Windowblinds: Problems with menu bar transparency

from Stardock Forums

Hi, i'm currently using my 30-day free trial, and planning to purchase if i can get this issue resolved. I mainly want this software to fill in some deficiencies in Reaper (DAW software) regarding its ability to skin windows. I am able to achieve everything i need, but one issue has cropped up, the menu bar in some of my windows becomes transparent, which is a distracting enough to be nearly as bad as the garish white UI i was trying to avoid. These issues persist through multiple themes, and any settings changes i could find. I've included a link an image of the issue, thanks for any help anyone can provide!

EDIT: I've also figured out that this only applies to windows that keep the color of the theme but dont apply any of the other aspects like font or buttons.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Uc8LBQnKu4RplVoLTYoP2GaUDVFrx7Jy/view?usp=sharing

other stardock software windowblinds
10,329 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Just to confirm, you one Windows 10 or 11?

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

I am seeing that I'm able to change the color of those transparent areas with the "change system colors" entries for Menu, MenuBar, and Menu Text, but no change to the problem of transparency. Tried more themes as well, no luck. 

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

if you are not familiar with reaper, a trial version is available. I actually found your software from an old thread on their forums, it seems that some people arent having any issue, but they may be on win 7 or another version of 10, im not sure. Others did have issues though. here is one forum entry, i saw one other though. 

https://forums.cockos.com/showthread.php?p=2316915

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

I already downloaded Reaper and testing it. Look like the menu background is using some weird graphic. Not really sure where that come from. The main Windows look okay, just the FX or sub windows. Maybe someone might come in and help out. I will move this to Windowblinds section.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for that, sorry, i had trouble finding that section. And yes, you're seeing exactly what I am.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Any solution to this transparency issue?
I'm see the same problem in Reaper 7.05
Only seems to be on the file menu on tool window. Also note SkinStudio does not seem to have an option to edit them menu in tool window.

Also note, when I disable windows blinds, the menu shows no transparency. 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting rene1314, reply 7

Any solution to this transparency issue?
I'm see the same problem in Reaper 7.05
Only seems to be on the file menu on tool window. Also note SkinStudio does not seem to have an option to edit them menu in tool window.



Also note, when I disable windows blinds, the menu shows no transparency. 
End of rene1314's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. I download and install Reaper v7.09 and I see this. Is there any specific way to see the transparent menu bar?

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top

Basj, You can press Ctrl+Alt+X to open media explorer (floating).
All tool windows with Menus have the transparent issue.

Thanks, Rene

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Okay, I see it, my guess, that strange menu bar using something that conflicting with Windowblinds. And after some testing, what you can do is ask Windowblinds to ignore Reaper and don't skin it. Use this setting. And choose Reaper to be ignore.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

hahahaha, this is a humorous misunderstanding... 

Windowblinds is basically the only tenable solution to skin certain elements of the reaper UI, VERY SPECIFICALLY the exact window we are talking about hahahaha.

Its basically the only reason i have Windowblinds, which is a bit ridiculous on Reapers part, i love the program, have for more than a decade, but its really a bit insane they haven't updated this part of the UI in all that time...

For the record though I DID FIND A SOLUTION for the transparency! The issue is.... i cant remember what it was hahahahaha :(

I went through my posts on their foru mand i cant find any posts i made about it, but i think i remember looking through a theme editor and untoggling something regarding that bar?

And finally, i do still have an issue using windowblinds in reaper, and other software. Its constantly flipping partway out of dark mode and so i have to reapply in order to see certain menus

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

Grupletruge7836  Thanks for the info and yes Reaper is the main reason I use Windowblinds.

I'll check a few Reaper theme settings and see if I can pin it down. 

EDIT:  I figured out a workaround solution. 
In Reaper Go to Preferences > General > Advanced UI/System Settings and Enable "Use large (non-tool) window frames.."