Watercolor Emico

So.. almost a year after I've started working on this skin the 1st style is finally done. This version contains the Blue substyles with a "Modern" and a "Classic" taskbar.
This skin is based on the skin called "Watercolor". It's a skin that was being used in the beta's of XP.

I wanted to make my own skin so tornado5 aka em3 told me that I should try and make a new version of Watercolor.
This is the outcome.

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How to install:

Extract the folder called "WE" to "C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes".
Right click the desktop > properties > appearance > then from the first drop select "Watercolor Emico"
From the 2nd drop downlist you can make a choice between the "Modern" and the "Classic" taskbar.
In the 3rd drop downlist you can make a choice between a "Normal" or a "Compact" start panel.

To use this theme you need to patch the Windows system file uxtheme.dll. You can read about how to do that here: Link

Bugs that I know of:
*Some palet frames arent drawn the correct way.(Application bug)
*In some webbrowsers the buttons might be resized the wrong way. (Browser bug)
* Multi row taskbar does not look good. (Theme)

Modification can not be released. You can make them as long as you keep them for personal use only.

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Bug fixes and updates in Blue:

06-06-08:
- Fixed the palet frames
- Fixed the palet caption buttons
- Fixed the black text on the side taskbars to white
- Changed the way the taskbar image is being stretched when using multiple rows.
- New toolbar and placebar images

14-06-08:
- Fixed the toolbar gripper in Blue Classic
- Fixed the vertical toolbar grippers in Blue Modern and Classic
- Fixed the placebar button in Blue Modern

Bug fixes and updates in Ergonomic Blue:

14-06-08:
- Changed the orange on the buttons
- Changed the orange on the tabs
- Changed the orange on the checkboxes
- Changed the orange on the radiobuttons
- Removed some gloss in the flash button. There was a bit to much gloss in that button compared to the others.

Bug fixes and updates in Black:

21-06-08:
- Changed the toolbar buttons and the placebar buttons from orange to blue
- Fixed the top taskbar

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This release only contains Watercolor Emico: Blue. In the next couple of weeks I'm going to release the following color styles:

Still to be made:

- Blue SE (Working title)

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Shellstyles:

I personally don't use them which is the reason why I didn't make any. When all the main styles are done I'm gonna see if I can make some fitting shellstyles.
I already have a few ideas. It will be uploaded to deviantART as an add-on to the skin.

Contribution:

If you feel like contributing to this skin with application skins then go ahead and make them. All you have to do is ask me for permission by email with a screenshot.
My email address is: makeshift.grey@gmail.com.

For more info about further progress, application skins etc. read the journal that I've made on deviantART: Watercolor Emico: Further progress and info

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Credits:

Credits go out to all the beta testers.
Credits also go out to tornado5 aka em3 because he helped me a lot while I was working on it.
I was heavily inspired by LE which is why a few things might look a bit like it.
And thanks to Binary for letting me use his Watercolor Lite as a base.

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Please give me some feedback about the skin.

Download: Watercolor Emico: Blue
Download: Watercolor Emico: Ergonomic Blue
Download: Watercolor Emico: Black
Download: Watercolor Emico: Silver
Download: Watercolor Emico: Olive

Oh wow that almost makes me want to go back to Windows XP just so i can use it, i prefer the classic taskbar, very slick.

Very, very nice. It would be even nicer if there were more colour variants, like black or dark grey or some lighter options for folks into white themes. Nevertheless 5 star work IMHO.

Looks great
Thanks for your hard work Capric0rn!

vewy pwetty

And finally it is out Great man!

Wow, when I changed my desk, it certainly took me by surprise, because it was so bright! But it does look very nice. Out of the two styles, I prefer the classic version but I might mod it to my tastes but so far it looks very nice. No shellstyle is a bit of a downer but I guess you can't have everything at the moment. Overall, it's going to be staying on my desk for a while. Take your time with the other releases, certainly no rush from me !

Now, how about starting some startbutton mods such as the previous LE thread had in abundance ?

Scirwode

Finally, its about time!


Good work though

Very nice, it's abit blue for my liking, looking forwars to the black version

that is just AWSOME!

You have done a great job on this theme, Capricorn. Very sleek and stylish.

I might have to buy Windowblinds just so i can use this on Vista.

Capric0rn!! <3
I'm using some old Watercolor visual style at the moment and this will be the perfect upgrade, thanks so much for your efforts.. testing in progress

W00T!

been waiting for this since i first saw the screen shots
going to try the blue right now, but i cant wait for the black!

Glad I have XP so I can use this gem!

Great work Cap!

wow looks great, can't wait to try the black or ergo styles out when you make them!

looks cool but i dont get the fuss about it

Brilliant! Great work!

Great theme!

One question I have always wondered about people who make themes; What made you decide to remove the Windows logo on the start bar and replace it with a custom one?

Thanks all for the positive feedback!

@Rebdomine: Do you know the original Watercolor and how much everyone liked it?
@winrez: The default icon from XP doesn't fit this theme.

The original Watercolour was first introduced in the Whistler builds, which in my opinion made Windows XP look very professional.

Scirwode

Hands down, best looking interpretation of Watercolor ever, and the best theme I've ever seen.

/me opens up Windows XP

that's really nice man

Woa, could you make a port for Vista?

Finally after all the medicore themes, an awesome one comes along. If I had xp I would use it.

Shouldn't be let near Vista, let it show off its beauty on XP.....

Finally! Nice work!

Can't wait the black version.

Great job! I can't wait for the other colours, ergonomic blue in particular.



You may or may not remember how Binary's Watercolor visual style pretty much started the whole XP skinning scene. Capric0rn's style is an amazing rendition of Watercolor. That is what the fuss is about.

Got it installed on my Terminal server now, looks great LE Black V5 on my main screen, and this one my TS screen 2 great themes m8, your work is greatly appreciated.

I cant wait to see what the second blue, black and silver ones look like. though i get the feeling i will be changing my LE Black installs on several machines to Watercolor Emico: Black

Cool and sexy. Thanks for sharing, Capric0rn.

thx, nearly perfect theme.

now we need a miranda skin and a logon screen.

^First I'm going to finish the visual styles. Then I'm going to work on application skins. So yeah.. Miranda-IM will get a skin.

@The rest: Thanks again for all the positive comments

Man.. I use Vista..

I'd love a black version of this with transparency.

Would love to use it, but I use WB. Any chance of it as a WB format?

This looks great! Good stuff

And I wouldn't say the multi-row taskbar looks bad, I think it looks just fine. Especially with enough windows open to fill it.

Awesome - I love it!

I only wish I was using Windows XP on my main machine. I think I may have install Windows XP in a virtual PC (again), haha!

excellent. any chance of even a tiny preview of what the ergo blue will look like? even if it's a 1/4" wide slice of the taskbar?

<- ocd about having themes/walls/app skins that match

If it were turned into a Vista theme, it would be one of...one that I would consider using over the default Aero. Anyway, explain how a Vista port would detract from your enjoyment of the theme.

^Not going to post screenshots of it. I want to keep the other styles a surprise. The people in the Neowin chat have seen them and I received positive reactions about it

@magik: Multi-row taskbars with modern don't look as nice as in classic

To the Vista users: I don't have Vista nor do I plan to install it anytime soon. I'm not going to allow ports to Vista either since I want this skin to be XP only.

To the WB users: I'm not going to make a WB version of this skin anytime soon. I can't promise if I'm going to make one or not either.

Ah well i was gonna install XP to use this but with that attitude ill stick with Vista Aero.

^Lol. You can port it yourself to Vista but I only give permission to release it if it's REALLY well made. I've seen a few ports from XP skins which I didn't really like.

Someone needs to port this theme to vista in with DWM!

y'know... the bright blue matches my desktop better than i was expecting. brilliantly done, lad.

black should be sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick too. can't wait. this theme has made me love .msstyles again - the flood of vista-like and flat white/black themes was killing me.

wow.....looks awesome..... i'll be using it on my vm

I completely understand why Capric0rn would want to keep it Windows XP only. I mean, I assume it's easy(ish) to port the theme to Windowblinds, but most XP msstyle ports I've seen (from screenshots) look pretty sloppy.


So you're not the only one Haha!

^You guys have no idea bout how complete I want to make it When all the color styles are done I'm going to make shellstyles, after that I'm going to work on some matching login screens. Jim-Phelps told me that he wanted to make Winamp skins for it but I haven't heard from him yet. Maybe I might start making Winamp skins around that time

You guys can also make Emico skins for other apps as long as you send me a PM or an email for permission with a screenshot of the skin.

Wow! I'm happily using Vista but with a theme like this, I'd be willing to put up with XP again.

@Capri, is there a chance you'll release a grey/classic-like color style ( like the original watercolor vs ) ?

hotness - he does great work.

wanna get in contact with the trillian devs and work on an official skin for astra? ;D

Very nice