looks like there is a possible of 7 images with a separate right side expanded or a total of 8. Kitty knows more about this than I do but since this is your first skin you may want to consider keeping it to the standard 5 images until you get your feet wet.

I use PSP but PS shouldn't be that much different. You'll probably want to have transparency somewhere (or not) and that will require an alpha channel. I usually create my alpha channel (either from selection or mask (then save as an alpha channel)) then encompass those portions with the selection tool and then crop from the entire image. you save the image to the "temppngs" folder in your wb as a png. when you import the png it will be save for the wb and a tga file. go back to your original graphic, hit ctrl-z and you image should be whole once again. repeat the process as necessary.

this should be a save file as option. you're converting your file to a png when saving it.

Use the loaded graphics as a guide and from that experiment, save and apply to checkout the results.

https://forums.wincustomize.com/337992

May help

dc the userpane is one piece not cut in half, that black line down the centre obviously was not supposed to cover the user pane and the startpanel log off area. (the bottom part)

the bottom part is also one piece not two.

png image is like white and grey checkers it has no colour and is transparent when you create a new file in photoshop you can choose transparent as your background, this is also known as png and when you save it after you have finished working on your startmenu you also save it as a png.

for taskbar size. depends what os you are skinnning, xp and vista 30pixels. windows 7 45 to about 49 pixels.

system tray is default size (from the diamond template in skinstudio and will match the template you use for the taskbar in skinstudio.)

i highly recommend you use templates from either diamond or other skins

try not to worry to much about sizes of things. the templates you use from other skins cover that for you okay?

If you need my help Pm me ANY TIME i will help you create a window blind no worries at all.

huggles.

Kitty.

its nice to see people using MY tutorial, all the hard work and effort creating it was worth it, and also huge thanks to GMC2 for converting it into the wikki  he rocks... xxx

stayhard \m/

thanks to you both Now I have to go lean about alpha channel be back maybe soon 

EDIT when I posted this one I did not see Kitty's reply yet

just so you know I was not ignoring gmc 2

Kitty is 100% correct

Dont worry about it... Just save your images as png's and import them into SkinStudio (SKS)....  if it is a png check the box that says..................................... this image uses Transparency

DC...if you dont understand anything, just ask, and if you still dont understand ask again...you wont look stupid, just keep asking until you truly get it. cause windowblinds are really rewarding to skin, and its not as hard as people think. you just have to work it out, or get it explained to you, when the penny drops...it fucking drops!!! lol

xx

@ kitty thanks

so, I am clear I would (from the image above) use 3-6-7-8-9

here's my start-menu I put it on a RED background to show the CUTS 

By [URL=http://profile.imageshack.us/user/disturbedcomputer]disturbedcomputer[/URL] at 2011-10-27

Is this right and I can use the one with Trans set too?

thanks Sorry it took so long to reply

thanks cool .. sorry it took so long to reply

I'm sure I'll have

just a note from my reply 7  the red line is the one I did cut and the Background is showing through.

oh I'm naming it (Lucky Strike) after my WP, LS, and Dream I have up now

in case you would like to know..

thanks

this is going to be fun and Hair pulling all at the same time

Don't forget the ouches. They count too ya know. lol

i am stuck on band-aid cause band-aid is stuck on me

yep you can use the transparency one, when you import those images into skinstudio, hit the extra settings tab, scroll down till you see

background settings, click on it, and on the right you see 3 options,

no transparency

semi transparency

blur

pick either semi or blur

make sure you do this on all the main parts of the startmenu.

top part (userpane), places list, programs list, allprogramsbackground, and bottom bar

i like the name....lucky strike used to be a brand i smoked... loved them.

xx

oh and the startmenu looks VERY FUCKING COOL might i add....... looks like we got another wb competitior..when will you people learn and stop inventing cool stuff to top us with?????????? LOL

Kickin´ DC !! 

You've got an awsome skin going on there DC. Keep at it and I'm sure it will be smokin'. -- Ace --

thanks V

Thank you AceMatrix 

ah, fonder days, ditto here. (lucky strike, no strike back)

DC, looks like the all programs graphic is pretty tall, can't be over 25 pixels in height.

ok thanks I got it at 30 I am following Vampothika Tutorial she has Max at 30.. now I am stuck so can it be 30?

DC, senior moment here, I had to go back and dig up a post that had this addressed. seems 30 is maximum and for some reason I have been keeping mine at 25, why, I don't know.