SkinStudio 6 Preview!
A whole new world
Monday, July 16, 2007 by Frogboy | Discussion: SkinStudio Help
Introduction
SkinStudio is a program that allows users to create visual styles for Windows XP and Windows Vista. These visual styles are applied by the popular GUI skinning program, WindowBlinds. A fully complete visual style will change the title bars, borders, push buttons, scrollbars, Start bar, Start menu, and virtually every other part of the Windows GUI.
SkinStudio 6 represents a complete rewrite of previous versions of SkinStudio. The new version is designed to make it much easier for new users to get into skinning. Skinners can change as much or little of the GUI as they choose and SkinStudio will fill in the rest for them. A new skin can take a matter of minutes or weeks depending on how sophisticated the skin is.
The new interface of SkinStudio
The old interface of SkinStudio
A Tour of SkinStudio 6
SkinStudio 6 takes on a much more task-oriented design. Rather than the user being overwhelmed with information by seeing all elements of the visual style at once, SkinStudio 6 instead takes the user step by step through the skin.
Editing controls
Each element shows either (or both) a Windows XP logo or a Windows Vista logo to let the skin author know which features are supported under which operating system. Moreover, when editing a particular element, the interface is clean and to the point.
What can and can't be changed is very straight forward.
Moreover, each section will be tied to a particular part of the SkinStudio portion of the Customization Wiki. In this way, users can instantly get help making skins from not just Stardock but the entire skinning community.
Editing the IE7 tabs & Vista Controls
SkinStudio 6 is being designed with the upcoming WindowBlinds 6 in mind. All the new Windows Vista controls, Internet Explorer 7 controls and more will be easily editable. No more trying to figure out how to support the latest/greatest features.
Elements available to be skinned are now easily accessible
One of the most common complaints about WindowBlinds skins is that many skins didn't support many of the features. This was often because the previous SkinStudio was designed at at time when WindowBlinds was much simpler and as more features were added, the newer features began to get buried in the UI. The new SkinStudio design makes these new features much more accessible.
We're going to need your help
Because SkinStudio 6 is such a radical departure from the existing SkinStudio design, we are going to need a lot of feedback on this. SkinStudio 6 will be available in beta form on Object Desktop on July 18th (2007).
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Reply #22 Monday, July 16, 2007 8:33 PM
Reply #23 Monday, July 16, 2007 9:14 PM
I have wanted to contribute to the community for so long - this may well be the means by which I do it! Can't wait to check out the beta! 
Reply #24 Monday, July 16, 2007 9:16 PM
I have always wanted to contribute to the community - this may be the way by which I finally do it! Can't wait to check out the beta! 
Reply #25 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 12:01 AM
Reply #26 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:03 AM
I can't wait as I am addicted to this whole skinstudio thing. I might even be able to learn how to finish a complete skin without having to use the win xp stuff(modified). I am having real troubles with designing buttons as some just won't work as the size or format is different than the default ones so I am really looking forward to checking this out.Then maybe I can make my visions actually come out the way I want them and not always look so win xp like.thx again
Reply #27 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:20 AM
I have a massive library of skins that need to be worked on. That and if I can forget about work too! But this looks like a good work and everyone is to be thanked highly for all they have done. Looks very well made and has the best Vista skinning issue's resolved - it seems.
This is one of the reasons I renewed my subscription for 2 more years here at Stardock also!
Excellent work pep's! Love ya!
SGT
Reply #28 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:24 AM
This sounds like it will make skinning WindowBlinds somewhat easier and opens the door for even more users to try making WindowBlinds.
Reply #29 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:39 AM
Reply #30 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 8:44 AM
Zubaz waits for the inevitable forums posts of "Now that everyone can make skins all I see is crap skins"
Reply #31 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 9:25 AM
Reply #32 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:36 PM
Thats all I have to tell myself now right?
Reply #33 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 1:58 PM
Reply #34 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 4:12 PM
Reply #35 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 5:43 PM
You do raise a good point. Just because the software used to put the skin together got easier to use, it doesn't mean that people are suddenly going to know how to use Photoshop to make the different parts.
Reply #36 Tuesday, July 17, 2007 6:42 PM
I love you guys
Reply #37 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 11:33 AM
Sooner than later would be nice.
Reply #38 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 1:47 PM
It will not be coming today. Expect it early next week instead (We are still tweaking some bits)
Reply #39 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 2:29 PM
Reply #40 Wednesday, July 18, 2007 10:15 PM
Is it now possible to increase the size of the folder icons on the left pane of Windows Explorer? The folder tree, if you will. There are so many wonderful icons sets here, and they get lost in that little 16x16 pic, or whatever size...very small.
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Reply #21 Monday, July 16, 2007 8:29 PM
Either way, I can hardly wait.