WindowFX 2 released!
Monday, September 30, 2002 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
WindowFX is part of Stardock's Object Desktop suite but it is also available on its own.Version 1 was the first program to really make use of Win2K's transparency effects and introduced PC users to alpha blended shadows.
WindowFX 2 features include:
* True, alpha blended shadows under windows (and it's skinnable - you can make your own shadows or make shadows part of your WindowBlinds skin and have WindowFX use them).
* A set of minimize and maximize transition effects
* A set of window opening and closing effects
* Ability to have large icons on the desktop while having normal sized icons everywhere else
* Ability to apply light sources to different coordinates on the desktop that colorize titlebar/borders of windows*
* Wide range of semi-transparency options such as making windows, the star bar, menus, and more semi-transparent
* Various special effects for Windows desktop icons and their labels
* A set of special effects for menus when opened and closed
* User defined size for windows to maximize to.
* Able to add more transition special effects and shadows created by users
and more!
You can download WindowFX at https://www.stardock.com/products/windowfx
Frogboy
Reply #2 Monday, September 30, 2002 4:25 PM
Reply #2 Monday, September 30, 2002 4:25 PM
ATI Radeons work the best right now but it also works pretty well on Geforce cards (nVidia is working on their drivers to accelerate WindowFX even more) too if you're running 32bit color.
[email protected]
Reply #3 Monday, September 30, 2002 4:29 PM
Reply #3 Monday, September 30, 2002 4:29 PM
Here's what we know...
At this precise moment in time, for the Best quality mode, it tends to work best with ATI RADEON 8500/9000 boards (the 9700 drivers have some issues based on feedback we've received. The Matrox G400/550 boards also work well.
NVIDIA is very much a system-by-system basis right now. We've patched and fixed and worked around as many things as we can for Best mode and on some machines it'll work perfectly. On others, you'll need to use the fall back mode. We are working with NVIDIA and others to update their driver support/speed for 2000/XP features.
At this precise moment in time, for the Best quality mode, it tends to work best with ATI RADEON 8500/9000 boards (the 9700 drivers have some issues based on feedback we've received. The Matrox G400/550 boards also work well.
NVIDIA is very much a system-by-system basis right now. We've patched and fixed and worked around as many things as we can for Best mode and on some machines it'll work perfectly. On others, you'll need to use the fall back mode. We are working with NVIDIA and others to update their driver support/speed for 2000/XP features.
kith
Reply #7 Monday, September 30, 2002 8:37 PM
Reply #7 Monday, September 30, 2002 8:37 PM
So you guys have spoken to nVidia and they have commited to developing a better set of drivers for 2d apps! That is great, I guess we will have to wait and see what they come up with. 
chichigirl46
Reply #8 Monday, September 30, 2002 9:35 PM
Reply #8 Monday, September 30, 2002 9:35 PM
Is the nVida driver the reason for WXP problems with the transparent icon background and icon text?
Other then the icon transparent problems I have that are important to me, WFX is really a awesome program
Other then the icon transparent problems I have that are important to me, WFX is really a awesome program
Frogboy
Reply #9 Monday, September 30, 2002 10:40 PM
Reply #9 Monday, September 30, 2002 10:40 PM
I made a brief video with the morphing in action:
https://www.stardock.com/video/windowfx1.wmv
https://www.stardock.com/video/windowfx1.wmv
chichigirl46
Reply #10 Monday, September 30, 2002 11:52 PM
Reply #10 Monday, September 30, 2002 11:52 PM
Would some one please click on my name and view the problem I have had with transparent icon text and background...... I'm just asking for an explanation, is it me or is it WFX? I'm not complaining, I just have not been able to get an answer.... Thank You
jarget
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 2:59 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 2:59 AM
Hey Frogboy, what happened to the "Treat start menu as menu" in the menu animations options. It was in one of the early alphas and I liked it.
Lord Vimal
Reply #12 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 5:04 AM
Reply #12 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 5:04 AM
FROGBOY!
the video was cool...
which graphics card u used???
the video was cool...
which graphics card u used???
chichigirl46
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 7:40 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 7:40 AM
Maybe you ought to have moshi's link posted on the front page for all those that have had this icon transparent issue..........
A big thanks goes to moshi
A big thanks goes to moshi
Frogboy
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 11:46 AM
Reply #15 Tuesday, October 1, 2002 11:46 AM
I did that on a 1Ghz Dell machine with a Geforce card with the Detonator 40 drivers.
CheeseCow
Reply #16 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 2:46 AM
Reply #16 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 2:46 AM
Does that mean that the 40 drivers are okay on windows XP? Because I don't seem to get as fluid anymation as you had... 
Do you have a database of some sorts where you list what combinations that are good? Yeah, I love the new WFX icon, it really needed a new one
Do you have a database of some sorts where you list what combinations that are good? Yeah, I love the new WFX icon, it really needed a new one
CasonBang
Reply #17 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 7:15 AM
Reply #17 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 7:15 AM
Users can make their own shadows and effects? Does this mean a new section on WinCustomize for WinFX?
paxx
Reply #18 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 8:42 AM
Reply #18 Wednesday, October 2, 2002 8:42 AM
Nakor said: "At this precise moment in time, for the Best quality mode, it tends to work best with ATI RADEON 8500/9000 boards (the 9700 drivers have some issues based on feedback we've received. The Matrox G400/550 boards also work well."
Why then does the WindowFX performance advice tell me:
"The lack of per pixel alpha blending will decrease the performance of shadow skins and some open/close animations.
The Matrox G400/450/550 series does not currently have drivers which support per pixel alpha blending."
I have the latest Matrox drivers, downloaded from their site...
Why then does the WindowFX performance advice tell me:
"The lack of per pixel alpha blending will decrease the performance of shadow skins and some open/close animations.
The Matrox G400/450/550 series does not currently have drivers which support per pixel alpha blending."
I have the latest Matrox drivers, downloaded from their site...
[email protected]
Reply #19 Thursday, October 3, 2002 3:25 PM
Reply #19 Thursday, October 3, 2002 3:25 PM
I was talking about the transitions for minimize/restore. The open/close window animations make use of other functions. In the specific example above, the lack of per pixel support with the Matrox will make the shadows and fade animation effects slower.
Christian Weigert
Reply #20 Saturday, January 4, 2003 3:42 PM
Reply #20 Saturday, January 4, 2003 3:42 PM
I can't seen to find anywhere if the ATI Radeon 7200 has any drivers that support per-pixel alpha blending. anyone know for sure?
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Reply #1 Monday, September 30, 2002 4:06 PM