so often that issue 2 becomes a problem?

The taskbar colour should be matching against the desktop wallpaper, and given you seem to be using the desktop background option in Decor8, I am unsure what you mean by making it auto match the taskbar colour.

My wife has her background changing every 30 seconds and it was just something she noticed.

As for the taskbar color I am actually suggesting the opposite ... have the taskbar color change to match the background. Currently under the Decor8 Color option there is a checkbox that will auto generate a color scheme based on the background, but that is limited to the Start menu. I am suggesting it be expanded to the taskbar in desktop as well.

 
End of taldren_dr's quote

The taskbar should be auto matching the desktop wallpaper already assuming you didn't pick a specific colour scheme.

Are you wanting just the taskbar to have a different colour from the window frames?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Neil, reply 5

The taskbar should be auto matching the desktop wallpaper already assuming you didn't pick a specific colour scheme.

Are you wanting just the taskbar to have a different colour from the window frames?
End of Neil's quote

 

It doesn't choose the same color. It is as if Decor8 is averaging the entire image to find a color (which works better imo) where the desktop only looks at the bottom portion of the image.

 

Example (Both set to Auto):

 

 Desktop

 

vs

Start

The theme color of the Start is just far superior and I was looking to get the desktop to match it if possible.