SkinStudio 6 Beta Feedback

ok lets get to party..

Woot

installing...
three updates on one day? it's like ... like ... a kinderegg!!

Nice!
Some first thoughts:

The "Theme parts detail" section with explanation of the various elements is very nice. With the old SKS I was sometimes confused over some of the elements, even though I'm used to programming VB and C# apps.

The skin colour section where you set the system colours would be nice if it was supported with a little preview of a window and some controls in just the classic mode.

Tahoma should be used instead of MS Sans Serif and Microsoft Sans Serif throughout the UI. Come on, one of those doesnt even use ClearType.

Do we need to uninstall SKS before installing 6?

No.
Also, the Classic Fonts configuration is missing. Ive also lost the ability to set No Image Defined in shellstyle images.

Remember it is a beta and will be missing some things.

Look great for now, maybe need some improvements on previews of the skin (interactivity real preview to see how act the elements like buttons...)... But i'll wait to explore it a little more maybe miss some options

Also try out with a copy of my Skin called "Arileen" copy to "ArileenSKS6" and apply and got a wonderful glitch on many elements (back to Luna theme or simply missing)
tried again in calling the copy "Arilee" "SKS6" "SKSTest" no problems
tried again with "Arileen6" problems odd
Maybe (after thinking in this problem) the 60 characters things... is there anyway to see the code and the analyse like in SKS5 ?

Thanks in all cases that will be helpful to make Vista skins

OH MAN! This is awsome. I'm just surfing it right now but I can't wait to devote a little time to it. GREAT JOB STARDOCK! You folks sure do ROCK!

Am I just not seeing 'Content Margins'? or is that one of the missing due to beta things?

Hum gona have to see how both SKS 5 and SKS 6 will work together to get the things all worked out it seems. Looks nice so far - will spend more time this weekend to getting some stuff worked over with this and maybe an update or two would be nice also by then??...!

Great Work Team!
SGT  

Content margins are set on the text page

It will take some getting used to but I think in the end I will prefer the 6.0 set up better.

However.. It won't apply any changes I make unless I close out SKS 6 and restart, then applying , the changes happen.

Example.. I simply edit the tasknar background to a new color. Save and apply, no change.
Close out SKS, restart, open skin, apply, changes happen.

The changes are also not showing in the preview window immediately either. I must restart SKS for the changes to show.

I already uninstalled windowblinds 6 and sks 6 and reinstalled.


Running XP SP2
WindowBlinds version : WindowBlinds 6 (6.0 (beta build 21 x86))

WindowBlinds is installed correctly on this PC

WindowBlinds appears to be activated on this PC

Your machine supports per pixel borders on WindowBlinds skins.

(Plug and Play Monitor) 1 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
(Plug and Play Monitor) 2 is attached to NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT

Wblind.dll 2007/08/07 11:43:20
Wbsrv.dll 2007/08/02 11:25:18
Wbconfig.exe 2007/08/02 11:25:47
Wbload.exe 2007/07/30 13:14:11
Wbhelp.dll 2007/07/24 10:21:07
Wbui.dll 2007/07/24 10:21:06
Tray.dll 2007/07/24 10:21:49


I would like to request a more convenient location for the apply button. Using the drop menus are ok but I apply , apply, apply.

If you have edited an image that was a TGA then you will need to press F5 when you return to SKS so it reimports the image.  Otherwise it will not reimport until the next time it reloads the preview.

That was easy. Lets see what else I can screw up now.   

For Vista systems is "Segoe UI" according to the new UI guidelines.

That seems like a bad bad idea...while adjusting and piddling,seeing realtime updates in the preview window is fine...but to have test settings applied whether you like them or not(or intend to save)is scary at best.

You WILL forget and you may be making changes to more than 1 section without knowing it.  

It could be a usable feature but it needs to be something you can turn on and off on the fly.

I.R. It said that the final version will not work that way when I started it up. Only the Beta. Thankfully...whew.

I have to agree with I R... this at least should be an option to use or bypass by preference if wanted.   

Thanks Neil

Sounds like once you know what and where with how for what you can get it done and be out of there in a few this way....hum!
SGT  

It takes a bit of getting used to compared with the old version but I like it.
I have one item for the wish list (it's probably is already coming).......I've been closing all the panels/windows by clicking the X, I was hoping for something more.........definitive, so I know I'm doing it the right way, ie "Close" and/or "Save" button.

Got one question too......What is "Glass"?

This is great! I really struggled with the previous version but this is so much clearer and friendlier.Started my first WB skin today...there's no holding me back now!(should be ready by 2017     )
Thanks Stardock people.

Lantec: X to close the window is correct. There is no wrong way.

The glass sections in the per pixel frames section are used when the frames are next to a client area part that is glass.  Such as the top of explorer frames, or the bottom of WMP.  They need to be the same size as the normal frames.

If you make a set that are a very different colour to the normal frames it should become obvious.