SkinStudio
Saturday, July 3, 2004 by Csurfside | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Please list a link to a good tutorial for SkinStudio to help me get started. I have version 4.3 
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Essencay
Reply #43 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:11 PM
Reply #43 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:11 PM
In SKS, when you are at your Horizontal Tray image, in the center box at the bottom, below the Show Frame ComboBox and PaintMode ComboBox are two checkboxes, one for tanslucent and one for transparent, both of these need to be checked for tga images, or black will show where the image is supposed to be transparent. Also remember to set your margins for your images. Not setting margins or using the default settings may distort your image.
Essencay
Reply #44 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:19 PM
Reply #44 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:19 PM
csurfside...I've got to take care of some other business 
may not be back tonight. Hopefully you've figured this out or maybe someone else can step in for a bit.
may not be back tonight. Hopefully you've figured this out or maybe someone else can step in for a bit.
SelfExiled
Reply #45 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 9:03 PM
Reply #45 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 9:03 PM
Okay, here is what you want to do.
Open Skin Studio, click tools at the top bar, and then preferences. Then click editing and image editors. You will see the add button, click it and then locate your PSP8 executable file. Once you have PSP added move it to the top. Then, put a check box in "convert TGA files to png before editing."
Now, whenever you double click a image it will open in PSP8. If it is a tga file, it will be converted to PNG automatically. Once you finish editing it, just click save in your PSP. Then, you need to save your WB skin and the modified PNG will automatically update back to TGA in SKin Studio with the modifications.
Open Skin Studio, click tools at the top bar, and then preferences. Then click editing and image editors. You will see the add button, click it and then locate your PSP8 executable file. Once you have PSP added move it to the top. Then, put a check box in "convert TGA files to png before editing."
Now, whenever you double click a image it will open in PSP8. If it is a tga file, it will be converted to PNG automatically. Once you finish editing it, just click save in your PSP. Then, you need to save your WB skin and the modified PNG will automatically update back to TGA in SKin Studio with the modifications.
Csurfside
Reply #46 Thursday, July 8, 2004 5:45 AM
Reply #46 Thursday, July 8, 2004 5:45 AM
Ok, I will go try. Boy I hope this works. I swear I had nightmares all night last night trying to think of what I did wrong. In my nightmare I kept Cutting and Pasting the Horizontal tray button. I better be able to figure this one out before tonight. My girlfriend asked me what I was tossing and turning for, When I told her about the button she just laughed at me. I told her it's passion for my hobby. lol
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Csurfside
Reply #47 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:01 AM
Reply #47 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:01 AM
Oh great. Please have patience with me. Ok I started to do what you described ChaUGC One problem How do I know what is the excutable file for PSP 8 please help me. WIll it matter if I click the wronfg file trying to find it. Is there a path you can give me. I assume it's in the PSP directory somewhere. 
Dont give up on me ChasUGC. I will be rolling once these few things are worked out. Heck I already have good designs waiting to be applied.
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Dont give up on me ChasUGC. I will be rolling once these few things are worked out. Heck I already have good designs waiting to be applied.
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Csurfside
Reply #48 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:19 AM
Reply #48 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:19 AM
Ok scratch the last remarks I figured out the excutable file deal. Let me go try the button now as you decribed before and I will return with the outcome.
Csurfside
Reply #49 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:35 AM
Reply #49 Thursday, July 8, 2004 6:35 AM
Ok, It still didnt work. Here is what I did. 
I opened a new theme in Skin Studio. I clicked tools/preferences/image editing/add/browse/ I made PSP 8 my default editing program. That worked fine. Now for the problem I have. I start with a new WindowBlind Theme. UIS 2. As soon as it opens it looks like XP theme. I click on the HORIZONTAL TRAY BUTTON to and it opens in the SkinStudio window. I double click it to edit it and it opens in PSP 8. Then without even editing I click file save.(Just to put it back just like it was) I go over to SkinStudio and save. Then I apply the theme to my windows and the button and taskbar look grey and sometimes the HORIZONTAL TRAY button is gone. I wonder about these things-> Sometimes in SKS when I ask to edit or save the horizontal tray button. It tells me it's going to be deleted. Also, It is wierd that the horizontal tray button is square in its edit image, but appears round when in action (before I edit it anyway...lol)I look at the button image in edit and its first button has blue borders and the rest is white borders. I see no MAGIC PINK as I have heard about, Yet it appears to work the same by appearing round. "Untill I click to edit it and then save it again." (I also have the free version of SKS 4.3 so maybe I cant import images.) but the way I am doing editing my images now with PSP opening the Imageby default. Im really not importing, or am I.""Stressing"" If true then let me know. I know I must be doing something wrong. Please try what I said above yourself to a new theme to figure out my mistake. Hope I have added enough details.
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I opened a new theme in Skin Studio. I clicked tools/preferences/image editing/add/browse/ I made PSP 8 my default editing program. That worked fine. Now for the problem I have. I start with a new WindowBlind Theme. UIS 2. As soon as it opens it looks like XP theme. I click on the HORIZONTAL TRAY BUTTON to and it opens in the SkinStudio window. I double click it to edit it and it opens in PSP 8. Then without even editing I click file save.(Just to put it back just like it was) I go over to SkinStudio and save. Then I apply the theme to my windows and the button and taskbar look grey and sometimes the HORIZONTAL TRAY button is gone. I wonder about these things-> Sometimes in SKS when I ask to edit or save the horizontal tray button. It tells me it's going to be deleted. Also, It is wierd that the horizontal tray button is square in its edit image, but appears round when in action (before I edit it anyway...lol)I look at the button image in edit and its first button has blue borders and the rest is white borders. I see no MAGIC PINK as I have heard about, Yet it appears to work the same by appearing round. "Untill I click to edit it and then save it again." (I also have the free version of SKS 4.3 so maybe I cant import images.) but the way I am doing editing my images now with PSP opening the Imageby default. Im really not importing, or am I.""Stressing"" If true then let me know. I know I must be doing something wrong. Please try what I said above yourself to a new theme to figure out my mistake. Hope I have added enough details.[Message Edited]
Csurfside
Reply #50 Thursday, July 8, 2004 7:59 AM
Reply #50 Thursday, July 8, 2004 7:59 AM
I found out something else too. When I check the "Traynotifyhorzarrow" button by mouse over in SKS it says its in 32 bit color. Then I open it to edit in PSP and its in 24 bit color, then when I save it, It saves in 24 bit color. and it shows it is still in 24 bit color not back to 32 bit when I recheck it in SKS. Dont know why or if this matters. Also, I looked and didnt even see a 32 bit color option for PSP 8. Is this a problem. 
Csurfside
Reply #51 Thursday, July 8, 2004 9:19 AM
Reply #51 Thursday, July 8, 2004 9:19 AM
I also get this message sometimes.Says when I try to save it.
"Because of limitations of the specified file format(and possibly the save options youve Choosen), the saved file will be limited to a merged image. Would you like to continue?"
I am waiting for feed back from my problems listed above. (Where are you Chas
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"Because of limitations of the specified file format(and possibly the save options youve Choosen), the saved file will be limited to a merged image. Would you like to continue?"
I am waiting for feed back from my problems listed above. (Where are you Chas
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CerebroJD
Reply #52 Thursday, July 8, 2004 11:00 AM
Reply #52 Thursday, July 8, 2004 11:00 AM
#49 by csurfside
Ok, I think the issue with the button still being round after you make it square has to do with the Aplha Channel. Its still remembering the old channel. I think you need to delete the existing alpha channel, and then add a new one to the image. I remember someone else having this problem and I think this is how it can be solved.
Ok, I think the issue with the button still being round after you make it square has to do with the Aplha Channel. Its still remembering the old channel. I think you need to delete the existing alpha channel, and then add a new one to the image. I remember someone else having this problem and I think this is how it can be solved.
Csurfside
Reply #53 Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:00 PM
Reply #53 Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:00 PM
Alpha Channel? What? I need more information. Read #49 for my problem. Im stumped and really want to figure this out. "You think" lol, I need some hard feed back. Im trying and trying all day to skin a window blind. This is my first big problem. I need to know what im doing wrong. Ive already wasted over 24 hrs on this one drawback. Im determined to learn what im missing. I reapeatedly try to make it work. Once again for clarity. Its the "TrayNotifyHorzArrow" button im trying to edit in PSP 8.
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Csurfside
Reply #54 Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:23 PM
Reply #54 Thursday, July 8, 2004 1:23 PM
Ok I finally got it to work. Im not sure what I did exactly but I had to import the file. I will try some more and seehow it goes.
Does the white or blue border make it transparent. How does it determine with out the magic pink what is going to be invisible?
Does the white or blue border make it transparent. How does it determine with out the magic pink what is going to be invisible?
Csurfside
Reply #55 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:10 PM
Reply #55 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:10 PM
Yes Yes Yes Yes 
I figured it out. Im the man now dog! 
This is great Im skinning that little piece of @$#% button. This is the best day of my life. Sigh* Well now im off to the Start Button. What a great day. Go SKS and woohoo PSP 8. Its on now! Here I come guys. Gui olympics.
I figured it out. Im the man now dog! 
This is great Im skinning that little piece of @$#% button. This is the best day of my life. Sigh* Well now im off to the Start Button. What a great day. Go SKS and woohoo PSP 8. Its on now! Here I come guys. Gui olympics.
SelfExiled
Reply #56 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:24 PM
Reply #56 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:24 PM
Sorry, I've been asleep. It's strange how we humans need that sort of thing.
It seems like you've had quite a bit of drama since I've been away. Yes, I've had trouble with PSP8 not saving the PNG file properly too. Then, when it is transferred to TGA it is messed up. You'll want to check your PNG options. I don't really use PSP8, but I have it. I haven't even re-installed it since my system upgrade. I've just been using PSP7 because it doesn't have those sorts of problems and I like the way it works better and I'm use to it.
Instead of clicking save, try clicking save as, then look at the options for your PNG file. Try fooling around with changing the options a little, then saving it and saving the skin studio changed file. If it doesn't save properly, then you need to right click on the image in skin studio and hit cut. then double click the image again, and a new one will apppear. You can keep changing the PSP PNG options and applying the changes in Skin Studio until the TGA file is made properly from the PNG file. Then, you won't have to change the options again, and you can just use the save button. The options won't change unless you change them.
If you can't get it to save properly, let me know. But, give it a try yourself first. If you can't get it to work right yourself, I'll re-install PSP8 and give you a step by step and the right options that you want in PSP8.
It seems like you've had quite a bit of drama since I've been away. Yes, I've had trouble with PSP8 not saving the PNG file properly too. Then, when it is transferred to TGA it is messed up. You'll want to check your PNG options. I don't really use PSP8, but I have it. I haven't even re-installed it since my system upgrade. I've just been using PSP7 because it doesn't have those sorts of problems and I like the way it works better and I'm use to it.
Instead of clicking save, try clicking save as, then look at the options for your PNG file. Try fooling around with changing the options a little, then saving it and saving the skin studio changed file. If it doesn't save properly, then you need to right click on the image in skin studio and hit cut. then double click the image again, and a new one will apppear. You can keep changing the PSP PNG options and applying the changes in Skin Studio until the TGA file is made properly from the PNG file. Then, you won't have to change the options again, and you can just use the save button. The options won't change unless you change them.
If you can't get it to save properly, let me know. But, give it a try yourself first. If you can't get it to work right yourself, I'll re-install PSP8 and give you a step by step and the right options that you want in PSP8.
SelfExiled
Reply #57 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:25 PM As soon as I post, type the whole spiel, you figure it out yourself. I'm going back to sleep. 
Reply #57 Thursday, July 8, 2004 2:25 PM
As soon as I post, type the whole spiel, you figure it out yourself. I'm going back to sleep. 
Csurfside
Reply #58 Thursday, July 8, 2004 3:49 PM
Reply #58 Thursday, July 8, 2004 3:49 PM
Ok. I am just running smooth now. I will be back when I hit my next barrier.
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Csurfside
Reply #59 Thursday, July 8, 2004 4:38 PM
Reply #59 Thursday, July 8, 2004 4:38 PM
New Question. When I edit the "TrayNotifyHorzArrow" Button I notice a shadow on the Images. When I edit it, Rotate, ect. The shadow stays where it was. How can I add a drop shadow to an image or any tips would be nice.
Csurfside
Reply #60 Thursday, July 8, 2004 5:26 PM
Reply #60 Thursday, July 8, 2004 5:26 PM
Oh boy another problem. When I edit in PSP8 the TrayNotifyHorzArrow and click "save as" it doesnt work properly in SKS. But if I edit it in PSP8 and click "save" it works fine. This is a problem because that means I cant do any work and then transfer it in PSP because I hasve to "save as" to make it a PNG. This is really confusing me. Is there no better way to do this stuff.
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Reply #41 Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:00 PM