I was beginning to think along the same lines. Then for those who are bothered by it, there would be an alternate start menu. Right now, it seems that may be the best.

Thanks everyone for all the help and input!

Can you provide a start-to-finish tutorial (or atleast a few images) to show how to create a PATTERNED start panel and taskbars? Its kind of hard to follow some of the suggestions mentioned here. Also, I've tried using the Layers option but no matter which blending mode I chose, it doesn't seem to effect the image at all (there's no difference when I add a layer or not). Can you also explain this feature? I'd really appreciate it.

I'd better wait and see how this turns out before I create a tutorial. Besides, this blind I'm working on is only my second attempt. Surely there is someone else out there with far greater experience than I who has mastered such a thing and is far more qualified to write such a tutorial.

But thanks for thinking I am capable.

Brian this is going to be a cool blind man! I like it!

ablebodied..... I know you have had a couple of posts about some of these things ,SKS6 is constantly updated so up to date tutorials just aren,t out there very much you kinda find them 1 at a time.The best way to understand SKS6 is to download a skin from a WC Master or at least a highly rated skin similar to your taste open it in SKS6 and look how it was put together this is how most of us started.More recent the skin the more likely to have all the features.

Here is a link to a layering tutorial I did maybe it will help at least on the layering LINK

WHat AV said. Trial and error.. better be willing to put in the learning hours if you plan to make WB skins.. its very time consuming.

I second all of it!

Thanks for the tutorial link. I'm alittle confused tho. On the section where you discuss the vertical tray layer.

My question is: Is the vertical tray a completely seperate image from the main image you were using, or did u simply add it to the main image in photoshop (thus creating a new single image with the vertical tray added to it? I ask because i've tried adding a seperate image on top of the main image in the Layers tab, but there's no option in that tab to choose a different image to add to the main image. It only offers Blending Modes as layers.

I would post pics of what I mean, but tho I uploaded pics to imageshack, I cant insert them to this site (for whatever reason).

ablebodied.. goto that tutorial and I will explain! I don,t want to hijack Mirsguy's thread

ok, going now

This is what I have so far

Here's what I have so far

 I created everything (background, taskbar, startbutton, start panel) from scratch using CS2. Im still not pleased with it tho. but it's a start.

Your going to find with different start menu configs, those default state images on left will not line up.

It can be done.. but its tricky and not something I'd advise for a new skinner.

Then tell me how they will. That's why I want to LEARN how each feature in SKS works so I can make a Visual Style that works. Ppl keep telling me to play with the options and thru trial and error, to basically figure it out on my own. Thats what I did. And I appreciate your insight. But I dont want to be a "new" skinner for long. I want to be an expert. So if you know how it CAN be done, then teach me how. Otherwise, telling me 'it wont work', ISN'T going to be of any use to me.

In any case, it's working on MY pc, and for the time being, that's good enough for me.  But I WOULD appreciate it if you help me.

Sure it will .. or do you want to waste more time doing things that wont work?  

I'm trying to help you in the amount of time I can alott to doing it.

As far as teach.. only so many hours in the day my friend and I spent 12-20 of those working.

previous to that for year's I spent similar amounts of time ..learning.. trial and error. For many years before I even joined this forum. My first theme I spent 9 solid months on.

I may be an extreme case but realistically its how most skinners learn which is why its been suggested by everyone.

I'd invest a more significant amount of time in trial and error before you can say.. it's difficult..will someone teach me.

As I have said before this is a large investment of time. I'm not trying ot be harsh and don't take it personally please.

I do teach a few people privately.. I personally just can't spend more time than I already do on the forums... only offer advice as I feel I can.

One of those being telling skinners when something can't be done so they dont keep try doing it and wonder why it won't work.

To use an analogy.. there is no get rich quick scheme.  I understand the thirst to learn.. I am just trying to convey that this is something that is going to entail a lot of on the job time to improve dramatically... quickly.

Great looking Start Menu Mirsguy, love it!  Like vStyler said, it is going to be really tough using your text and paint margins to get thinks to look good on brushed metal though, but it can be done.  Trial and error is about the only way, just keep on trying.  After almost 8 years of skinning, I still have to use it on some occasions to get something to line up and look good. 

Thanks, LightStar! So far, the brushed metal and carbon fibre are playing nicely. I've assembled the entire taskbar, startmenu, and window frames by now, though I think I'm a gonna tweak the frames a bit...

4give me for coming off rudely. I just really want to learn. If there was a skinstudio for dummies, i'd be the first one to buy one. in any case, i appreciate ur assistance.

Actually, I think I would have beaten 'ya to it!

vStyler is right. It takes time and desire. His first took him 9 months. My first took me 7 months. My second one (the one in the screenshot) has taken 2 weeks so far, and I'm nowhere near done!

Really, you just need to crack into Skin Studio and PLAY! Don't lose sight of the fun of it! And examining other skins, especially those created by Masters, is a great way to learn.

It hit me after beginning this post that there is another skin out there with a very intricate pattern throughout. I have been studying that one, and it has been an immense help.

can u post a link to that "intricate" skin so i can examine it aswell?