Skinning Windows XP
- Skinning Windows XP
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- About the Authors
- Acknowledgments
- We Want to Hear from You
- I Introduction
- Conventions Used in This Book
- How This Book is Organized
- Part I: Windows XP Theme Basics
- Chapter 1. Understanding the Windows XP Graphical User Interface
- The Possibilities for Customizing Windows XP
- The Evolution of the XP Interface
- The Windows XP Desktop
- Modifying the Windows XP GUI Environment
- Themes Versus Visual Styles Versus Skins
- Chapter 2. Basic Windows XP Interface Modifications
- Adding Icons to the Desktop
- Changing Desktop Icons
- Modifying Folder Icons
- Arranging Icons on the Desktop
- Understanding and Modifying XP Interface Components
- Setting the Screen Resolution and Color Quality
- Changing the Windows Font Size
- Modifying the Start Menu
- Modifying the Taskbar
- Chapter 3. Applying and Downloading Windows Themes
- How Themes are Stored
- Exploring Theme Elements
- Changing the Default Theme
- Changing the Background
- Where to Find Great Windows XP Themes
- Downloading the Theme
- Applying Zipped Themes
- Applying Executable File Themes
- The Next Step
- Chapter 4. Creating Windows XP Themes from Scratch
- The Elements of Your Theme
- Your Theme Should Have a Theme
- Selecting Theme Elements in the Display Properties Dialog Box
- Editing the Appearance Settings
- Selecting Mouse Pointers for the Theme
- Creating a Sound Scheme for the Theme
- Saving the Desktop Theme
- Fine-tuning the Desktop Theme
- Part II: Introducing Skinning Software
- Chapter 5. A Primer on Third-Party Theme and Skins Software
- Looking at the Choices
- Selecting Skinning Software
- At Your Own Risk: Patching the uxtheme.dll
- Downloading and Installing Skinning Software
- Downloading Themes and Skins
- Chapter 6. A Closer Look at Skinning Software
- What is TGTSoft Style XP?
- Downloading and Installing Style XP
- Working with the Style XP Interface
- Skinning with Style XP
- Downloading Skins for Style XP
- What Is RocketDivision StarSkin?
- Becoming Familiar with the StarSkin Interface
- Downloading and Using StarSkin Themes
- What Is WindowBlinds?
- Using WindowBlinds
- Understanding Object Desktop
- Using the Stardock Theme Manager
- Part III: Creating Your Own Skins
- Chapter 7. The Basics of Creating Your Own Skins
- The Possibilities for Skin Creation
- Selecting a Skin Editor
- Other Programs You Will Need
- What Makes Up a Skin?
- Creating Simple and Complex Skins
- Chapter 8. Creating Windows XP Skins with TGTSoft StyleBuilder
- Downloading and Installing StyleBuilder
- The StyleBuilder Window
- What StyleBuilder Can and Cannot Do for You
- Creating a Simple Windows XP Visual Style
- Creating Complex Visual Styles
- Using Your Visual Style
- A Final Word on Visual Styles and StyleBuilder
- Chapter 9. Creating Windows XP Skins with Stardock SkinStudio
- Introducing Stardock SkinStudio
- Downloading and Installing SkinStudio
- Navigating the SkinStudio Interface
- Creating a Simple SkinStudio Skin
- Creating Advanced Skins
- A Final Word on SkinStudio Skins
- Chapter 10. Creating Icons and Mouse Pointers
- How Icons Are Stored in Windows XP
- Downloading Icons and Icon Sets
- Creating Your Own Icons
- The Basics of Icon Creation the Microsoft Way
- Exploring Third-Party Icon Makers
- Creating a Mouse Pointer Collection
- A Final Word on Icons and Cursors
- Chapter 11. Creating a Background Library
- How Backgrounds are Stored in Windows
- Storing Background Files
- Downloading Backgrounds and Wallpaper Files
- Creating Your Own Backgrounds
- Using Backgrounds with Your Themes and Skins
- A Final Word on Desktop Backgrounds
- Chapter 12. Adding Screensavers to Your Skins
- What are Screensavers Really?
- Creating Screensavers
- Creating a Slideshow Screensaver
- Downloading and Installing Screensavers
- A Final Word About Screensavers
- Chapter 13. Changing XP Logon Screens and Boot Screens
- Understanding Logon and Boot Screens
- Basic Modifications to the Windows Logon Screen
- Skinning Software and Logon Screens
- Downloading and Adding Logon Screens
- Creating Logon Screens
- Changing the Windows Boot Screen
- Creating Boot Screens
- Chapter 14. But It Doesn t Look Like Windows XP
- What You Have Learned So Far
- The Ins and Outs of Creating Enhanced Skins
- Working with the Stardock ObjectBar
- Creating an ObjectBar Theme
- Adding Items to a Toolbar
- Using ObjectBar to Create New Desktop Environments
- Understanding Desktop Extenders
- Using DesktopX
- Using DesktopX Themes
- Skinning Windows XP Applications
- A Final Word on Skinning
- Part IV: Appendix
- Appendix A. Using ResHacker
- Downloading and Installing Resource Hacker
- Working with ResHacker
- Index
- SYMBOL
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Z