What is a Visual Style?
Microsoft®'s Windows® XP introduced a new look and feel in Windows® XP. In addition to the "Classic" boxes and gradients introduced in Windows® 95, XP has an additional "Windows® XP" style.
Windows® Classic
Blue (Current Default Visual Style in XP)
Olive Green
Silver
Also, see XP at the Microsoft site: Windows XP Tours & Demos
What is Style XP?
Style XP is not a skinning engine. It uses Microsoft's built-in visual style engine, but enhances it by providing many useful tools.
Style XP can import, select, rotate, and manage Themes, Visual Styles,
Wallpaper, Logons, BootScreens, Icons, and Explorer Bar. Future versions may support sounds, cursors, screensavers, and packages of all the above.
Style XP also contains carefully constructed styles for XP.
The latest version of Style XP has the following styles in it:
Is Style XP safe? How does it work?
To get third party visual styles, Style XP does not have to be in memory, so there is no worry about your machine slowing. For Rotation to work (rotating Themes, Visual Styles, Backgrounds, or Logons) Style XP will load at logon or boot time. It can then optionally and automatically, completely unload. If you prefer, Style XP can also remain in the system tray for your convenience.
We have completely decoded the luna.msstyles file and have created an XML-to-msstyles engine. Our StyleBuilder product takes the XML with their corresponding images and compiles it to an msstyles file.
I can't stand the green start button. Can I change the color of the start button with your products?
Yes. The green button is a three-paneled bitmap with a pink transparency. It can be easily modified with your favorite paint program. In fact, the very first bitmap we changed was the start button, which was made in to a nice deep burgundy.
- Download StyleBuilder.
- Follow this tutorial on changing the start button color.
Will Style XP cause my smooth screen fonts to go away?
No. Both the ClearType and standard method of smoothing screen fonts will remain active at all times. This setting can be changed by clicking the effects button on the appearance tab of the display properties. While ClearType was designed specifically for Flat Panel Displays, we find that it enhances the look of text on regular displays.
Will Style XP slow my system down?
No. Style XP will operate at the same speed as the original Microsoft supplied styles. When compared to the Windows® Classic look, all of the new styles (Blue, Olive Green, and Silver) will run a tiny bit slower. Some other skinning products will produce a measurable system slow down, especially with complex-looking skins.
I lost my original XP style, how do I get it back?
Go to the appearance tab on your Display Properties:
- Open the display properties, and then the Appearance tab.
- Change Windows® and buttons to Windows® XP Style.
- The color scheme will change to allow you to select the schemes Blue, Olive, and Silver.
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