New WinCustomize Subscriber Skin: Black Ops

Closing out the week we have a new premium skin exclusively for WinCustomize Subscribers.  This time we have Black Ops!  This is a very dark theme with a minimal style which is sure to please.

http://images.stardock.com/wc/subscription/BlackOps_WB_vista1.jpg

Current WinCustomize Subscribers can find this in the Subscribers Resource area.  If you are not a subscriber, become one now!

33,391 views 45 replies
Reply #1 Top

Nice job on this  :thumbsup: :sun:

Reply #2 Top

Looks Like a Mike B skin, am I right?

 

Anyway it's really nice 5*

Reply #3 Top
Nice skin Dudes!!! Thanks.
Reply #6 Top

Shhhhh!, don't be giving out any secrets. *_*

Reply #7 Top
Good guess, 2of3. ;) I finished this back in January, so it's nice to finally see it published. :) Thanks, folks.
Reply #8 Top
Simply Smokin.
Reply #9 Top
Mike, could you do me a favor. Could you start skinning "all" of the small shellstyle icons. I've noticed in about 90% of your skins, these aren't done. The control Panel icon isn't skinned. In this one, you did skin the main 3, though.
Thanks. It's appreciated.

Oh, and the skin looks fantastic. Will be great for every day use.
Reply #10 Top

I finished this back in January

I know the feeling ;P

Reply #11 Top

Are you still using XP, Z71? I find the small shellstyle icons rather pointless and distracting, so that's why I tend to make them blank. I don't see any reason to skin them just because I can if it doesn't enhance the design. Is it really effecting usability for you?

Reply #12 Top
Nice looking dark blind :CONGRAT: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Nice name...
Yeah the name was the first thing that caught my eye and I was like "Hey he fini.... oh nm"
Reply #13 Top
Yes, I still use XP. No need to throw away something I paid for, that still works fine for me. Never had a problem. Knock on wood.
Do you still use XP or do you skin it blindly?
I did fix it. I noticed you used one icon for all of them, so I just added that one.
No, the skin is unusable without that icon. Can't believe you asked me that.
Reply #14 Top

Nice one!

Reply #15 Top

No, the skin is unusable without that icon. LOL

I'm with Mike her.... I don't need an icon to tell me what window I just opened. A solid color .bmp (same color as the panel background) serves me well in "skinning" those dudes.

Reply #16 Top

I don't need an icon to tell me what window I just opened.

Its basically a preference option, I skin them all, 99% of the time because I feel obligated to and I believe it does look better, Also a way to distinguish oneself via creativity, having said that, doesn't bother me at all if someone else doesn't.

One thing tho Mike \ SD.. I have noticed on some of your skins that the large 'spacial' shell images in XP are not showing. This is because you apparently are skinning XP last and the explorer background image in Vista.. is being used in XP. When this happens, your XP shell images are not showing to the XP user. This is a shame as you did take the time to make them. I'm sure you probably weren't aware so I thought I'd point it out.

The explorer Bg's can be removed in the XP version to remedy the issue.

Btw, anyone with SKS can do this easily for themselves if they would prefer to see the special folder shell images as opposed to pinstripes.

 

The skin itself is very clean, very usable, as usual. I'll be holding onto this one. :sun: and k1 to WC for getting the ball rolling on teh sub. skins.

Reply #17 Top

Great skin, Mike....posted a ss yesterday in W7 Desktops. Works very well with 7.

Thanks!!! :thumbsup:

Reply #18 Top
Very nice blind. I thank you very much. :CONGRAT:
Reply #19 Top
The explorer Bg's can be removed in the XP version to remedy the issue.
Yes, I agree, that is one way to do it.
Or you can go into Advanced Settings and make sure the "I want skins to be able to apply textures to the back of explorer windows" is un-checked. That fixed it right up. :)
Reply #20 Top

I love black / dark blue skins.  This is a nice addition.  Thanks to all.:thumbsup:

Reply #21 Top

One thing tho Mike \ SD.. I have noticed on some of your skins that the large 'spacial' shell images in XP are not showing. This is because you apparently are skinning XP last and the explorer background image in Vista.. is being used in XP.

vStyler, I was aware of that. I skin the large shell icons in case the user has explorer backgrounds disabled. I personally prefer the explorer background to the shell pics on XP.

z71, I dual boot XP solely so I can skin it. I asked if the small shell icons were a usability issue because, otherwise, I'm not sure why you'd ask me to skin them for you from now on.

Reply #22 Top

vStyler, I was aware of that. I skin the large shell icons in case the user has explorer backgrounds disabled. I personally prefer the explorer background to the shell pics on XP.

 

Fair enough :)

Reply #23 Top

Mike, I use XP 90% of the time. I'm still an XPer. I use what I like. I still like XP. I just dual boot Vista and now Win 7 solely to skin them, also.

I'm confused though. You did make icons for it, you just left the control panel one blank. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don't. I just don't like to download or purchase a skin, that still has those awful default icons showing. They stick out like a sore thumb. If I pay for something, it better be 100% skinned. The freebies, I'll let slide.

Reply #24 Top
Wow nice clean looking skin. Which OS's did you target this for?
Reply #25 Top

Kevison, this was made with Vista in mind. It fully supports XP though.

z71, I must apologize. I misunderstood which small shell icons you were referring to. I was talking about the small pics inside the shell pane, but you were talking about the small icons on the shell bar. You are correct, I did intend to use a single icon for all of them, but I apparently overlooked the control panel one. Sorry about that. :blush: