Hi I hope this is the right place to post this question but I think it's slightly related to Skinning and I can't find a forum that's any better so here I go.

I want to know a couple of things firstly.

I'm thinking of using Lightstep I've read many good things about it and it seems supported enough with plenty of themes.

So supposing I install it and download a theme, does Lightstep change the way that my windows look aswell depending on the theme or do I need another program.

this is where I get confused between the likes of Window Blinds, Desktop X and Lightstep and so on...

I understand that LightStep, GEOshell Desktop X etc. as Shells will actually change my interface eg. TaskBar, Start Menu, but what do I do if I want to also change the way my windows look, preferebly using the least amount of resources!

If anything I'm saying is a load of balls please put me right and all comments will be appreciated.

Cheers,

Al.

There is a post somewhere around here that answers your question well but I can't find it. There is this one though http://www.litestep.net/index.php?section=4&action=view&catId=2&id=647.

Windows Blinds is a skinning program, not a shell. It's capable of skinning applications and the explorer shell (the bar that contains the start menu, quicklaunch, taskbar and system tray). But that's all it does. When you download a theme for WB it does not add any signigicant functionality to the explorer shell (or your applications). It just gives it a paint job.

Litestep is a shell. Not a skinning program. It replaces your explorer shell. It does not affect the way applications look. Litestep themes are more than skins for the shell. They complete changes the functionality of the shell, often improving features and adding unique functionality and designs. Litestep is extremely flexiable and as a result make it not so user friendly.

If you just want your windows to look different then get Windows Blinds. If you find the explorer shell restrictive and poorly design then dowload Litestep and enjoy the freedom of designing a theme for the Litestep shell that does exactly what you want. Then share it with the community.

yeah, and it's LiteStep, not Lightstep. btw, ShellWM also does window-skinning, and is an app made by LS-developers. There's no direct interaction as of now, but there might be some day...

The sticky topic "Window Styles" in this forum gives some information.

Ok, thanks for the answers, I've used WindowBlinds briefly before and Found it to be sluggish, I later understood that this may be due to the skin I used not the software.

Apart from WindowBlinds and ShellWM what are the other alternatives, do most users of Litestep use WondowBlinds?

Not really.. I use a patched file UXTheme.dll (http://www.lightstar1.com/install.htm) to use any Visual Styles (XP Themes) and not WindowsBlinds... takes less mem!! :)
You can grab some Visual Styles themes in http://www.themexp.org/

but you can use that only if you've got xp.

I found when running the patched UXTheme that applications would jump between VWM desks when I changed desks. So I stopped using it. But I use rabidVWM now so maybe this bug won't exist now.