Author Topic: Windows color schemes (Read 1002 times)

Octavius · « **on:** November 06, 2003, 11:17:22 PM »

I was bored with the color scheme in XP so I decided to putz around tonight.

I wanted to match the colors to a Winamp skin so I opened Paint Shop Pro for the color picker and stumbled upon the gradient tool. I thought it'd be neat to throw a gradient in as the color of the taskbar. Is it even possible to add a gradient as a color for XP?

I've seen some pretty cool XP "skins" out there and I'm wondering how I could make my own. Do I need a basic knowledge of programming to create my own skin for XP?

I'm just a clueless dolt when it comes to this, so any help is appreciated.

JB73 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2003, 01:31:12 AM »

look for something called window blinds....

that came out for 98 a long time ago and has morphed into a large thing since...

http://www.customize.org

http://skinz.org

http://www.themesunlimited.com

just to get you started. look for win XP skins and software. i know http://www.1001winampskins.com used to have a tutorial linked to somewhere shoving the VB basics for a winamp 3 skin. there is prolly some links like that burried in these sites

good luck

BB Gun · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2003, 02:31:33 AM »

http://www.themexp.org

http://www.lightstar1.com/install.htm

http://thickskinned.org/skinned.html

Replicant · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2003, 09:42:49 AM »

As BB Gun suggests, have a look at:

http://www.themexp.org/view.php?type=vs

You'll be impressed! I've been using Style XP for about 3 months now.

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2003, 10:05:02 AM »

Wow. No less than 15 pop ups since i hit that site. Nice themes...just have to be quick on the alt-f4 too

Replicant · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2003, 12:37:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul
Wow. No less than 15 pop ups since i hit that site. Nice themes...just have to be quick on the alt-f4 too

Strange, I get no pop-ups there?

BB Gun · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2003, 01:05:27 PM »

Pop up problems?

http://toolbar.google.com/

awesome little utility.

BB

SunKing · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2003, 01:53:27 PM »

just change your colors manually. Any of those 3rd party apps just slow your pc down anyway. not worth it.

BB Gun · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2003, 02:05:15 PM »

ummmm... not al of them.

ThemeXP does not - it is in no way a TSR (unless you use some special features)

The second link I provide allows you to use .theme skins by patching your UXtheme.dll to enable it to recognize NON-microsoft "certified" themes.

Changing colors is fine if all you want to do is paint the Win98/2K style windows, menubars and toolbars. But if you want to change the skinned theme, then you can't just "do it manually" and have to use the theme. The blue, silver and olive schemes of WinXP are skins over the old version.

BB