Skin Authors: Easy shadows under Windows Vista

New feature in 5.51

from WinCustomize Forums

 Skinners have an excellent opportunity to update their skins to take advantage of Windows Vista with minimal work: Vista shadows.

WindowBlinds 5.51 supports painting the shadows in Windows Vista as part of a UIS2 formatted WindowBlinds skins. 

To add support simply open the UIS file and in the [Personality] area add: AllowVistaShadows=1 and from then on, on Windows Vista, your skin will display the Vista shadow underneath it. 

Feel free to update your WindowBlinds skin on WinCustomize to support this feature as Vista users will likely appreciate the cool results!

11,142 views 20 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top


I think there should be an option in the override section of WBConfig to force on/off the shadows for people who have a different preference than the skin author.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When is the new Skin studio coming out?
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Now we just need the ability to make UIS1 skins into UIS2 skins.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top



I think there should be an option in the override section of WBConfig to force on/off the shadows for people who have a different preference than the skin author.


Amen! I spent all of an hour trying to figure out how to turn the shadows on, after the release announcement yesterday.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh good, I can add shadows to corvette.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm confused...we already put shadows on the frames and start menu...what does this do?Would it add to the existing shadow?  
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yes, for the skins that don't have it
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top



I think there should be an option in the override section of WBConfig to force on/off the shadows for people who have a different preference than the skin author.


That would be nice for XP users too. I personally prefer shadows, it just makes things look nicer. Was always hoping there would be an easy way, like a setting in the config, to instantly add shadows to any skin.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think it would be cool to have controls over the shadows too, like which direction it comes from, the intensity levels and so on...
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
On the blind I am doing it has a frame that is not square.  With the Vista shadow applied it has a square shadow on an unsquare frame.  In addition, the shadow's opacity needs to be decreased.  Would be nice if these two items can be controlled.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm confused...we already put shadows on the frames and start menu...what does this do?Would it add to the existing shadow?

It does not apply it to the Start Menu. Only the Windows get the shadow. I think it's mainly for those skins that don't have shadows on the frames. Say you dont wanna bother with shadows when making a frame, just add that little bit in and it uses Vista's shadows from the default theme. I'm using them on Corvette right now and it actually looks quite nice.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's strange since Aero has round corners.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well not only is it square, but it has mirrowed the bottom left and right corners on the left and right bottom corner shadows which in itself is unique but undesireable for a nonsquare frame.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
We put shadows on frames for XP...if you leave the shadows to Vista,Xp frames wont have them.  

I guess its only for non perpixel skins.  
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

These shadows will work best on square or near square edged skins, because of this there is no option in wbconfig to force it on a skin.

I.R.Brainiac: You could always make a substyle.

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, hang me.  Not sure what is going on here.  This morning I do not see what I was seeing yesterday.  Now I don't see the shadows on the frames.  Checked the blind and yes the line of code is still there.  Hum, is my computer playing games with me?  Going to exit and give it a good spanking.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, spanking didn't work.  The second time I applied the blind, the shadows back with the mirrowing effect.  Hum, maybe I'll make this a square blind.  Computer wins.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Computer wins.


Good luck.