Skinstudio 6
Should I get it?
Sunday, March 2, 2008 by Imzadi | Discussion: Customization Software
I've been using Skinstudio 5 for a long while now and have been wondering what people think of Skinstudio 6. I didn't like the Beta version of it at all, and was wondering if the Pro version is better? Are most people switching over to 6 and if you have, do you like it? I've been thinking of renewing my Object Desktop subscription but don't want to screw things up. :/
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vStyler
Reply #22 Monday, March 3, 2008 12:23 PM
Try saving .tga's directly to the skin folder as opposed to converted png's via import.
Reply #22 Monday, March 3, 2008 12:23 PM
every time I import a new image, skinstudio insists on deleting the previous image I imported before it will do anything else!
Try saving .tga's directly to the skin folder as opposed to converted png's via import.
Vampothika
Reply #23 Tuesday, March 4, 2008 10:58 PM
Reply #23 Tuesday, March 4, 2008 10:58 PM
I didnt mean to sound like an ugrate in my last response to wb6.....i kind of think i did, so I would like to rephrase my comment......i DO like sk6, but i do find it hard to navigate. I also use sk5 to check my skin and make sure its okay...... I also want to thank Neil for the hard work he has put into wb6 to make it possible for us to even be able to skin vista.
eieio
Reply #24 Sunday, March 9, 2008 1:52 PM
The ability to enable/disable Start Menu Shadow is now in SKS6.
Reply #24 Sunday, March 9, 2008 1:52 PM
Start Menu shadow and Fonts for Classic Widgets.
The ability to enable/disable Start Menu Shadow is now in SKS6.
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #25 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:19 AM
Reply #25 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:19 AM
If your wanting to do Vista then you really have no choice...SKS6.
You can install both versions if you need them.
You can install both versions if you need them.
geyster
Reply #26 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:04 AM
Reply #26 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:04 AM
Been away from skinning for awhile, but I have been thinking about jumping back in. I did download & tried 6, but felt completely lost. I think if I do decide to get back in, it will have to be with 5. You say you can switch back and forth between the two? Each will open the other's files?
eieio
Reply #27 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:29 AM
Yes. I use SKS6 primarily and only occasionally open SKS5. Glad to see you back geyster.
Reply #27 Wednesday, March 12, 2008 7:29 AM
Each will open the other's files?
Yes. I use SKS6 primarily and only occasionally open SKS5. Glad to see you back geyster.
vStyler
Reply #28 Thursday, March 13, 2008 6:28 AM
Reply #28 Thursday, March 13, 2008 6:28 AM
Just make sure u save in 6, then close.. before openeing up in 5 and vie versa.
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #29 Thursday, March 13, 2008 7:16 AM
Sage advice...trust it.
Reply #29 Thursday, March 13, 2008 7:16 AM
Just make sure u save in 6, then close.. before openeing up in 5 and vie versa.
Sage advice...trust it.
Neil Banfield
Reply #30 Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:34 AM
Reply #30 Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:34 AM
Actually the save option in the current SKS6 builds does nothing at all.
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #31 Thursday, March 13, 2008 12:49 PM
Reply #31 Thursday, March 13, 2008 12:49 PM
Then more to the point,close one app before editing with another.
Imzadi
Reply #32 Friday, March 14, 2008 8:37 PM
How do you save the file you're working on then?
Reply #32 Friday, March 14, 2008 8:37 PM
Actually the save option in the current SKS6 builds does nothing at all.
How do you save the file you're working on then?
ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #33 Friday, March 14, 2008 8:55 PM
Reply #33 Friday, March 14, 2008 8:55 PM
I only use SKS6 to edit with directly. But I find myself viewing things in SKS5 as with those colours you have referred too Fuzzy. Just change the highlight to the color you want and that does it. you had it at 202,202,202. I usually use SKS5 to brighten the color or make it darker and keep the same hue then copy the setting via the code viewer to the uis file at the proper place. Then save it with like notepad or such - I never use SKS5 to save any work for a WB6 file. It will for sure do damage to all sorts of stuff used in the wb.
I prefer using SKS6 and it is the best I've ever seen thus far. Code viewer is there... you just need to be in proper place to view the right code element. Oh ya it is quickier and easier to run off to SKS5 and get the easy fix. But that is just it I never save any work I fix there. I just search the uis files and if in some cases you use Vista there is a Vista.sss file that will need to be matched with that setting for you to see it.
Happy Skinning everyone!
SGT
I prefer using SKS6 and it is the best I've ever seen thus far. Code viewer is there... you just need to be in proper place to view the right code element. Oh ya it is quickier and easier to run off to SKS5 and get the easy fix. But that is just it I never save any work I fix there. I just search the uis files and if in some cases you use Vista there is a Vista.sss file that will need to be matched with that setting for you to see it.
Happy Skinning everyone!
SGT
ShelbyGT_The_Car
Reply #34 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:29 PM
Reply #34 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:29 PM
As it is I open both SKS6 and SKS5 with WB config. and my notepad++ all at the sametime to edit a skin.
I use SKS5 to help find code[if need be] and edit code with notepad++ [using search option to find the correct entry.] {this is really good if I make a mistake for I can use the undo feature also in notepad++} Then as I said with WB config open I can apply said code to see how it comes out. If it all works fine then there is no problems. If I need to go back well I've not saved anything with SKS5 just edited with notepad or made changes via SKS6. Changes with SKS6 are automatic and do not need to be saved and can also be applied directly from the program.
When editing I always try to logoff before I start and remove any programs running in the startup I will not need. Seems anytime I have GUI changes for WB with SKS it cause's problems I do not need by running said back ground programs. {even an antivirus or firewall. most times I'm working offline too!}
All this makes an edit or change much easier and with best results.
SGT
I use SKS5 to help find code[if need be] and edit code with notepad++ [using search option to find the correct entry.] {this is really good if I make a mistake for I can use the undo feature also in notepad++} Then as I said with WB config open I can apply said code to see how it comes out. If it all works fine then there is no problems. If I need to go back well I've not saved anything with SKS5 just edited with notepad or made changes via SKS6. Changes with SKS6 are automatic and do not need to be saved and can also be applied directly from the program.
When editing I always try to logoff before I start and remove any programs running in the startup I will not need. Seems anytime I have GUI changes for WB with SKS it cause's problems I do not need by running said back ground programs. {even an antivirus or firewall. most times I'm working offline too!}
All this makes an edit or change much easier and with best results.
SGT
vStyler
Reply #35 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:40 PM
Why is it there?
Anyway.. I think a nice addition would a open current skin option in main window, without having to go to File menu to choose that option.
Reply #35 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:40 PM
Actually the save option in the current SKS6 builds does nothing at all.
Why is it there?
Anyway.. I think a nice addition would a open current skin option in main window, without having to go to File menu to choose that option.
Cavan1
Reply #36 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:46 PM
It is there but it is not functioning.
Reply #36 Friday, March 14, 2008 9:46 PM
The ability to enable/disable Start Menu Shadow is now in SKS6.
It is there but it is not functioning.
eieio
Reply #37 Friday, March 14, 2008 10:10 PM
Well I guess it is a good thing I had already turned it off in SKS5
Reply #37 Friday, March 14, 2008 10:10 PM
It is there but it is not functioning.
Well I guess it is a good thing I had already turned it off in SKS5
Alternate Setting
Reply #38 Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:24 AM
Would some kind person flesh this out for me a little more ? I've not keyed in on how to benefit from this tip properly.
I've been left aligning the default 'More Programs Panel > Background' text until it moves out of range, then importing an image complete with text into the 'All Programs Arrow' range. As long as I properly align it and use tile instead of stretch, it seems okay. Mouseover state also appears to hold it's kerning etc..
The brown text is the actual text on the All Progams button that changes state on mouseover. The pink text is just the overlay text I've imported to compare for size.
Reply #38 Sunday, March 16, 2008 3:24 AM
Start menu all programs text fix - when you use an image to replace the all programs text, set the angle to 900 and it stops the all programs area stretching when foreign text is there (which messes up the image alignment).
Would some kind person flesh this out for me a little more ? I've not keyed in on how to benefit from this tip properly.
I've been left aligning the default 'More Programs Panel > Background' text until it moves out of range, then importing an image complete with text into the 'All Programs Arrow' range. As long as I properly align it and use tile instead of stretch, it seems okay. Mouseover state also appears to hold it's kerning etc..
The brown text is the actual text on the All Progams button that changes state on mouseover. The pink text is just the overlay text I've imported to compare for size.
I.R. Brainiac
Reply #39 Sunday, March 16, 2008 6:38 AM
Reply #39 Sunday, March 16, 2008 6:38 AM
Its the negative left content margin for the all progs background that shifts the text over 1 image state.(approx half the width negative of the backgrounds width)Do not touch the right content margin.
The arrow graphic must be exactly the same width as the background and be opaque(or the mouseover color will show thru in translucent areas)
Upper and lower content margins determine how tall your arrow graphic must be.
There can be NO semi-transparent pixels in either image parts that are within the content margins.You can have both opaque and totally blank areas at the same time.(like some empty space to the left of the menu,for SM's that dont sit on the screen edge)
Watch for stray pixels like shadows that might have extended left past the true edge of the menu.
Text angle of 900 just aligns the text vertically so different languages do not move the arrow around.(the arrow graphic covers what little would show if you didnt use an oversized arrow)
Test with large and small icons on the progs side because you may need to tweak the negative amount to work for both...final test with a different language...sometimes you just have to play with it to hit the sweet spot.
Slider is done this way and so far not one complaint ... cross fingers.
This was done in SKS5...I cant vouch for SKS6 or Vista.
The arrow graphic must be exactly the same width as the background and be opaque(or the mouseover color will show thru in translucent areas)
Upper and lower content margins determine how tall your arrow graphic must be.
There can be NO semi-transparent pixels in either image parts that are within the content margins.You can have both opaque and totally blank areas at the same time.(like some empty space to the left of the menu,for SM's that dont sit on the screen edge)
Watch for stray pixels like shadows that might have extended left past the true edge of the menu.
Text angle of 900 just aligns the text vertically so different languages do not move the arrow around.(the arrow graphic covers what little would show if you didnt use an oversized arrow)
Test with large and small icons on the progs side because you may need to tweak the negative amount to work for both...final test with a different language...sometimes you just have to play with it to hit the sweet spot.
Slider is done this way and so far not one complaint ... cross fingers.
This was done in SKS5...I cant vouch for SKS6 or Vista.
Alternate Setting
Reply #40 Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:04 AM
Reply #40 Sunday, March 16, 2008 7:04 AM
Many thanks IR, you're a star
I'd totally misinterpreted foreign as meaning any text that was imported to replace the default text - as opposed to foreign language. I've only just realised I've not even begun to get my head around those challenges yet.
I'd totally misinterpreted foreign as meaning any text that was imported to replace the default text - as opposed to foreign language. I've only just realised I've not even begun to get my head around those challenges yet.
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Reply #21 Monday, March 3, 2008 12:08 PM
Given a choice.. 5 is far easier imo. Quicker too.. not being able to click an image and go directly to the section is a massive drawback in 6 for me. Far too much navigating compared to click and there in 5.
Regardless.. thanlks to Neil for giving us what we have to use.