Solved Change taskbar opacity

[RandomUsername]

Hello,

Let's get straight to my question: Is it possible to change the opacity of the taskbar? I just think it's weird that it looks different than the window borders. Please help

RandomUsername

 

[Hopachi]

The only thing I know for the moment is that the taskbar transparency can be disabled by using AeroLite instead of Aero.

 

[RandomUsername]

Win 8 doesn't have Aero. Just the taskbar is transparent.

 

[Hopachi]

My point is already proven.

I use AeroLite to DISABLE the taskbar transparency.
I also found it weird that it looks different than the window borders so this is a quick fix.
But no way to have other opacity settings because they removed it from the GUI.

Win 8 doesn't have Aero. Just the taskbar is transparent.

Do you know what AeroLite is?
It's the theme not used by default by our Win8 system.
You have to add it manually to a theme to see the difference.

 

[RandomUsername]

Care to give me a link or something?

 

[Hopachi]

Kein Problem.

The theme is included in windows and you just have to follow the next steps in order to use it.

1.First you go and apply a theme you like from your list
example:

Select "save theme for sharing" some place you can browse to.

2.Go the that folder and extract the saved theme package with 7-Zip (maybe some other archivers also work, but this one is certain):


3.Inside there (the extracted) you see a theme file:

4.Open or edit it with a Notepad editor:

Only thing to do is search for "Aero.msstyles" (1x found) and replace it with "AeroLite.msstyles"
Save the file.

5.Double click on the modified theme file and you will get AeroLite enabled.


Configurations, now you can put any backgrounds to it, change color settings and save new themes based on the new settings.
The taskbar will not be transparent anymore, just like the window borders.

Now that you run AeroLite, extra text-color customizations can be applied.

That's it.

Hopachi

 

[Hopachi]

One of the extra custiomisations is the Title Text on the top window border.

That comes usually in black.

An example to change it to white:
http://www.eightforums.com/customiz...-ui-change-title-text-color-4.html#post147866
(see my post there for details)

 

[RandomUsername]

Thank you, but I'd still like to know how to change the colors of the taskbar fonts and of the _ [] X buttons etc.

 

[Hopachi]

Did it worked? Otherwise there's no need for a sequel...

Thank you, but I'd still like to know how to change the colors of the taskbar fonts and of the _ [] X buttons etc.

Good question. You just gave me some extra ideas...

I don't have taskbar fonts. You must be using a "never combine" classic look mode.

I can give you an answer but it will not be too accurate because I didn't tested all parameters myself.

The

_ [] X

cannot be changed only in High Contrast mode of AeroLite.

With time, I'll tweak up some good themes I like but for now I can provide you an example (experimental) theme with the window buttons and text in red color. This is based on high contrast mode and looks uglier than AeroLite normal mode.

Example Preview:

Too white, I know. But all backgrounds can be changed. (to do that export a modified hi-contrast theme and look into it).
I want this effect on normal mode but it's not working yet. When you export a normal *.theme and look into it you'll see the difference between that and what I provided here (this uses HiContrastMode 3).

Without this line, there's no way to change all colors, I'm still a newbie with this theming stuff:

[VisualStyles]
HighContrast=3

Still looking in the theme parameters.

To test it yourself, see attachment.
I'm done for today.
The important thing is that it works.

Sorry for the code stuff, especially if you're unfamiliar with it.

 

[RandomUsername]

This is based on high contrast mode and looks uglier than AeroLite normal mode.

That's why I don't like high contrast mode. I guess I'll just keep using AeroLite and not bother with changing any font colors.

Vielen Dank für die Erleuchtung!

 

[Hopachi]

This is based on high contrast mode and looks uglier than AeroLite normal mode.

That's why I don't like high contrast mode. I guess I'll just keep using AeroLite and not bother with changing any font colors.

Vielen Dank für die Erleuchtung!

You're welcome.

Yes I'm also going for AeroLite. At least we have title colors and no transparency. The only thing that's needs to be found is taskbar (clock) text color.

In begin I thought nothing was customisable in Win8 but I'm glad at least SOMETHING is.

 

[Hopachi]

As an addition to this, here is a theme I'm currently using.

All color parameters that can be modified are included (see *.theme file).
I didn't modified much, just turned some whites a bit grayer.

 

[saxetnella]

I found this thread to solve the opaque taskbar.
And after doing the "save them for sharing" and update method, i started looking around.
After poking around in my system, I found that the themes are saved in
C:\Users\YOUR_ID\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes

So here is my shortcut.
Create a theme and set it up the way you want it via the Personalization (Window + I , Personalization).
Save it with a name you want... "MyTheme".
Edit the C:\Users\YOUR_ID\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\MyTheme.theme file.
Change the Aero.msstyles to AeroLite.msstyles.
In the Personalization, click on a different theme.
Then click on MyTheme to load it.

End result is the same, just this way there is not another .deskthemepack to manage/delete