WB11/Skin studio 11 Request & Issues
Saturday, October 15, 2022 by SimplexDesigns | Discussion: WindowBlinds
Skin studio is a mess, it really needs an overhaul this time around. Actually organize it better and update the tutorial section so that new people looking into creating themes can actually know whats what. Its super dated and feels like it has not been touched since the windows vista era of skinning.
Im looking into updating one of my themes for windows 11. Currently working on making a dark style for it and I cant seem to find where the Toolbar in file explorer is pulling the texture from. I would have thought you guys would of added a new section in skin studio for it but it just seems to be doing as stated above.
Secondly, where do I change the black text where it says folders, drives etc... It seems to only change white when I select dark mode when applying the theme. This causes certain elements of my theme to darken and should not be doing so. When I asked about it, a stardock person says its working as intended and that I have to define dark mode stuff. I dont see anything in skin studio about it, only substyles which I have already tested and get this outcome. In the substyle management section of skin studio, there should be a "is dark mode?" button to define it. The dark mode causes more than just the titlebar to darken. The titlebar title text darkens along with some elements on the taskbar such as the notification button. It should not darken stuff if that option should be checkmarked in the substyle. Ruins parts of the theme.
Last thing, is the bottom statusbar no longer skinnable in wb11? It does not seem to be loading from the statusbars background section. Seems to be a solid color now.
(Normal mode)
(Dark mode applied in WB11)
Reply #2 Saturday, October 15, 2022 2:06 PM
Hm... "OldNewExplorer" app that was used for 10 changed a lot of things for the "better"... -I have to check out if it's been updated for Windows11.
Not so far. Anyone using the latest 22h2 build with explorer tabs will have a hard time changing the explorer at all.
I have to agree with SimplexDesigns, there is a lot to update for Window 11's changes and it would be nice if it were easier to do.
Reply #3 Saturday, October 15, 2022 2:26 PM
Skin studio is a mess, it really needs an overhaul this time around. Actually organize it better and update the tutorial section so that new people looking into creating themes can actually know whats what. Its super dated and feels like it has not been touched since the windows vista era of skinning.
Im looking into updating one of my themes for windows 11. Currently working on making a dark style for it and I cant seem to find where the Toolbar in file explorer is pulling the texture from. I would have thought you guys would of added a new section in skin studio for it but it just seems to be doing as stated above.
Secondly, where do I change the black text where it says folders, drives etc... It seems to only change white when I select dark mode when applying the theme. This causes certain elements of my theme to darken and should not be doing so. When I asked about it, a stardock person says its working as intended and that I have to define dark mode stuff. I dont see anything in skin studio about it, only substyles which I have already tested and get this outcome. In the substyle management section of skin studio, there should be a "is dark mode?" button to define it. The dark mode causes more than just the titlebar to darken. The titlebar title text darkens along with some elements on the taskbar such as the notification button. It should not darken stuff if that option should be checkmarked in the substyle. Ruins parts of the theme.
Last thing, is the bottom statusbar no longer skinnable in wb11? It does not seem to be loading from the statusbars background section. Seems to be a solid color now.
(Normal mode)

(Dark mode applied in WB11)

The dark text on the This PC bit on the right may be a bug as that should have flipped to white in that situation so we need to look into that.
For the statusbar, they are indeed just colours on Windows 11, but you can control this from the Statusbar section in SkinStudio under the extra settings tab.
Given your first screenshot I do need to mention something which is you should not be making a new skin or substyle for dark mode, you just need to edit an existing skin and also define the dark mode images (on the image tab) and colours on the text tabs. You also have some extra colours in the system colours page.
The top area on your window comes from one of a few places depending on the skin. Most modern skins would pull that from the window glass area images under per pixel frames. Note there is a light glass area 11 section which is specifically for light mode. This is VERY important if you are making a light mode skin on Win11 where you would traditionally have darker titlebar + glass areas as Win11 will use black text on that toolbar so we have to have an alternative image.
If your skin is older and lacks these sections, then the rebar background is typically used.
Reply #4 Saturday, October 15, 2022 3:07 PM
Well, I have done what you just said in order to set the background color for the status bar Neil, but it never works, also, both of the colors in the list say to set the background color in dark mode. Is there something else that needs to be done, like removing the image that is set (editing an existing skin made in SKS10).
Reply #5 Saturday, October 15, 2022 3:40 PM
Hmm.... I sincerely hope they haven't made the new SkinStudio TOO complicated.
Reply #6 Saturday, October 15, 2022 4:25 PM
Well, I have done what you just said in order to set the background color for the status bar Neil, but it never works, also, both of the colors in the list say to set the background color in dark mode. Is there something else that needs to be done, like removing the image that is set (editing an existing skin made in SKS10).
Are you using win11 with nothing like oldnewexplorer?
Reply #7 Saturday, October 15, 2022 5:10 PM
Well, I have done what you just said in order to set the background color for the status bar Neil, but it never works, also, both of the colors in the list say to set the background color in dark mode. Is there something else that needs to be done, like removing the image that is set (editing an existing skin made in SKS10).
Are you using win11 with nothing like oldnewexplorer?
Yes, I was using OldNewExplorer, but even when I Uninstall it and reboot, the problem still occurs, it stays white no matter what.
Reply #8 Saturday, October 15, 2022 6:24 PM
Yes, I was using OldNewExplorer, but even when I Uninstall it and reboot, the problem still occurs, it stays white no matter what.
I am not a fan of those types of programs myself. They make registry changes to your system and don't put them back the way they are supposed to be with a simple uninstall. You need to click all the options correctly first before you uninstall.
Reply #9 Sunday, October 16, 2022 2:08 AM
Hello. I upgraded WindowBlinds and Start, to version 11. In my run around, I can't seem to locate the updated Skinstudio 11. Can someone tell me, if the updated version is available yet? I was given a link when I paid, (fs), but it was as dead as my love for my ex-wife. Thank you for the cheat getting caught up. I appreciate it.
Reply #10 Sunday, October 16, 2022 4:36 AM
Hello. I upgraded WindowBlinds and Start, to version 11. In my run around, I can't seem to locate the updated Skinstudio 11. Can someone tell me, if the updated version is available yet? I was given a link when I paid, (fs), but it was as dead as my love for my ex-wife. Thank you for the cheat getting caught up. I appreciate it.
Hello,
The current version of Skinstudio 11 should be available in your product page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Reply #11 Sunday, October 16, 2022 6:08 AM
I recently upgraded to WB11 after trying it first, I like it! All was well until I updated windows 11 to 22H2, this caused a number of small issues, which I solved apart from 1: The clock font in the windows tray will not change to match the system font (I use Caladea) I've tried various skins, same issue, I've settled on the Grey Matters skin. I've used skin studio to check and change fonts that weren't set to Caladea, without success. I also use Start 11.
Any ideas (I know it's still in Beta)?
Reply #12 Sunday, October 16, 2022 1:44 PM
The current version of Skinstudio 11 should be available on your product page: https://store.stardock.com/myaccount/products
Ok products still only show the same version 10. Would there be some method to make it display properly? Or somewhere do I need to go to get it to show up? I still only display version 10 of Skin Studio 10 in My Downloads. This is in answer to what it should be of course.
Reply #13 Sunday, October 16, 2022 4:56 PM
I recently upgraded to WB11 after trying it first, I like it! All was well until I updated windows 11 to 22H2, this caused a number of small issues, which I solved apart from 1: The clock font in the windows tray will not change to match the system font (I use Caladea) I've tried various skins, same issue, I've settled on the Grey Matters skin. I've used skin studio to check and change fonts that weren't set to Caladea, without success. I also use Start 11.
Any ideas (I know it's still in Beta)?
I do not believe you can change that font in Windows 11.
Reply #14 Sunday, October 16, 2022 5:24 PM
Yes, I was using OldNewExplorer, but even when I Uninstall it and reboot, the problem still occurs, it stays white no matter what.
fwiw I see the same thing on Win10, Old New Explorer never having been installed. I hacked around on a trash skin quite a lot and didn't have any luck getting it to change. WBConfig "Light" setting gives it RGB 255/255/255, "Dark" setting gives it 127/127/127, even though I made sure RGB 255/255/255 didn't exist in either of the skin's color sections.
Reply #15 Monday, October 17, 2022 4:55 AM
Before updating to Win 11 22H2 I had the clock font displaying Caladea 28px time only, this was achieved by using SkinStudio.
It seems 22H2 has updated somthing in the task bar code of windows. Looking at the changes in the 22H2 update I see the following:
As part of the new features for Windows 11 22H2, Microsoft is expected to ship:
- New Start menu folders to group apps.
- New option to change the number of pins in the Start menu.
- Taskbar ability to drag and drop files and apps.
- Taskbar Overflow menu to hide apps that don’t fit.
- New Snap layouts drag and drop interface.
Reply #16 Monday, October 17, 2022 5:07 AM
Ok products
Only version 10 is there. Version 11 is not there as I stated in my original post. If it were there we would not have a problem BTW I would be using it. I am trying to find out why it is not listed there even though I bought WindowsBlinds 11 and it is registered on my page.
Reply #17 Monday, October 17, 2022 7:31 AM
Quoting basj,
reply 10
Ok products
Only version 10 is there. Version 11 is not there as I stated in my original post. If it were there we would not have a problem BTW I would be using it. I am trying to find out why it is not listed there even though I bought WindowsBlinds 11 and it is registered on my page.
First, please do not quote something that I do not write.
Second, please check if you use this step to check your product, does Windowblinds 11 appear in there? If not, it might be listed in different email address. Usually it will appear under your paypal email account if you purchased via paypal or it also common that have email address misspelled upon purchased.
Please raise support ticket using the link below, use the product not receive option. Include all information details. Remember to record down the ticket number for future reference if needed. Do not raise multiple ticket, that will make your ticket back to the end of the line. Send once and wait. Ticket will be answer by the order they send in.
https://stardock.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/4
Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Reply #18 Monday, October 17, 2022 10:33 AM
Hm... "OldNewExplorer" app that was used for 10 changed a lot of things for the "better"... -I have to check out if it's been updated for Windows11.
I also do not like the Auto/Light/Dark mode setting in WB config. I use dark mode but it changes the color of the frames and this is an issue when testing a skin. Also, I have to change to dark every time I change a skin. Pain in the ass.
Reply #20 Monday, October 17, 2022 3:55 PM
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Reply #1 Saturday, October 15, 2022 9:42 AM