[TheSynth]

If you got photoshop this is pretty easy to do.

Open the wallpaper that you're currently using and make a bar at the bottom of the wallpaper the same width and height of the bar.
I suggest using the Rectangular Marquee Tool and setting it to fixed size so you can type in the width and heights. Width and Height depend on the size of your wallpaper.

When you have the bottom of the wallpaper selected right click the seleciton and click "New Layer" then "OK."
Right click the selection again and select "Fill" then "OK."

In the layer list on the right, right click "Layer 1" and select "Blending Options". You can pretty much do whatever the hell you want here.
I think Gradient Overlay gets the best results.

Here's what I did with a simple rainbow gradient.

[Panda X]

You play garrysmod? cool.

[bman]

Thats pretty cool, but meh.

[beanboy89]

Nice trick, but you have to do it over again every time you change wallpapers.

[brand]

This is one of those things that's so obvious, nobody ever thinks of it. So thanks. I actually have a picture I took that "makes my" task bar black. I'd rather it blue; I'm definitely doing this.

I recommend Paint.NET for your editing needs.

[_DP]

beanboy89, on Mar 12 2007, 03:33, said:

Nice trick, but you have to do it over again every time you change wallpapers.

Just make a photoshop action that records you setting the wallpaper to the res of your screen and do all the other stuff as well... a few clicks and you're away.

[Draje]

I've done something similar like that in XP by adding a fake shadow to the background.

[ahfunaki]

cool idea...

[doggy]

I do this for my last Desk.

Attached image(s)

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[yamazaki]

oh damn, no aero in my vista i really should update my bulky radeon 9250

nice trick though

[Kuipou]

yes but when the desk top isnt shown it remain black

[+Techno_Funky]

Woooo!! Nice trick

[gigapixels]

Okay, that is pretty badass. I should have thought of this

Thanks

[TheSynth]

From Mar 19 2007, 02:13:

yes but when the desk top isnt shown it remain black

I use this visual style that allows transparency in maximized windows so I can see the colors just fine.

Don't remember where I got the theme. Somewhere on this forum I'm sure.

[GuJu]

transparent look is better