Images In The Start Panel

Possible?

from WinCustomize Forums
I think I know the answer to this, but I'll take a shot that I am wrong and someone can tell me how to do it.
I have been trying to put an 'image' in the 'Program' panel of the start menu..but I DON'T want it distorted.

I guess I am trying to keep my start menu to a specific size so this won't happen and , like I said, I get the feeling this cannot be done? I tried setting the margins but the start menu just stretches around the image. (above and below, if I manage to set the margins so the image isn't distorted)

So, my question is this. Has anyone ever put images (ex; photo, etc) into their start menu (programs or places panels) and been able to keep them in their original size and state?
windowblinds
3,532 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think you can only put a picture in the start panel if it is at the top or bottom and use the size margins to stretch or tile after the pic
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
See if you can add the image as a glyph. I did this for the places list and it worked nicely for me. When you click on the programs panel area in the preview and look to the window at the far right top you should see the programs list image, and underneath along with margins, text, etc their should be an attribute called glyph image. That way you have two separate images with different margins, the glyph sitting on top of the program panel image. I know it exists for the places list but have never used it for the programs panel so I don't know if its there also. I am not at my computer that has WB or SS so I couldn't verify that before posting so forgive me if I'm wrong.
Elemental: Reforged
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks. I found the glyph thing on my own. Messing with it now. It works in the Programs and the Places panles. I went looking around and found a skin that did just that. They had even split the image in 2, one half for each panel, and lined 'em up in SS. The one thing I'm finding is that you may be limited to the 'size' of the glyph, but you can move it around a bit.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's great, I hope you can achieve the results your looking for, or close to it.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Another option is to create a single image in the overall dimensions of the StartPanel, then "slice up" the image into the Start Panel's component parts. You'll just need to be sure that you set the size parameters to match the component pieces for each one, to the pixel, to avoid distortion.

Cheers,
Daiwa
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In case this helps.

Top Bar-380 x 64 pixels
Programs list-190 x 306 pixels
Places list -190 x 336 pixels
All Programs- 190 x 30 pixels
Bottom bar 380 x 40 pixels
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if you know the size of the image in pixels, you can define the size in skinstudio. adding it as a glyph would be easier though
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In case this helps.


Do you do all your skins based on this? I have read what the 'reccomended' dimensionswere for certain things..but how rigid is that?
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you do all your skins based on this? I have read what the 'reccomended' dimensionswere for certain things..but how rigid is that?


Most normal size start panels are pretty close to the picture. There is alot of flexiblitly. Once you learn how everything layers and stretches, you will understand more where you can be flexible and where you can't.

Knowing the limitations is the key. The bottom bar needs to have more space for text than you are probably used to for non english users. There are all sorts of tricks you can do with the log off /shutdown buttons and background images. How you deal with those normally depends on the rest of the design. There is no need anymore to use magic pink at all in the start panel anymore. This is a huge plus in making one. In the Places list and Programs list , as long as you have a small section of the image for stretching or tiling vertically and horizontally you can do whatever you want. The sizes of the images are totally flexible but it is the rest of the start panel dynamics that are not so flexible.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanks for the info night train as i am new to skinning also and was messing up my panels also. this should ease the pain until i get better with magins.