As far as I know we are still limited!

execept on vista

Thanks Tim!

bummer, thanks

wimpy, you are limited to using a bmp in XP.  But, I don't even use buttons anymore.  I just use the glyphs...entails a lot of magic pink, but at least I don't have to look at square buttons.  However, if you make per pixel frames, your skinned mdibuttons will not show up.  The classic menubar and mdibuttons are used from the classic colors section...so, in that instance, you will have those yucky default buttons.

and I'm coming from the other side and not using the glyphs at all. So, I figured that if I use black as the rebar color that that might work, unfortunatly not all programs will let one skin the rebar so, back to the drawing board.

wimpy, are you using per pixel frames?  If you are, there is no way to get rid of the default classic mdibuttons.  The skinned menubar and mdibuttons are not used with per pixel frames.  Instead, the classic menubar and mdibuttons are used.  Those midi buttons get their color from the classic button face color.

In regular frames (not per pixel), you have to use a bmp image.  If you are wanting to use a round shape for those buttons, I am thinking you can, but you have to use magic pink to fill in the spaces around the buttons.  Just make sure the buttons, including the space around each button measures exactly the size that is called for: 15 x 15 pixels for each button.

another early bird?

ah, and that raises a couple of questions.

so, if I set my per pixel frames and buttons to "none" then I will override the default settings and then I can skin the rebar and mdibuttons, of say excel? Is this also impacted by other perpixel graphics (logoffdialog/shutdowndialog, etc).

and, I'm wondering what the advantage of using per pixel frames would be unless one is making a non-standard shaped frame. ( sudden thought, my borders are usually 10 pixel height/width, w/out per pixel they would be limited to 4 pixels, I think?)

when I make "magic pink" rounded objects they are fairly jagged. bluring or feathering leaves me with a off-pink edge that looks terrible. this is also the big reason I haven't attempted any animations as I end up with pink edges. do you have a possible work around to eliminate "pink edge" (sort of like the "blue screen of death")

If you choose not to use the per pixel frames, then the skinned menu bar and mdibuttons will be used.  You are still bound by the bmp for the mdibuttons though. 

Per pixel frames allow you to have smoother edges on your window frames, allows for shadows around the frame, and allows for different size widths on the sides.  Plus you can use pngs for the images....SKS will convert them to tga's for you.  Before I started making per pixel frames, I made my sides as wide as 12 pixels...the key here is that both sides have to be the same width, and you have to use bmp images for the entire window frame.

I make all my animations, using pngs...I make the images in paint shop pro, then use Animation Shop to assemble the frames and make the avi. 

With the logoffs/shutdowns, the buttons have to be bmps, with each button being exactly 33 x 33 pixels.  The size of those screens should be sorta the same size as the default size.  The Please Wait Screen can be any size you want it to be.

I sure hope I haven't confused you more!

[quote/]With the logoffs/shutdowns, the buttons have to be bmps, with each button being exactly 33 x 33 pixels.  The size of those screens should be sorta the same size as the default size.[quote]

The positioning of the cancel and shutdown button on the logoff/shutdown panel cannot be moved, so you have to keep that in mind when you design the panel.

even though I have been doing this for a few years I continue to learn better ways to do things of improve what little I do actuall know so, I do understand what your saying, thank you all.

that's good to hear, I'm using the same programs. I will approach this from a different perspective my next attempt.

In my experience, even when skinned mdi buttons are displayed (when frames are non-perpixel), they still don't behave correctly in apps like Excel & Word - the default/normal state is correct but mouseover & pressed states don't display as set in SkinStudio.  The 'normal' image remains on mouseover & the 'mouseover' image is displayed when the button is pressed.  The 'pressed' image never appears.

I discovered that a long time ago too.  I just lived with it.  I use per pixel frames now, so I don't even see the mdibuttons.  And, Microsoft Office is not real friendly with being skinned in the first place.  It uses the window frame, and then uses it's own stuff for everything else. 

wimpy, feel free to dig into one of my recent blinds to see how I do things.  I know I always learn better visually.  Good luck!

They don't display the correct states even in other apps here, not just Office.  And, yup, no choice but to live with it.

thanks all and Jazzy I will do that, I do have a couple of your blinds in my inventory.