What is the best way to get started making Windowblinds themes?

I usually just do a mock up in PS first just to see how the design should look, then transfer images to SkinStudio.

Just one thing tho, if your going to start a Blind, start it from scratch with Default Luna template, much easier this way.

Ok. Thx a bunch V_F

Event...find a fairly simple styled skin and decompile it....open up the graphics and alter them a bit, one at a time, and not the result in the skin.
This works for any skinning...may be slow, but is definitely educational...

Thx Jafo...Im trying to 'broaden my horizons' by skinning CursorXP and Windowblinds.

Very simpel, take a screenshot of your screen, and cut the startbalk, and the menu out of it. Go and make a skin over it, and after you did that, load it in skinstudio.
Its better to make the skin first, cuase if you work with gradient it gets all messed up if you didn't

Good thread Event i'm trying the same

Here's a tutorial I made years ago designed for new skinners:

http://www.windowblinds.net/skinning/uis1tutorial.html

It allows for making a basic skin in less than an hour with only a page of text.

I think using Frogboy's tutorial is an excellent place to start. Building a skin in Notepad is the best way to learn how it works so the format makes sense to you. I feel that way about using SkinStudio to make the image files too, it would be better to make them all in your graphics program than to have SS generate them.

I find it easier to draw the skin image complete and then cut out the pieces in PS so I have all the bits ready to assemble. Then I make a UIS file in Notepad (using a previous one as a template) with all the values set for the new stuff (path, image names, margins, etc). Then after it's complete enough to load I'll open it in SkinStudio to plug in all the extra features and tweak the fonts, colors and button margins. It's a lot easier to fine-tune your settings if you can have the skin running to check out how your changes affect it.

I read just about every tutorial on skining. It really helped me a lot.
Before I make a skin, I 1st decide what combination of colors I want on it (eg. blue/yellow, gray/red, etc ) This way its easier for me when I start to alter the graphics or if I want to make the graphics from scratch. Luna is a good style to start with. You'll also learn a lot form tweaking and previewing.

When you get really fancy, the way I'll make a skin is to actually have it all drawn out as a picture in photoshop or whatever.

Then slice it into its pieces (push button up, push button down, push button disabled, etc.) and use SkinStudio to assign those different pieces to the skin.

Not as easy as i hoped then

Oh well

Aleksyandr made an excllent tutorial last year. You can see it as his site:
http://www.aleksyandr.com

»" Not as easy as i hoped then"

DM, try not to be discouraged. I know I was overwhelmed when I first got the Object Desktop in January. There is so much to take in at one time. So I realized don't try to take it all in at once. Just start with something "small" like changing other peoples' skins (I like to add sounds and change the coloring) or maybe make some icons or a set of cursors. I have yet to make my first skin, but I figure I might as well have some fun on the way and make the learning process a little more bearable. (inhale ) Ok, I'm done now. Have to go do my PSP lessons. I'm only two weeks behind.

Thanks Hippy good tutorial

»"Thanks Hippy good tutorial "

Id have to agree with that...

Although i'm still confused as to which programmes are the best to use etc, if anyone has some good tips (apart from dissecting existing ones) i'd be more than happy to note them down

Dark, to create skins, basicaly you only need SkinStudio, Notepad and a paint program ( I use PhotoShop 7 ) but you can use any one you are confortable with.
The rest is up to you imagination.

Oh, and dont forget that if you get 'stuck' and need help. You can always post a messege.

only thing i cant get my head around is all this notepad stuff

The notepad is use to write the codes or numbers used on the settings of the margins and color codes. Makes your job a lot easier

Thats what i don't get...i'm gonna be honest and say i've no idea what to do, tutorials i've read make no sense, skinstudio is completely confusing and how i make the graphics in whatever i've no idea on just where to start

i know what your thinking...Just give up

Nahhh, Dont give up..... we dont like quiters here in WC
I'll share a trick of the trade with you.
Open SkinStudio. From the File menu, click on New/From Template.
On the next window double click the icon Windows Skin. Type a File Name/Name for your skin.
A Luna template should now appear on the preview window. Click (per example) on the top window frame of the preview image.
On the right side you will see a little picture of the top window frame. Right clik on it and from the 'Edit with...' menu, choose your paint program.
The image should now open on your paint program and ready to be edit. When you are done editing, save it. Make sure it has the same name as the image you opened. For instance, the top frame has the name 'WindowFrameTopUis2' so make sure you save it under that same name.
Do this for the remaining parts of the template.
This technique is good for beginers. As you go along and get familiar with the program, you'll be able to start from a blank template and create and name your graphics as you wish and import them to the SkinStudio.
Hope this helps you get started.
Good luck and happy skining.

Hey thanks Apocalypse your a good one

Hmmm can't get it to use Photoshop

Don't know about Photoshop but in PSP you can browse the skin's folder and open/edit the images from there.

Ok thanks.

/me goes off to bang head against a wall for a while