SkinStudio 6 Beta Feedback
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 by Neil Banfield | Discussion: Stardock Support General
Please post general feedback about SkinStudio 6 here.
You must have WindowBlinds 6 beta installed to use SKS6, but any skins made with it should work with WindowBlinds 5 as well.
This is a beta so you should expect missing sections and bugs. If you find SKS is missing support for a specific section, please let us know!
If you are working on a new skin it would be best to ensure it is backed up before using SKS6. Remember in this beta all changes are saved instantly!
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Z71
Reply #142 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:17 AM
Wow! Sorry I asked. Didn't mean to bother you.
Reply #142 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:17 AM
Is this really taking up that much time?
Wow! Sorry I asked. Didn't mean to bother you.
Neil Banfield
Reply #143 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:19 AM
Reply #143 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:19 AM
Z71: That was a genuine question as when I edit a skin I just open it up and edit it and apply from within SKS6, so I do not reopen the skin often.
Do you do something different?
Z71
Reply #144 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:23 AM
Reply #144 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:23 AM
Yes, I open it every time, then close to apply. On XP, it uses to much ram, leaving it open.
I'll have to see if it does it differently on Vista. I might have to just change my ways.
Oh, and I just wanted to know if it was going to be an option.
I'll have to see if it does it differently on Vista. I might have to just change my ways.
Oh, and I just wanted to know if it was going to be an option.
Neil Banfield
Reply #145 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:31 AM
Reply #145 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:31 AM
It should be using about 30MB with a large skin with startmenu animation open.
Z71
Reply #146 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:53 AM
Reply #146 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:53 AM
OK, I can have skin studio open, fix things, etc. all day long, with no problems. I meant it slows my computer down (on XP), when I apply the skin with it open.
That's why, for all these years, I've closed it, then applied the skin.
Also, I wasn't the only person who asked. I know it's a very, very minor thing, but maybe you could give us some reassurence, that you might look into it in the future.
That's all I'm asking.
That's why, for all these years, I've closed it, then applied the skin.
I think a great idea would be to add a "open current windowblinds skin" link to the main front page of SKS 6 instead of having to access it via the file menu.
Also, I wasn't the only person who asked. I know it's a very, very minor thing, but maybe you could give us some reassurence, that you might look into it in the future.
That's all I'm asking.
Neil Banfield
Reply #147 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:10 AM
Reply #147 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:10 AM
Z71: Have you seen this slowdown with SKS6?
vStyler
Reply #148 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:36 PM
Reply #148 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:36 PM
I rarely close SKS.. get way more done with it open 
but.... when i do..
would be nice to see a button\link for open current skin as it is ALWAYS the only option I choose.
but.... when i do..
would be nice to see a button\link for open current skin as it is ALWAYS the only option I choose.
Daiwa
Reply #149 Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:48 AM
Reply #149 Thursday, March 27, 2008 1:48 AM
I've spent a little time with SKS6 now. Hats off to the dev team for a very handsome product. Unfortunately, in some respects form has trumped function in SKS6.
There is one very annoying drawback to SKS5 which has survived to live on in SKS6 - if I open more than one image for editing, SKS6 forces a new instance of my editor for each image. I work with multiple images simultaneously when skinning and I suspect most skinners do - that SKS6 doesn't 'see' that the editor is already open is odd (when I open multiple email image attachment one at a time in Outlook, only one instance of the editor is invoked).
One drawback new to SKS6 is the absence of the Zoom Color Picker ('least I can't find it if it's there) - I use that all the time in SKS 5 when I'm skinning, and I mean routinely - it's one of SKS5's best & most useful features.
Maybe it's just the particular way I work when skinning. SKS6 is OK, but it somehow feels like the 'Skinning for Dummies' version, as opposed to SKS5 which by comparison feels more like the 'PowerUser' version (and I'm most definitely an 'amateur' skinner). Since I don't have Vista & probably won't for some time, and therefore can't skin for it anyway (no ability to see the 'final product'), I see no compelling reason to abandon SKS5.
Perhaps future versions of SKS could have an 'Advanced Mode' that would give you the ability to use the Preview Image as an image navigation tool and include the Zoom Color Picker. I understand the idea was to make it easier for the novice to get into skinning, but at some point more experienced skinners should have the ability to get rid of the training wheels. 0.02
There is one very annoying drawback to SKS5 which has survived to live on in SKS6 - if I open more than one image for editing, SKS6 forces a new instance of my editor for each image. I work with multiple images simultaneously when skinning and I suspect most skinners do - that SKS6 doesn't 'see' that the editor is already open is odd (when I open multiple email image attachment one at a time in Outlook, only one instance of the editor is invoked).
One drawback new to SKS6 is the absence of the Zoom Color Picker ('least I can't find it if it's there) - I use that all the time in SKS 5 when I'm skinning, and I mean routinely - it's one of SKS5's best & most useful features.
Maybe it's just the particular way I work when skinning. SKS6 is OK, but it somehow feels like the 'Skinning for Dummies' version, as opposed to SKS5 which by comparison feels more like the 'PowerUser' version (and I'm most definitely an 'amateur' skinner). Since I don't have Vista & probably won't for some time, and therefore can't skin for it anyway (no ability to see the 'final product'), I see no compelling reason to abandon SKS5.
Perhaps future versions of SKS could have an 'Advanced Mode' that would give you the ability to use the Preview Image as an image navigation tool and include the Zoom Color Picker. I understand the idea was to make it easier for the novice to get into skinning, but at some point more experienced skinners should have the ability to get rid of the training wheels. 0.02
syonin
Reply #150 Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:45 AM
Reply #150 Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:45 AM
Thanks for the response Neil.
The sub style stuff just takes some getting used to, and my multitasking ways are not necessarily the norm.
Couple more suggestions/complaints I still have after playing more in SK6.
- I wholeheartedly concur on the missing Zoomed Color Picker. I realize you have a generic zoom, but still I used the old one ALL the freakin' time because of how it worked.
- I miss the auto zoomed in preview of image while setting Margins. Seems like you can manually stretch the preview out, but my small button images start as a tiny little preview instead of auto zoom to fit.
- Again, I have to say it really hurts having to switch back the buttons tab then back over to the position, visibility, or action tab. Back and Forth, Back and Forth, all day long. It would be so much better to be able to click on the button in the preview and have it stay in the current tab.
- I also had an issue with the "Roll Up Size". You can have it set to zero and it uses Caption Height, but no matter what value I set to either variable (Roll Up Size or Caption Height) the roll up size does not seem to be effected.
- Again I am gonna go on about all the missing Right Click Menu's on the tree view. Sure clicking space while having the image drop down selected is faster than scrolling to the top manually. But really, would you rather:
1. expand "Window Frames"
2. expand "Borders"
3. select "Caption"
4. select the image drop down
5. press spacebar
6. select "Left Border"
7. select the image drop down
8. press spacebar
9. select "Right Border"
10. select the image drop down
11. press spacebar
12. select "Bottom Border"
13. select the image drop down
14. press spacebar
- OR -
1. expand "Window Frames"
2. right click on "Borders"
3. select "Delete"
4. confirm "Yes"
Thanks for listening.
The sub style stuff just takes some getting used to, and my multitasking ways are not necessarily the norm.
Couple more suggestions/complaints I still have after playing more in SK6.
- I wholeheartedly concur on the missing Zoomed Color Picker. I realize you have a generic zoom, but still I used the old one ALL the freakin' time because of how it worked.
- I miss the auto zoomed in preview of image while setting Margins. Seems like you can manually stretch the preview out, but my small button images start as a tiny little preview instead of auto zoom to fit.
- Again, I have to say it really hurts having to switch back the buttons tab then back over to the position, visibility, or action tab. Back and Forth, Back and Forth, all day long. It would be so much better to be able to click on the button in the preview and have it stay in the current tab.
- I also had an issue with the "Roll Up Size". You can have it set to zero and it uses Caption Height, but no matter what value I set to either variable (Roll Up Size or Caption Height) the roll up size does not seem to be effected.
- Again I am gonna go on about all the missing Right Click Menu's on the tree view. Sure clicking space while having the image drop down selected is faster than scrolling to the top manually. But really, would you rather:
1. expand "Window Frames"
2. expand "Borders"
3. select "Caption"
4. select the image drop down
5. press spacebar
6. select "Left Border"
7. select the image drop down
8. press spacebar
9. select "Right Border"
10. select the image drop down
11. press spacebar
12. select "Bottom Border"
13. select the image drop down
14. press spacebar
- OR -
1. expand "Window Frames"
2. right click on "Borders"
3. select "Delete"
4. confirm "Yes"
Thanks for listening.
alphabyte
Reply #152 Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:58 PM
Reply #152 Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:58 PM
Maybe this might be the correct thread to post the problem I am having with Skin Studio 6.
Here is my problem:
I am trying to put together a start menu, and I noticed this ugly black border all around my start menu (seen on the righthand side of the start menu in the screenshot).
I have blur enabled and have disabled the OS shadow (in the "Top Part," under "Extra Settings," I have checked the box that tells Skin Studio 6 to hide the default start menu shadow). I am using Skin Studio 6.00.003 and WB 6.09[g].[b].135. (Also, I have tried this in the latest non-beta version of WB6 and this black border is still there.)
I have tried playing with many of the settings in Skin Studio 6, but I cannot get rid of that annoying border. What am I doing wrong?
Also, I am running Windows XP SP2 and I started this skin using the latest build of Skin Studio 6 [6.00.003]
Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Here is my problem:
I am trying to put together a start menu, and I noticed this ugly black border all around my start menu (seen on the righthand side of the start menu in the screenshot).
I have blur enabled and have disabled the OS shadow (in the "Top Part," under "Extra Settings," I have checked the box that tells Skin Studio 6 to hide the default start menu shadow). I am using Skin Studio 6.00.003 and WB 6.09[g].[b].135. (Also, I have tried this in the latest non-beta version of WB6 and this black border is still there.)
I have tried playing with many of the settings in Skin Studio 6, but I cannot get rid of that annoying border. What am I doing wrong?
Also, I am running Windows XP SP2 and I started this skin using the latest build of Skin Studio 6 [6.00.003]
Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Fortunato
Reply #153 Friday, April 18, 2008 1:31 AM
Reply #153 Friday, April 18, 2008 1:31 AM
I'm just guessing but I've seen that from enabling shadows on WindowFX. If there is any transparent part along the edges of windows and you have shadows enabled in WindowFX it will do exactly what your picture shows. Lots of splash screens for games exhibit this behavior, like Age of Conan.
alphabyte
Reply #154 Friday, April 18, 2008 9:20 AM
Fortunato: Thanks for the suggestion. However, I do not have WindowFX installed, so that cannot be the source of my problem. Thank you again for your input.
Reply #154 Friday, April 18, 2008 9:20 AM
I'm just guessing but I've seen that from enabling shadows on WindowFX. If there is any transparent part along the edges of windows and you have shadows enabled in WindowFX it will do exactly what your picture shows. Lots of splash screens for games exhibit this behavior, like Age of Conan.
Fortunato: Thanks for the suggestion. However, I do not have WindowFX installed, so that cannot be the source of my problem. Thank you again for your input.
canmandeco
Reply #155 Friday, April 18, 2008 9:02 PM
Reply #155 Friday, April 18, 2008 9:02 PM
Go to your skin folder and open up XPStuff.xp with notepad.
Look for the following section and make sure it says "=1" after HideShadows.
[StartPanel]
HideShadows=1
If its not there just add it.
(I tried to change the setting it in SS6 and it did not work for me. )
I hope that helps.
Look for the following section and make sure it says "=1" after HideShadows.
[StartPanel]
HideShadows=1
If its not there just add it.
(I tried to change the setting it in SS6 and it did not work for me. )
I hope that helps.
alphabyte
Reply #156 Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:01 AM
canmandeco: Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I tried editing the XPStuff.xp with Notepad and making sure that the HideShadows=1 was there. Unfortunately this did not work for me. The ugly default OS shadow remained. Thanks again.
Reply #156 Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:01 AM
Go to your skin folder and open up XPStuff.xp with notepad. Look for the following section and make sure it says "=1" after HideShadows. [StartPanel]HideShadows=1If its not there just add it.(I tried to change the setting it in SS6 and it did not work for me. )I hope that helps.
canmandeco: Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I tried editing the XPStuff.xp with Notepad and making sure that the HideShadows=1 was there. Unfortunately this did not work for me. The ugly default OS shadow remained. Thanks again.
Neil Banfield
Reply #157 Thursday, May 22, 2008 7:59 PM
Reply #157 Thursday, May 22, 2008 7:59 PM
There is a new beta of SkinStudio on SDC/Impulse now.
xch1114
Reply #158 Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:24 AM
Reply #158 Wednesday, October 29, 2008 11:24 AM
Please post general feedback about SkinStudio 6 here.
You must have WindowBlinds 6 beta installed to use SKS6, but any skins made with it should work with WindowBlinds 5 as well.
This is a beta so you should expect missing sections and bugs. If you find SKS is missing support for a specific section, please let us know!
If you are working on a new skin it would be best to ensure it is backed up before using SKS6. Remember in this beta all changes are saved instantly!
You must have WindowBlinds 6 beta installed to use SKS6, but any skins made with it should work with WindowBlinds 5 as well.
This is a beta so you should expect missing sections and bugs. If you find SKS is missing support for a specific section, please let us know!
If you are working on a new skin it would be best to ensure it is backed up before using SKS6. Remember in this beta all changes are saved instantly!
Svebu
Reply #159 Saturday, April 18, 2009 2:05 AM
Reply #159 Saturday, April 18, 2009 2:05 AM
Remember it is a beta and will be missing some things.
voidcore
Reply #160 Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:21 AM
Reply #160 Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:21 AM
Remember it is a beta and will be missing some things.
FAIL
last post was in october 2008 and the comment about the beta from Neil in May 2008.....
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Reply #141 Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:33 AM
Is this really taking up that much time?