Well I thought I would show how you can put together a desktop using elements from several different skinners and with the help of transparency be able to blend them into a nice theme. Let me know how you think I did.
As always, I want to thank all the very talented skinners that were kind enough to provided their work in the Gallery Libraries that went into making this desktop. It makes it very easy for a non-skinner as myself to be able to enjoy and have fun customizing their desktop.
WB is Adamant by Stardock Design.
LinkWP is Afternoon Shadows by Richard Mohler.
LinkIP is Carbon-ite by Ross Fairbanks.
LinkCFX is Clear Glass by Tommy999999.
LinkObjectDock Zoomer & Tabbed Background is Vista Dock Dark by wstaylor.
LinkObjectDock Zoomer Icons are Aqualix by Dexter, Ren.
LinkObjectDock Zoomer Clock is Shades of Gray Clock Set by KingLizard.
LinkRight Click is BlackZero-Bold by Fairyy~.
LinkRight Click Widget Clock is Shadow by Richard Mohler.
LinkSysMetrix is KONTIKI by Lantec.
LinkDesktop Sidebar is Glass Black by ste_sto.
LinkSpeedtest is by BoXXi.
Link Weather is BlackZero by Fairyy~.
LinkRainlendar is BlackZero by Fairyy~.
LinkHoliday Countdown Pro is by RomanDA.
LinkWindowFX is by Stardock.
LinkWith the exception of Desktop Sidebar, all of the remaining elements used can be found in the Gallery Libraries here at WC. Desktop Sidebar is a free program. Check out the link.
As mentioned above, using transparency can be very helpfull in putting a desktop together. You don't have to use it, but it does provide you with some flexibility. Just about every program available here has a transparency option. I have even used transparency in the Explorer Backgounds which was just added back into WB as an appearance option.
The capabilities of WindowFX were used to give Taskbar Previews of minimize open windows. WindowFX is somewhat of a forgotten program, but it does have some very interesting effects for your desktop.
Almost forgot to mention that some minor recoloring of the SysMetrix and Desktop Sidebar skins was done to enhance the overall blending of the theme. Not very hard to do at all.
To end this, no, my desktop does not always look this way. Zoomer dock is off screen when not is use as in the sidebar. Tabbed bar is a drawer so all you see are the tabs. Right click, only there when is use. Windows Taskbar, I think you get the pi
Comment #21 Thursday, February 28, 2008 2:43 PM