HiDPI and other questions

from Stardock Forums

Hello Forum,

Three questions about WindowBlinds, which I just bought and installed:

  1. How can I exclusively enable skinning of windows only and leave everything else untouched, especially start menu and taskbar?

  2. I can't get the WindowBlinds tray icon to show in the Windows tray, even though I have enabled the option in the Settings. What can I do?

  3. Is it really the case that WindowBlinds skins are still not adapted to Retina/HiDPI screens? My 4K screens are running at 200% dpi, and the WindowBlinds window buttons etc. are all blurry.

Thanks

windowblinds
13,271 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues.

How can I exclusively enable skinning of windows only and leave everything else untouched, especially start menu and taskbar?
End of quote

There is no option in that. For Windows 10, Start menu will not change if you don't have Start10 installed. Taskbar will always change follow the skin you use. You have an option to use different skin for your Startmenu and taskbar, but there is no option to totally set it to Default Windows 10 style.


I can't get the WindowBlinds tray icon to show in the Windows tray, even though I have enabled the option in the Settings. What can I do?
End of quote

You mean this (refer screenshot below)? or something else?


Is it really the case that WindowBlinds skins are still not adapted to Retina/HiDPI screens? My 4K screens are running at 200% dpi, and the WindowBlinds window buttons etc. are all blurry.
End of quote

It is best to restart Windows if you changing Windows scale for the GUI to show up properly.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

I can't get the WindowBlinds tray icon to show in the Windows tray, even though I have enabled the option in the Settings. What can I do?
End of quote

I mean this:

I still get no Tray Icon and therefore seem to have no way to stop/unload WindowBlinds.

Is it really the case that WindowBlinds skins are still not adapted to Retina/HiDPI screens? My 4K screens are running at 200% dpi, and the WindowBlinds window buttons etc. are all blurry.
End of quote

With this I mean obviously the skins, not the WindowBlinds GUI. Are (almost) all WindowBlinds skins still only for Lo-DPI screens:

 

Is this different/better with Curtains?

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting David2P, reply 2

I still get no Tray Icon and therefore seem to have no way to stop/unload WindowBlinds.
End of David2P's quote

To unload WindowBlinds, apply the 1st theme in its list - "Default Theme by Microsoft".

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

OK.

What about the DPI?

I have now installed also Curtains. There, it seems that at least some themes are Hi-DPI aware:

 

However, Curtains crashes whenever I try and apply any of the themes :(

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting David2P, reply 4

However, Curtains crashes whenever I try and apply any of the themes
End of David2P's quote

If you didn't reboot after installing it, reboot.  If that doesn't take care of it, I'm afraid I really can't help you out but someone will be along later.

I'm afraid I also don't know how many themes are out there with high DPI, I don't use it.

I just wanted to let you know how to unload WindowBlinds.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting David2P, reply 2

I still get no Tray Icon and therefore seem to have no way to stop/unload WindowBlinds.
End of David2P's quote

Does the WindowBlinds icon appear on those listing in "Select which icons appear on the taskbar"?

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting David2P, reply 4

However, Curtains crashes whenever I try and apply any of the themes
End of David2P's quote

Hello,
Please try purge and reinstall steps as mentioned here: https://forums.stardock.com/500728/curtains-support-faq#CurtainsPurge' Just make sure to re-download the latest version from your account. Reboot after the purged. Reinstall, and Reboot again after the installation. Retest it. Report back here.

I would also suggest to do purge and reinstall on Windowblinds too : https://forums.stardock.com/486023/windowblinds-support-faq#reinstalling

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Is it really the case that WindowBlinds skins are still not adapted to Retina/HiDPI screens? My 4K screens are running at 200% dpi, and the WindowBlinds window buttons etc. are all blurry.
End of quote

Are there any (new) HiDPI skins available already with the new WindowBlinds?

What about Curtains? Is there any news about (more) HiDPI skins?

Thanks for information on this!

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

WB11 on 200% scaling will now use nearest neighbour scaling which will not show as blurry.  It will be more pixelated, but if you have a proper high dpi screen this should be not that obvious.

If you have a skin designed for high dpi then this will not be the case.  I believe the plans are for us to include some high dpi skins in the final WB11 and skin authors are free to update their skins as they see fit.  We have simplified things so authors can define 100% and 200% images which will then handle the intermediate sizes too.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks Neil, for answering questions about the DPI scaling I was going to ask about again.

It's great learning that there's thoughts of us peasants who use a higher resolution monitor.

:D

 

Next you're probably telling us that the WinCustomize website and forum layout is being brought into the 21st century

:thumbsup:

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello all,

what is the current situation with high dpi skins for WindowBlinds and Curtains?

Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting David2P, reply 12

Hello all,

what is the current situation with high dpi skins for WindowBlinds and Curtains?
End of David2P's quote

Hello, from what I know, Windowblinds 11 already support high dpi skins. Nothing yet on Curtains.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.