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Default sizes for each part in SkinStudio?
Tuesday, May 6, 2003 by eieio | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Does anyone know if there is any info anywhere on the default size for each item? I would guess when you start with a new skin, the bits that are alrady there are the default size but some parts don't have an image such as Panel Item Background, Special Panel Main Content, etc.
Thanks
Thanks
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Sylva
Reply #2 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:37 AM
Reply #2 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:37 AM
There isn't actually a default size, just remember that the smaller the better (as long as it's not too small). Mostly the size depends on the design.
There is an article about optimizing skins for speed that goes into a little bit of detail about what sizes would be good. I don't remember where it was though. Anybody got as link to it still?
There is an article about optimizing skins for speed that goes into a little bit of detail about what sizes would be good. I don't remember where it was though. Anybody got as link to it still?
MikeB314
Reply #3 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:38 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:38 AM
I don't believe there is a list anywhere. The best thing to do is disect someone elses skin and see what sizes they used. Some images don't have 'default' sizes. Panel Item Background, for example, will stretch/tile depending on the size of the start menu icons, and the start menu items. The key there is to make something that looks right no matter what size it is.
BoXXi
Reply #4 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:40 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:40 AM
This has always been my biggest problem when skinning window blinds. There is no documentation stating the optimum size for any particular graphical component in WB. The only thing you can do is open a skin that has the component you need to make, and see what size that author used. The nearest thing you will find is that tutorial by Aleksyander, which is linked in that thread at the top of the main message board. He gives some sizes in that tutorial, but because it was made a while ago, it doesn't include a lot of the newer stuff.
Also, I think one of the reasons for the lack of documentation on this is that there is no set size for many of the components, and it depends whether you are going to tile or stretch the image.
Well, that's how it looks to me....but I'm no expert. I'm just an artist dammit! [tm].
Also, I think one of the reasons for the lack of documentation on this is that there is no set size for many of the components, and it depends whether you are going to tile or stretch the image.
Well, that's how it looks to me....but I'm no expert. I'm just an artist dammit! [tm].
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #6 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:41 AM
Reply #6 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:41 AM
If you're using a pattern make it big and use stretch, if it's plain make it small and use tile.
DarkMist
Reply #7 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:42 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:42 AM
Isn't tiling better all round? thought stretching slowed it down
BoXXi
Reply #8 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:43 AM
Reply #8 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:43 AM
Hey! I was right! there's a first. If Mike agrees with me, it must be right, 'cos he is an expert!
BoXXi
Reply #9 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:44 AM
Reply #9 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:44 AM
Yes DM.... one of the golden rules is to always tile where you can, it makes the skin faster apparently.
knatzz
Reply #11 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:49 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:49 AM
some of the images in the default skin are tiled, so their sizes are very small. the best thing to do is find a skin that resembles what you are trying to do and open the images in your graphics editor of choice to see how big they are. I don't think there is a default size list anywhere. If you find one, let me know 
werewolf
Reply #13 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:52 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:52 AM
I'm kind of amazed that more folks don't know about this:
http://www.windowblinds.net/skinning/
It has a whole section on optimizing skins as well as a plethora of really great and usefule information on how to make skins.
http://www.windowblinds.net/skinning/
It has a whole section on optimizing skins as well as a plethora of really great and usefule information on how to make skins.
Fuzzy Logic
Reply #15 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:55 AM
Reply #15 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:55 AM
Tile is faster but if you are using a large non-repeating pattern tile won't work, so stretch!
Sylva
Reply #16 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:58 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:58 AM
I wasn't talking about a list of optimum sizes. It was more of a guideline. I forget who wrote it, I think it might have been the same guy who made the SkinBench program, but I don't remember.
I lost all my old bookmarks so I'll have to go digging for it again. The whole thing was actually about making the skins faster, but there was a little bit of info on image sizes too.
I lost all my old bookmarks so I'll have to go digging for it again. The whole thing was actually about making the skins faster, but there was a little bit of info on image sizes too.
BoXXi
Reply #18 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:59 AM
Reply #18 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:59 AM
This is a cut and paste from part of Aleksyandr's tutorial:
The first image we'll go over is the one for the taskbar, toolbar and system buttons. The bitmap for these buttons in the Tutorial folder is: buttons_system.bmp
Hopefully from the preview it is clear where in Windows you'd find each set of buttons. The toolbar buttons (circled in red) are located on the quicklaunch bar (on Windows 9x/2000, not XP) and on some windows, such as Windows Explorer and My Computer (the file, edit, help, etc. buttons). The taskbar buttons (blue) are the ones located across the taskbar (on Windows 9x/2000, not XP). And the system buttons (green) are most everywhere else, in dialog boxes (such as the one asking if you'd like to save your file before closing the program) and other miscellaneous windows, such as Display Properties or File Options.
The bitmap for these elements uses all five button states, as described in Part One.
In some of my skins, I use the same design for these three elements, but it is possible to use different designs for the taskbar, toolbar and system buttons. It just depends on what your particular design calls for. If you wanted a different design for all three elements, then you would have three different bitmaps, but they must all contain the five image states.
Suggested Bitmap Size: 375 (width) x 23 (height) (five states of 75 x 23 each), if the part being stretched or tiled has some detail on it (such as gradients). The buttons used in this exercise are only a solid color in the center, however, which is why the bitmap for them is so small.
You will se he has a suggested bitmap size. He does this for most sections, but as I said previously, the newer stuff isn't covered.
The first image we'll go over is the one for the taskbar, toolbar and system buttons. The bitmap for these buttons in the Tutorial folder is: buttons_system.bmp
Hopefully from the preview it is clear where in Windows you'd find each set of buttons. The toolbar buttons (circled in red) are located on the quicklaunch bar (on Windows 9x/2000, not XP) and on some windows, such as Windows Explorer and My Computer (the file, edit, help, etc. buttons). The taskbar buttons (blue) are the ones located across the taskbar (on Windows 9x/2000, not XP). And the system buttons (green) are most everywhere else, in dialog boxes (such as the one asking if you'd like to save your file before closing the program) and other miscellaneous windows, such as Display Properties or File Options.
The bitmap for these elements uses all five button states, as described in Part One.
In some of my skins, I use the same design for these three elements, but it is possible to use different designs for the taskbar, toolbar and system buttons. It just depends on what your particular design calls for. If you wanted a different design for all three elements, then you would have three different bitmaps, but they must all contain the five image states.
Suggested Bitmap Size: 375 (width) x 23 (height) (five states of 75 x 23 each), if the part being stretched or tiled has some detail on it (such as gradients). The buttons used in this exercise are only a solid color in the center, however, which is why the bitmap for them is so small.
You will se he has a suggested bitmap size. He does this for most sections, but as I said previously, the newer stuff isn't covered.
Sylva
Reply #19 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 8:04 AM
Reply #19 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 8:04 AM
Found it. I must have seen the size info somewhere else because it’s not on this one like I thought it was. But you may still find it helpful anyway.
http://www.greenreaper.btinternet.co.uk/wboptimisess.htm
http://www.greenreaper.btinternet.co.uk/wboptimisess.htm
eieio
Reply #20 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 10:05 AM
Reply #20 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 10:05 AM
Wow, thanks guys. A lot of good suggestions there.
I had seen the tutorial when I first started but it was kinda confusing but now that I'm more familiar with skinning I'll have to go back and read it again.
Checking out the bits added by other skinners is good too. I'm sure I've got some that have the Start Panel Item Background.
You guys are great
A lot of good suggestions there. I had seen the tutorial when I first started but it was kinda confusing but now that I'm more familiar with skinning I'll have to go back and read it again.
Checking out the bits added by other skinners is good too. I'm sure I've got some that have the Start Panel Item Background.
You guys are great
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Reply #1 Tuesday, May 6, 2003 7:30 AM
bump