SkinStudio

SkinStudio uses a Universal Skin Format (USF) that can be used to create one skin and export it to multiple skin formats. In practice, skins often need further editing after being created from this template, but it can be of use when developing a suite of skins. msstyle files are imported into USF before being converted to one of the WindowBlinds skin formats.

 
 SkinStudio (previously known as BuilderBlinds) is a software tool by Stardock used to create skins for their WindowBlinds, ObjectBar, WebBlinds and PocketBlinds programs, as well as Koala Player and Windows Media Player. It is a component of Object Desktop, but is also sold separately, and a version is available for free download.


Versions

As of July 2005, there are three versions generally available:

  • SkinStudio Free — Creates skins for WindowBlinds, and allows importing of skins from the msstyle format.
  • SkinStudio Enhanced — As the free edition, but with the addition of pre-made widgets, skin imports, and options for skin colorization. Included with Object Desktop subscriptions.
  • SkinStudio Pro — Adds the ability to create skins for Windows Media Player to the Enhanced version.
A product called SkinStudio Developers Edition is also available for those who want a custom-supported tool for use with Stardock's customized skinning add-in, DirectSkin.

Tour of SkinStudio

Task-oriented Design

SkinStudio 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.



Clean Interface

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.





Customization Wiki

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.

New Features

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.

Features

  • NEW! Added support for animated please wait
  • NEW! Added layer support
  • NEW! Added NWA compression for animation [ED: Yes that stands for Neil WindowBlinds Animation)
  • NEW! Per pixel borders support layers & glyphs
  • NEW! Skin re-coloring
  • Task Oriented Design
  • Clean New Interface
  • Sidebar support
  • Vista Start Menu Buttons
  • Edit Vista Control Panel and navigation parts
  • Support for Internet Explorer 7
  • Taskdialog controls
  • Vista Explorer: Command Bar, Information Pane, List View, Please Wait screen, etc.
  • Explorer background
  • Theme Part Details tab that visually displays components of the skin for easy access
  • Improved support for title bar buttons. Easily change the per-pixel settings
  • Improved support for adding glow effects
  • Improved support for making sub-styles
  • Vista Explorer: Command Bar, Information Pane, List View, Please Wait screen, etc.
  • Explorer background
  • Theme Part Details tab that visually displays components of the skin for easy access
  • Improved support for title bar buttons. Easily change the per-pixel settings
  • Improved support for adding glow effects.

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