How to have a reflection (glyph) on a window title bar?

and how to have per-pixel alpha shutdown dialogs...

Published on June 1, 2006 By cycoced In WindowBlinds

Hi all,

I've got this problem with my upcoming skin:

I want to have a reflection on my window title bars (the per-pixel one).
I first tried to add a glyph to the bar (with the enabled/disabled split TGA file for the reflection). It looks good within SkinStudio, but when applying the skin to WindowBlinds, the reflection doesn't appear... (I did the same thing with my start menu, and it works fine).

Then I saw a attribute called "Reflection map" that I used. This doesn't show up in SkinStudio, but when applied to WindowBlinds, I can see something that may be my reflection map, but only appearing on the left side of the window, and outrageously streched (even though I've correctly set the margins).

Anyone has an idea as to how to make it work? I have the latest Windowblinds Beta...

Oh, and while I'm at it... I'm using per-pixel shutdown and logoff dialogs, but when I apply them to Windowblinds, they are not per-pixel alphablended at all! (there's a black background behind it). I've noticed in SkinStudio that you can't tell your dialog picture is transparent and translucent for the option is disabled in there... Help me! Please!

Thank you guys for your inputs!

Comments

NightTrainthedark

on Jun 01, 2006

Oh, and while I'm at it... I'm using per-pixel shutdown and logoff dialogs, but when I apply them to Windowblinds, they are not per-pixel alphablended at all! (there's a black background behind it). I've noticed in SkinStudio that you can't tell your dialog picture is transparent and translucent for the option is disabled in there... Help me! Please!

Depending on the version of Skinstudio you are using. You may have to add the lines of code manually to the skin. One of the betas didn't automatically plug in the code.

Trans=1
PerPixel=1

Bout the reflection. Glyphs don't work with the titlebars.

The reflection map is a layer on top of your wallpaper. It is invisible except when a window is open, you can see the reflection through transparent window frames. I made a universal template for skinstudio that you can get here http://www.design.skinartistry.com/download.php?view.1 it uses a reflection image and you can see clearly how it works if you move windows around. The main problem with them is they show through any shadows you add so they can be tricky if you want to give it a go.

Neil Banfield

on Jun 02, 2006

To avoid the problem with shadows & the reflection map, you should use the content margins on the reflection map.

Logoff & shutdown dialogs have a different section for per pixel versions, so please check that you are modifying the right section.

cycoced

on Jun 02, 2006

Thanks for the advice guys, it seems I've got to dig deeper... Argh... I've stopped coding 5 years ago, asnd now you ask me to add lines in skinStudio's generated code? Will it ever end?

And NightTrain, I can't download anything from the link you provided me. Thanks for the help anyway, this is much appreciated!

I just wonder sometimes if I'll ever put my WB skin on wincustomize, I don't want something I'm not completely happy with...

NightTrainthedark

on Jun 02, 2006

To avoid the problem with shadows & the reflection map, you should use the content margins on the reflection map.

Thank you.

cycoced

on Jun 12, 2006

Hey NightTrain, thank you my good man!

Adding the PerPixel=1 in the code did the trick!

I thought I would share that now in case somebody has the problem...

Well, my WB skin is almost done now, a couple of days fixing loose ends here and there, and it's uploaded.
Since this is my first skin, I just wanted to make sure everything was skinned and looked great whatever program one might be using, hence the long time.

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