Skinning Guide - Part 2 - The Elements: Image Elements

[Thorbjorn]

You can get the images from any skin. Just copy the code and paste it into a Base64 Decoder (http://www.peterdamen.com/base64decode.php). Change the extension after downloading the .bin file.

[redwing]

The border image sizes should be as follows.

FormBorderTop ------------------------------------------------- 1x28 [pixels]
FormBorderTopRight , FormBorderTopLeft ------------------ 5x28
FormBorderRight , FormBorderLeft  -------------------------- 4x1
FormBorderBottomRight , FormBorderBottomLeft ---------- 4x4
FormBorderBottom  -------------------------------------------- 1x4

[murve33]

All of the mediafire links are dead.

Edit: To make my post less stupid, here's a link to a bunch of last.fm icons Steven posted somewhere.
http://www.mediafire.com/?2n78d10tbnaszy5

[Bee-liever]

All of the mediafire links are dead.

as Thorbjorn said

You can get the images from any skin. Just copy the code and paste it into a Base64 Decoder (http://www.peterdamen.com/base64decode.php)

I fairly sure none of the skin creators will mind you using them.
If using the online decoder, change the output to image/png
I prefer to use this online image encoder (http://www.base64-image.de/) as it has an image viewer.

[redwing]

@Bee-liever:

What's the size for FormBorderTop?
I thought it has to be 1x28, but I found your Polar Bear skin was using 576x28. What's going on?

[Bee-liever]

@ redwing

what!   give all my secrets away!!!
Technically it is 1x28, but I experimented and found that the border top is not stretched, like the BorderLeft/BorderRight elements, but is repeated, in blocks, across the screen.
So, after trial and error and info from TheaterMode that MB scaling is based on 1152x864, I made images that are tileable horizontally. Usually 384x28, but the polar bear fur needed more definition, so it's 576x28.
And that's how I do the "picture" borders.

[redwing]

@ redwing

what!   give all my secrets away!!!
Technically it is 1x28, but I experimented and found that the border top is not stretched, like the BorderLeft/BorderRight elements, but is repeated, in blocks, across the screen.
So, after trial and error and info from TheaterMode that MB scaling is based on 1152x864, I made images that are tileable horizontally. Usually 384x28, but the polar bear fur needed more definition, so it's 576x28.
And that's how I do the "picture" borders.

How insensitive of me! Sorry for divulging your hard-earned secrets! I'm afraid that it's now public knowledge.

So did you find some kind of formula or the two were all that works? (now interrogating mode )

[Bee-liever]

So did you find some kind of formula or the two were all that works? (now interrogating mode )

As long as the length of the border top divides evenly into 1152, you get the least noticeable distortion around the Windows buttons.
The windows buttons use the LH 88px of the border top as a background

[redwing]

As long as the length of the border top divides evenly into 1152, you get the least noticeable distortion around the Windows buttons.
The windows buttons use the LH 88px of the border top as a background

I think this must be one of the most significant discoveries in the history of MB, having a potential to change its look fundamentally.
Do you mind anyone else's doing "picture" borders with the "Bee-liever's formula"?

[Bee-liever]

Do you mind anyone else's doing "picture" borders with the "Bee-liever's formula"?

Don't mind at all. I like seeing what other ideas people come up with.

[redwing]

Don't mind at all. I like seeing what other ideas people come up with.

Great! I'm wondering, too, what kind of possibilities are out there with this "new" feature. Thanks again for sharing this wonderful tip!

[redwing]

Wow, it really works!

[genteycasas]

Great, thank you so much!! I used this converter http://imagetobase64.com/