Skinning Windows Vista with WindowBlinds 6

[Frogboy Administrators]

WindowBlinds 6 is now available. The program has a dedicated sub-forum which you can find here.

For users interested in customizing Windows Vista, below are the essential elements of WindowBlinds 6 and how it is different than our discussions of modifying .msstyles on Windows Vista. You can read our Neowin guide to WindowBlinds 6 in this post here.

#1 WindowBlinds 6 has its own format and own skinning engine.

When we discuss creating visual styles in tutorials such as in UK.Intel's excellent msstyles tutorial we are discussing how one can modify the built in skin (Aero).

WindowBlinds uses a completely different strategy, it provides its own skin format and engine to use that format.

The advantage is that the WindowBlinds format is designed for skinners to make skins with it and can skin more elements of the OS than a .msstyles can.

The disadvantage is that WindowBlinds isn't free, it's shareware so the ease of use comes at a price.

#2 WindowBlinds 6 can use skins made for Windows XP on Windows Vista.

Users can convert XP MSStyles or use skins that were made before Windows Vista on Windows Vista. WindowBlinds prefers skins optimized for Windows Vista to run on Vista but it isn't required.

You can even run Luna under Windows Vista using WindowBlinds (stand back, this may cause pain):

(full version)

#3 There is a free editor for making WindowBlinds skins called SkinStudio (public beta of SkinStudio 6 arrives second week of October). This lets skinners focus on skinning and less in having to figure out what resource does what.

Important Links:

• WindowBlinds home page
  
• WindowBlinds skin gallery
  
• Neowin WindowBlinds forum
  

WindowBlinds can be discussed in the Neowin Vista customization forum but skin releases and incidental program info and news should be directed to the WindowBlinds forum here on Neowin.net.

[Addevasleerse]

I can not participate now in discussion - there is no free time. But I will be released - I will necessarily write that I think.