the default is "blur". look at the "extra settings" for the element that you are skinning. there is an option to to change that function (blur-transparency-no tranparency) for most of the elements that you mention.

hope that's what you're looking for.

Just to clarify what I edited into my previous post... I would like completely transparent search/navigation bars. Is it possible to remove the blacked out part in this pic?

I don't think so... 

This skin by neone6 uses transparent search bars, and I just downloaded and applied it, and no black bar. https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/windowblinds/7863/

So there has to be a way to keep the black bar from appearing. I thought maybe it had something to do with also having a transparent background, as the one in that skin is opaque, but that doesn't seem to be the case, as I replaced the background on my skin with an opaque white image and the black bar was still there.

I've seen other themes with transparent search bars that still have the black bar... but this one doesn't. Perplexing, to say the least...

I did something like that with a 10-10-10 mask but didn't like the way the font looked (bold and squinched)

thanks

I got some great information from Xiandi (Cyndie) the other week or so. The standard text color of black text can actually be changed in the sub-section of coloring in SKS that gives you the Windows "Default colors".

  Because I'm still getting used to Photoshop again after over a 10 year absence, I haven't tried changing that standard text color of black yet because All of the non-skinned apps depend on Windows standards color settings for their colors. I've spent over a week now learning what I can change and can't change but from the small color changes I've made to that section, my non-skinned apps now have a 3D look to their borders, scroll bars and the borders of pop-up windows such as enabled "Show Desktop" in the taskbar.

   I'm still experimenting with that section and have a lot to learn but with my current WIP, even the little button at the bottom of "Show Desktop" that moves the list down has a brand new 3D effect to it.

After seeing all the different shines that ABC has applied to their "ABC" logo, I had the desire to make my own shines.

I've found some Wonderful "You Tube" video tutorials on creating different types of shines for buttons and you can find most of the different types of shines there so you can create your own just by watching them.

My You Tube search string was " Photoshop CS6 shiny buttons ".

I have to admit that my skinning skills are still at the Stone Age level for now while I learn how to take advantage of all that Photoshop has to offer but these tutorials sure have speeded up my learning curve. (Yes, I know that my Start Button graphic is a bit "Oblong", I'll be fixing that in it's next generation). I just wanted to show the nice shine effect that I found.