Taskbar Sizing Bar Transparency

True Trans Possible?

from WinCustomize Forums

Currently using XPP SP3, WB7.

I tried importing a totally transparent .png as the sizing bar for my current skin & it 'works' sorta - but it just substitutes the underlying wallpaper for the bar.  Using Auto-Hide, there is a strip of wallpaper where the sizing bar should be when the taskbar pops up.

Is there a setting that I'm missing?  Both transparency & translucency are enabled.  Using non-perpixel frames.

Thanks!

windowblinds
4,232 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

For the XP sizing bar, I found I had to use a bmp, not a png, even though the taskbar itself is a png...go figure!  Try making it a bmp and use magic pink for the bar.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks, jazzy.  I'll give it a go.

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

:\   No love - same results using magic pink with translucency disabled.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have found that WB/SKS do not like completely transparent images. Try this: make the resizing bar a one pixel line and take the opacity down to somewhere around 10% to 20%. See if that does it for you.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

xp doesnt do true trans behind taskbar elements...it IS a snapshot of the wallpaper.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have never made my XP sizing bar a transparent image.  I always do a traditional bmp image, usually a 3px high edge.  The sizing bar disappears anyway when you lock the taskbar.  I also have found that with SKS 7, that you can't make the system tray completely transparent either...you have to have at least a 1 by 1 pixel image/color in it. 

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

i tried both png and bmp recently in xp and got grief in both results, but it was only until i made the taskbar go straight across (not cutting off on the edges like the diamond style) that it worked out okay for me.  but thats not a solution i know.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks, guys/gals.  An opaque sizing bar isn't as elegant but will have to do - a transparent but functional sizing bar for AutoHide would be very nice, which was what I was shooting for.  My particular circumstances require I use as much screen real estate as possible for max'd apps, hence the motivation.