What A Challenge!
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 by 3java3 | Discussion: OS Customization
I am working on my first Windowblind. I may have thought Curtains was a challenge to start with, but nothing quite like working on a blind in SkinStudio. There were times in the past when was I was discouraged, and intimidated by the perceived complexity of SkinStudio, and I would give up. But the time is ripe now for me to get over that and take a risk.
But I am having some issues and difficulties. For one, there is a field of black around a dialog box, and what did I do to cause that, and how to fix that? All I did was recolor and modify a frame.
I am just taking things slow and not rushing things. This may take some time in order for me to understand what to do and how to do it. I am using paint.net. I do not have access to photoshop, which to my understanding is complicated and expensive. I am comfortable with paint.net, even though I am sure that it has its limitations.
I am starting this learning experience with a tweaked and modified and jazzed up Diamond, to see what I can do. We'll see what happens in the next few weeks.
And yes, I'm trying to break my habit of doing this after a sentence....................oops, I did it again, lol!
Thanks to any and all for any suggestions. I guess trial and error is the best way to learn. I tried going over the tutorial, but I think I do best to just dig in, start the process, and experiment.
Thanks and have a great day!
Reply #2 Tuesday, March 21, 2023 2:55 PM
Here is a screenshot. Just a basic skin, I think. Not advanced, not UIS2.
I am Windows 10, version 1903. SkinStudio is version 10.1.
Reply #3 Tuesday, March 21, 2023 3:02 PM
You might want to give Corel Paint Shop Pro a try. Much less complicated than PhotoShop and much, much less expensive It's available from Corel for $60.00. I've never used Paint, but I'm confident that Paint Shop Pro is a much more powerful program. There's a trial or at least a money back period for you to try it out.
Reply #5 Tuesday, March 21, 2023 6:50 PM
Hello, Lightstar. I am using SkinStudio 10.1 and Paint.Net 4.3.12
Reply #6 Tuesday, March 21, 2023 8:38 PM
Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Maybe you can share the wba file so we can look into what is the issue with those frame.
Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.
Reply #7 Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:19 AM
Hmmm... Paint.Net 4.3.12? Sorry, I've never heard of it myself. Most people use Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.
I guess the best thing to do would be too do what basj recommends in Reply #6.
Reply #8 Wednesday, March 22, 2023 8:25 AM
Hmmm... Paint.Net 4.3.12? Sorry, I've never heard of it myself. Most people use Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro.
I guess the best thing to do would be too do what basj recommends in Reply #6.
or gimp. gimp worked well for me back then when I had no money for a paint app.
I used paint.net as well. I think its just the way he saved the png/bmp files.
Reply #9 Wednesday, March 22, 2023 9:49 AM
Affinity hav great Graphics-Programs for reasonable prices, too.
Reply #10 Wednesday, March 22, 2023 11:00 AM
Hm, I thought "GIMP" was the closest to Photoshop....and it's Free ! 
Reply #11 Wednesday, March 22, 2023 1:11 PM
basj, I emailed the .wba file to support@stardock.com
Reply #12 Thursday, March 23, 2023 11:39 AM
I got it. And I think it is because you export those frame incorrectly. The transparent area around the frame don't show up properly. Check your export setting.
Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Reply #13 Thursday, March 23, 2023 1:32 PM
How do I check for a export setting? Here's a screen:
First, I edit the image. I skip the "build high dpi image" button. The next button says import, which brings up a import file dialog box, where I choose the file to import into Skinstudio. Is that where I am making a mistake?
Reply #14 Thursday, March 23, 2023 8:39 PM
What I mean was export setting on your graphics program.
I am using Adobe Firework. So the setting will be different. But, I do believe, most capable graphics program have something in there for this setting. Usually, for me I export my graphics in PNG32 format. Once that is save. I just use Quick import from Skinstudio.
Thank you,
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant
Reply #15 Thursday, March 23, 2023 9:46 PM
Unfortunately, that feature is hidden and not easily found on paint.net or it simply isn't there. In the past, I played around with GIMP, but I wasn't able to feel comfortable with it, like I am with paint.net. I might have to reconsider that idea, and give GIMP another try. It did occur to me that perhaps part of the problem is having two copies of the same file in the same place, the original, as well as a modified one. Maybe not, but that may explain some of the glitches. The start button that I tried to reuse in a different way from it's original use in Curtains, well, that won't fly. I will have to do something different. And keep tinkering. Or junk it, and start from scratch and try again. We'll see what happens.
Reply #16 Thursday, March 23, 2023 10:10 PM
Unfortunately, that feature is hidden and not easily found on paint.net or it simply isn't there. In the past, I played around with GIMP, but I wasn't able to feel comfortable with it, like I am with paint.net. I might have to reconsider that idea, and give GIMP another try. It did occur to me that perhaps part of the problem is having two copies of the same file in the same place, the original, as well as a modified one. Maybe not, but that may explain some of the glitches. The start button that I tried to reuse in a different way from it's original use in Curtains, well, that won't fly. I will have to do something different. And keep tinkering. Or junk it, and start from scratch and try again. We'll see what happens.
Its not hidden in paint.net see below:
When you go to file > Save As > Make sure that you set the bit depth to 32 like what basj suggested. Import that image into skin studio and make sure to have "this image uses transparency" button ticked in skin studio.
Reply #17 Friday, March 24, 2023 1:53 PM
I decided to trash the .wba file I was working on, and start over. I wanted to edit part of a UIS2 frame, when I got this error message on paint.net.
As a beginner, I am wondering if I should avoid the UIS2 frame business.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, March 21, 2023 2:33 PM
You would need to post a screenshot of the issue(s) 3java3.
Oh, and are they in the per pixel frames area or the UIS2 ones?