ONLY change title bar and border colors

from Stardock Forums

hi -

I'm sure this isn't as simple as I'd like, but all I want to do is change the color of the title bar and window border, and increase the size of the border, differentiating better among windows. I want to leave everything else as-is. In Win11, especially with Office apps in dark mode, I have a very difficult time telling the active window from those behind it and often move or close an app I didn't intend to. Any suggestions on how to do this most easily? Anyone point me to a theme that already exists?

 

if it matters I also use Start11 and Groupy [and, against all advice, StartAllBack so I can have the ribbon in file manager]

 

many thanks

Mike

windowblinds
8,901 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. But, from what I understand, Windowblinds can not simply select which area in your GUI to change. specially when the skin change the System colors. It will effect any application that call on System colors.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

well, startallback and start11 are coexisting pretty well on my pc. start11 is missing 2 things i can get from startallback: [1] ribbon in file manager, and [2] ability to have multilevel taskbar. both just make life easier :-)

 

thanks!

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Start11 has nothing to do with how File Explorer work and Start11v2 has option to make taskbar resizable, ie make it multi-row taskbar, not sure if the same as multilevel taskbar you mentioned above.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

On the subject of titlebars and colors, I applied the "Bluegrass" skin to my Windows 11, 24H PC. The titlebars and borders are all black with the skin applied and not the blue as depicted in the skin. Is their something I need to change?

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Tobus22, reply 6

On the subject of titlebars and colors, I applied the "Bluegrass" skin to my Windows 11, 24H PC. The titlebars and borders are all black with the skin applied and not the blue as depicted in the skin. Is their something I need to change?
End of Tobus22's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Need more information.

  1. Windows full version and OS Build number. Please use Winver.exe.
  2. Windowblinds full version number.
  3. Please post some screenshots showing what you see on your system.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Thanks for your help. Below are the screenshots you requested. An opened "Notepad" window, section of my "Taskbar", top portion of "Windows Explorer", "Bluegrass Theme" as shown in Windowblinds 11, and lastly my Windows 11 version.

 

     

 

 

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Please try this, turn on Transparency effect on Windows setting. Setting-> Accessibility -> Visual effect -> Transparency effects "On". Try it and report back.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

This does remove the all black, however it is so transparent that it is not blue. It merely shows my wallpaper colors bleeding through. I could not find any settings in Windows to adjust the transparency. The image below is has the Bluegrass skin applied.

 

Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top

That is what the BlueGlass skin when applied. In the sample screenshot it was set with a light blue background, that is why you get the light blue in it.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I think I can see that now. It looks blue on the website image because the wallpaper behind it is so blue. But what about the taskbar? My taskbar is either black (with transparency disabled) or transparent (with transparency enabled). I have Start 11 installed but no matter the setting there, I can't change the taskbar color.

Also, do you think it possible to achieve the blue color look via Skin Studio?

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Maybe you would like to try this skin instead and use the Sky substyle to get the bluish tint it has similar design like the BlueGlass skin.

Thank you,

Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant