Exchange window frame shadows properly

from Stardock Forums

Hi.

Starting off the "Diamond" theme as basis, I built my own variations. I also want darker shadows, so I imported them from other themes, like in the screenshot below, "Ice", and exchanged them in SkinStudio via the per pixel frames, shadows tree. And it worked, too.

Shadow corner

Problem is the corners though. Like in the screenshot, the shadows stay tangent to the window frame, thus producing a bright, ugly corner.

How do I repair this?

Best,

Mubuk

 

 

windowblinds
4,772 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
That don't work because Ice have sharper corner if compared to Diamond. If you wish to have darker shadow that match with Diamond shape, you should adjust/mod diamond frame-shadow-xxx.tga file.

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

That worked, thanks a bunch!

Right now I'm using paint.net for all my 32bit TGA work. But it has its limitations, like right now when I try and see the differences in the shadow files. Also, here I just copied selections of those same images on top of themselves in order to darken the pics.

Would you have a recommendation for a program that can do 32bit tga with a bit more finesse, please?

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Personally, I use old Adobe Fireworks for my WB skins. But, lots of others Skinner prefer Adobe Photoshop.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

OK, using PS CS6 now.

Actually, the effect I originally posted (bright corners in shadows) is also visible with the original shadow images, it's just much weaker. btw the edges have nothing to do with it, they are all sharp since they end with the image files themselves.

So the question then becomes: Is this a systemic bug, an error in the design of WindowBlinds itself, and could there be a bug fix, or at least a workaround?

For example, what do the four number values do, the ones you find in Window frames, Per pixel, Shadows, Top Shadow, Tab Painting? You know, Top, Bottom, Left, Right? I hoped they could be used to shift the shadows in respect to the frame borders, but no such luck. Actually, I can't make heads or tails of them.

There are similar values in each of the groups , e.g. Per pixel, Borders, Caption. What do they do?

Is there any kind of combination of these where I could shift the shadows in respect to the frames -- e.g. lower the top shadow, lift the bottom shadow --, so as to make the bright corners disappear?

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, for me personally, I don't apply shadows like what the author of Diamond did. For me, I make the shadow within the main frame itself. For example from one of my skin the top frame will look like this. The shadow is already there in the frame graphics itself.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes, I have seen that in another theme, too. Wondered why. I have no earthly idea how to do that transparency thing though. Could you walk me through the process, please?

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Look for tutorial on how to do drop shadows.  Something like this one:

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant