Novus

[Jamushroom Veteran]

Novus, formerly known as Emendo, is a visual style for Windows XP and the successor to Watercolor Emico: Blue.

Before using this theme, you’ll need to patch a system file which is called UXTheme.dll

UXTender allows you to do this. All you have to do is download the patcher and run it.

When that's done, you'll need to place the folder caleld "Novus" in "C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes".

There's a choise between a style with the userpicture and one without. The 2 styles can be found on the "Color combination" dropdown menu.

This visual style also comes with 3 font choices as seen in the teaser image. These choices can be found in the "Font size" dropdown menu.

Modifications:

For personal use only.

Ports:

Please ask before doing so.

Bugs:

If you find a bug, please report them. Before doing so, try to see and think why the bug occurs. Does it only happen in 1 application? Does it happen when you change a setting in Windows?

Changelog:

v1.0.4 - 30-07-2009:

• Fixed font size for Calibri in the main style.

v1.0.3 - 26-07-2009:

• Fixed toolbar button alignements in Internet Explorer.

v1.0.2 - 27-07-2009:

• Fixed toolbar buttons.

• Added "Undock computer" button to the startpanel.

• Swapped Verdana with Segoe UI.

• Changed Calibri font size from 10px to 9px.

v1.0.1 - 26-07-2009:

• Fixed startbutton in Calibri substyle.

Info:

Wallpaper which I used for the teaser image: Fransisca by Julie Koesmarno

FAQ:

• Could you make a substyle with a startbutton which doesn't have the text?

- No, the startbutton design simply doesn't look as good without the text. I also don't want to go beyond 2 substyles.

• Are you still going to release that black version? Or any other color mod?

- No, I'm considering this visual style my last one until further notice. I'm also quite bored of this style since I'm working on this for 2 years if you include Emico. Instead of making visual styles, I'm gonna make mockups and concepts and share them on deviantART.

• I wanted to ask if you're planning to port this visual style to Windows 7.

- No, this visual style is designed to be used with Windows XP. Also, I'm quote bored of working on this style for so long so I bassicly want to design new stuff. If I am going to make a visual style for Windows 7, expect it to be nothing like Emico or Novus. If you'd like to port this to Windows 7 or you know someone who'd like to port this to Windows 7, please let them contact me so that I can provide them with original source files.

• I've found a bug in Internet Explorer. The buttons on web pages appear very small when I use your visual style. Is this possible to fix?

- I haven't got a clue why this is happening. However, here's what you can do to "fix" this: Go into "Internet Options" and then click on the "Advanced" tab. Find the option called "Enable visual styles on buttons and controls in webpages" and disable this option.

Download

Edited August 11, 2009 by Capric0rn

[qdave]

Very beautiful style. If i were still using xp i would definately try this out.

[The Watcher]

Damn, I'm second to reply. Thanks! I've been waiting a LOOOOONNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG time for this.

Suggestion: You should remove the Verdana font and replace it with Segoe UI and make the Calibri font at 8 not 9. The Calibri one looks bold and really thick which would work better with Segoe UI. Like that you'd keep a thick style just with another font.

Edited July 26, 2009 by The Watcher

[Jamushroom Veteran]

I'll take that in consideration. I wont go lower then 9 for Calibri though. I had it set to 8 this afternoon and it was way to small for this visual style. Also, you do know that Segoe UI look very much like Calibri right?

[The Watcher]

I'll take that in consideration. I wont go lower then 9 for Calibri though. I had it set to 8 this afternoon and it was way to small for this visual style. Also, you do know that Segoe UI look very much like Calibri right?

My bad, I didn't check the size of the font you used. Calibri 8 is definitely too small but 9 is perfect it will be approximately the same size as the Tahoma 8 font. As for the resemblance between Segoe UI and Calibri, there is one but I noticed that the Calibri style(on the VS) looks a bit chunky and thick which is a formula that may work better with the Seogue UI font.

[Jamushroom Veteran]

Changelog:

v1.0.2 - 27-07-2009:

? Fixed toolbar buttons.

? Added "Undock computer" button to the startpanel.

? Swapped Verdana with Segoe UI. (@The Watcher: Thanks for suggesting this. It indeed looks better then Verdana. I used Segoe UI in the startbutton for all styles so it compliments each other n:)ely :))

? Changed Calibri font size from 10px to 9px.

[-KJ]

Beautiful VS! :)

[vip]

Very pro style Capic0rn. You've outdone yourself. Too bad I don't use XP any longer, or this would definitely be rockin on my screen right now! This deserves a DAILY DEVIATION!

[Draconian Guppy]

beautiful, sad though i'm on vista!

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Very pro style Capic0rn. You've outdone yourself. Too bad I don't use XP any longer, or this would definitely be rockin on my screen right now! This deserves a DAILY DEVIATION!

Indeed. Capric0rn's works prove how XP skinning is still alive and kicking.

[McWolf]

Very nice VS, Many thanks! I use your theme on my PC and notebook for long time.

[Lee G. Veteran]

That's a beautiful VS, Capric0rn! I'm now wishing I used XP on my main computer, but I'll use Novus on my old laptop.

[Scirwode]

Wow, that looks brilliant! Unfortunately, I've already migrated to Windows 7 but then again, I might install XP in the future just for the sake of trying it out :p .

Scirwode

[The Watcher]

Hey, I'm really glad I could help :p

[caerma]

Using it, thanks. :D

[Jamushroom Veteran]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it! :D

@vip: Thanks for the kind comment :)

I'm currently trying to fix some bugs seen in Internet Explorer. Which are the toolbar button alignments and small buttons on browser pages.

[MrFuji]

I feel the sudden urge to restart and boot XP :D

Btw, is the name somehow inspired by Universe at War (RTS-Game)? Recently bought it on steam and there's a race called the novus...

[Jamushroom Veteran]

^No one's stopping you from doing that :p I wasn't inspired by "Universe at War", I don't even know that game :p I've had a list of possible visual style names for Emico. I just picked a few names from that list and thought about which could fit the best. At first I thought Emendo but that name became boring and the meaning didn't fit that well. Novus sounded nicer and refreshing, the latter is even it's meaning :)

Changelog:

v1.0.3 - 26-07-2009:

? Fixed toolbar button alignements in Internet Explorer.FAQ:b>

? I've found a bug in Internet Explorer. The buttons on web pages appear very small when I use your visual style. Is this possible to fix?

- I haven't got a clue why this is happening. However, here's what you can do to "fix" this: Go into "Internet Options" and then click on the "Advanced" tab. Find the option called "Enable visual styles on buttons and controls in webpages" and disable this option.

[ckempo]

Looks awesome. Will be trying this on my PC at work, and my laptop. My home desktop is Win7, gutted I can't use it on here too.

[Jamushroom Veteran]

^Thanks :)

Changelog:

v1.0.4 - 30-07-2009:

? Fixed font size for Calibri in the main style.

[xytech]

Very beautiful! but...

(non-english xp sp3/ie8)

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Very beautiful! but...

(non-english xp sp3/ie8)

Read a few posts above yours:

FAQ:

? I've found a bug in Internet Explorer. The buttons on web pages appear very small when I use your visual style. Is this possible to fix?

- I haven't got a clue why this is happening. However, here's what you can do to "fix" this: Go into "Internet Options" and then click on the "Advanced" tab. Find the option called "Enable visual styles on buttons and controls in webpages" and disable this option.

[tehmemories]

Maybe get rid of this line here? It would look more flush.

untitled.bmp

[Jamushroom Veteran]

^Did you notice that that's actually part of the startbutton? I can't suddenly remove that line because it'll make the rest of the lines around the button look weird. Also, If I'd remove the lines from the startbutton, I'd have to remove those lines from all the taskbar buttons.

In other words; I can't remove those lines because the startbutton is an actual taskbar button. Plus I'm not going to remove stuff which I made by design ;)

[tsupersonic]

Finally, nice work!