Transparency

from WinCustomize Forums

I have some issues using transparency and blur with my last skin.

 

Skinstudio allows for blur to be put under the start menu, doesn(t work here

Shadows for the start menu also can be displayed, doesn't work either..

 

Setting some parts of explorer to transparent deosn't work when, obviously, some skins like naked noir uses them and for me setting ! Command bar,status bar and other parts using transparent pngs won't work....

 

Any tips ?

windowblinds
10,204 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

there has to be some transparency to the graphic in order for the blur to work. Not sure about WB settings but for skin studio usually a mask works well.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

of course I used transparent PNGs, otherwise they couldn't do much...

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting charlene, reply 2

of course I used transparent PNGs, otherwise they couldn't do much...
End of charlene's quote
<_< Greg tried to help you here....

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Which OS are you using?

Windows 8 removed blur support from the operating system.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

NO worry, I wasn't picking on Greg, just stating the obvious !

 

As for my system it's 7 x64.

It's such a disappointment to notice that stardock lets slip away the only effective customisation suite available for windows as I happened to click in skinstudio on the link "Check the wiki to see if there is more information on this section" to land on a 404 error page..

So WB and skinstudio are out since what, 6 or 8 years and there still no wiki, no information on what does what and how.. I don't see it as a comitment to their work nor it is a skinner's support way of doing things, don't you think ?

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

With the explorer transparent sections it is a case of define them all or not at all.

For Blur, on Windows 7 it can only be enabled on the entire menu rather than on any individual part.

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting charlene, reply 5

and there still no wiki
End of charlene's quote

Many (or all?) of the wiki's were lost a couple of years ago because of some system event.  Vampothica was kind enough to put together a SkinStudio tutorial here:

https://forums.wincustomize.com/447931/page/1/#3499153

 

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting charlene, reply 2

of course I used transparent PNGs, otherwise they couldn't do much...
End of charlene's quote

I couldn't assume that based on your post. I have no idea on your level of experience working with graphics. I searched your name before replying.

Quoting Neil, reply 6

For Blur, on Windows 7 it can only be enabled on the entire menu rather than on any individual part.
End of Neil's quote

clarification: I assume that blur would only work on areas that have transparency. On areas where there is no transparency, that area would not be subject to blurring but be solid.

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

the real problem is that the software is buggy..

 

But you're right about transparency, available only on some parts of the start menu. I just regret that WB is so limited comparatively to uxpatcher.. You're not even entitled to transparent scrolbars !

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting charlene, reply 9

But you're right about transparency, available only on some parts of the start menu. I just regret that WB is so limited comparatively to uxpatcher.. You're not even entitled to transparent scrolbars !
End of charlene's quote

If you have uxpatcher on your system it's not unexpected you'll have issues with legitimate skinning software...;)

Windowblinds has been around quite a bit longer than '6 or 8 years'.... I first started skinning for it in the 90's ...;)

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No, I don't have uxpatcher installed even I was considering it, I just took a look at it and was researching the available skins.

 

I know I haven't coded anything in ages, I hacknowledge that today's chip are a bit different than the 68000 motorola and it's predecessors but I do remember the trap function allowing one to bypass the OS so I don't get why we are stuck between a restrictedd software and nothing...

 

I stated 6 or 8 years, speaking in terms of 'maturity', kinda funny for a software still buggy, I am using it too for more than that but what's funny is that in more than 10 years just no one, even stardock, didn't find the necessity of putting online the obvious documentation this software requires so we are left  with a company not updating it's software as it should (the roll up bug was already there one year ago), not offering the correct skinner support/documentation and staying comfy in a 'windows we know' zone...

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Umm, WindowBlinds scrollbars are way more advanced that a hacked uxtheme.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is that so.. ? I couldn't tell as I don't have uxpatcher installed but why in that matter, when I put no background for the scrollbar, I get some color showing, letting windows paint whatever was "underneath" the scrollbar ? When I should have an area the color of the background of the windows, white or whatever it is set..