Feedback and question(s): UI is confusing, making themes as well

from Stardock Forums

Hey,

first off, I think this app has a lot of potential. But it's basically impossible to create a theme for people who arent experts.

There doesnt seem to be any documentation - what are the features, if you want to create a theme what are needed file sizes etc.

The available themes aren't attractive for me at all, so I tried to make a new one. For example I tried to change the taskbaricons (the background icons), I didn't know how so I tried to replicate/edit one of the existing themes. The result is that the edited file can be used in the theme I took it from, but not in a new theme (taskbar will keep flashing and resetting); I assume the file size is wrong. No idea what size it needs to be - I even tried to take a screenshot and replicate the exact pixels - still didn't work.

Another thing: I didnt realize that the theme supports transparency at first (like in the title bars), because when you click "edit", it will open in paint - which obviously doesnt support transparency either.

So for now, this app isn't worth it for me, it is way too confusing to set up and edit. :(

curtains
9,419 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

I am sorry you have found it confusing.

With regards to editing images, the edit button opens the files in whatever you have set on your computer to edit a png file.

It should never cause that issue you had with the taskbar.  Are you able to send us the style you made as it sounds like some sort of bug.  Are you using v1.0 or v1.01?

Don't give up on us yet though as your feedback has given me an idea to make editing easier which is to make the edit button open up an image appropriately sized if you have not yet defined an image for that part.  This would be easier than lots of text.  In many cases there is no fixed size as images have margins and can thus be resized as you like.  It is designed to be very flexible.

Long term we will be working on improving the documentation for this area too as it is important users can create styles as they like.

Was it just editing which you found confusing, or are there other areas of the app which caused confusion for you?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi,

thanks for the reply. I'm not giving up on the app yet, like I said it has potential. If I can get a functioning theme working by the end of the trial I am planning to buy it, but since I'm not really great with computers (although not completely bad either :blush: ) I will probably need some time to figure it out, so it's a race against time :)

Thanks for the info, that it uses the standard program to edit png files - that makes sense but once again it lacks documentation in my opinion.

I'm using 1.01, and my edited taskbar buttons work in the theme Cairo Dark, but not in my theme (which isnt really a theme yet - I just created a new one and the only thing I changed were the taskbar icons, and that error occured. Attached is the png file. How can I share the entire theme (again, nothing else has been edited though).

As for the confusing UI: Maybe it's just because there are a lot of options and seemingly no documentation - you said you are planning to improve the documentation - is there any available as of now? I didn't find it, could you point me in the right direction?
But it feels kind of overwhelming at the moment.

 

PNG:

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting randomusername2, reply 2

I just created a new one and the only thing I changed were the taskbar icons, and that error occurred.
End of randomusername2's quote

It does seem that creating a new theme, specifying only the taskbar button, and applying it causes an Explorer crash-restart loop. which is the taskbar flashing/resetting that you're seeing.  You seemed to have stumbled upon something that no one else had tried yet.

To fix your theme, right-click on it (do not click on it), and select "Edit this style".  That will allow you to edit the theme before/without applying it.  Specify an image for the taskbar.  If you don't really want to replace the taskbar, use a fully transparent (i.e., "empty") png file.  Just for that, you can use a little 10x10 image if you want.

Regarding editing the images, you can edit them directly from File Explorer using the right-click "Open with" command to choose the program you want.  The path for the theme images is C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\Stardock\Curtains\[ThemeName].

You can also do a Registry Edit to redefine the program used to edit a png, which will also allow you to use it with the Curtains "Edit" button.  Right now I can't seem to come up with a solid 1-2-3 on how to do that, but you can go that route if you like.

As far I I can tell your 6 state button image should be fine, you'll want to define some painting margins for it.

Just from what you've said, I think you really would/will enjoy Curtains, keep plugging at it. ;)  

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

wow, thanks - apparently that was really a bug. Taskbar buttons work like a charm now :)

Yes, I kind of already enjoy the minimalistic standard WIN10-Theme. All I want to do is edit the standard experience a little more to my liking - that's why I'm still hesitant to buy the software - dont really need all these fancy possibilities, just the few tweaks and edits I want  to implement. But I'll probably buy it anyway since once I have everything set up to my preferences I wont be able to live without it :)

I'll report back soon with more feedback regarding the UI, but for now I have one more question:

Is it possible to make the transparency of the title bars "blurry"? I've read somewhere that win32-apps dont support the win10 blur, however some third-party apps like aeroglass make it possible to have blurred title bars. So I wondered if Curtains has that feature and if not, if it is planned to introduce it at some point?

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting randomusername2, reply 4

Is it possible to make the transparency of the title bars "blurry"?
End of randomusername2's quote

I can't absolutely say "No", but I really don't think so.  I'd happily be wrong on that.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi, I'm back with more questions/feedback :)

1) Regarding the title bar, too bad, blur would look amazing. I wonder if that feature is planned?

2) Speaking of title bars, I've noticed that the Modern-UI app titlebars are also changed, I don't like that at all because you get a really weird look in some of the apps and also it overrides the nice blur effect that exists in the Modern-UI apps, for example in the photos app (hence it would be nice if that effect as stated in (1) would be included in curtains, if possible. Here's an example of the mail app with/without custom titlebars, as you can see that doesnt really look good. Maybe there should be an option to only override win32 app titlebars if (1) isn't

possible?

 

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting randomusername2, reply 6

Hi, I'm back with more questions/feedback :)

1) Regarding the title bar, too bad, blur would look amazing. I wonder if that feature is planned?

2) Speaking of title bars, I've noticed that the Modern-UI app titlebars are also changed, I don't like that at all because you get a really weird look in some of the apps and also it overrides the nice blur effect that exists in the Modern-UI apps, for example in the photos app (hence it would be nice if that effect as stated in (1) would be included in curtains, if possible. Here's an example of the mail app with/without custom titlebars, as you can see that doesnt really look good. Maybe there should be an option to only override win32 app titlebars if (1) isn't

possible?

 
End of randomusername2's quote

For number 2, some apps have custom looks on their titlebar.  Some will be ignored by Curtains as they cannot be handled at all, others like mail are able to be overridden but obviously you lose the custom look as you cannot combine them.

But all is not lost.  Go to curtains settings, click the settings cog on the left and you have a button called Pick which universal apps...  Click this and you can either exclude a specific universal application or alter the drop down at the top from applying to more advanced frames to the next option which is apply to custom frames that are simple.  

Doing this will stop it applying to mail.

You can also stop it applying to any universal applications (the new name for modern apps), by unticking the option above the previously mentioned button.