[Tutorial] Add custom color scheme in Personalize → Windows colo

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[Tutorial] Add custom color scheme in Personalize → Windows color and appearance.

Hi friends

Today, I have found some interesting aspects about Windows Aero enabled glass colorization.

Windows Vista provides some set of color schemes, which can be used to change color of windows, the start menu and the taskbar by picking one of the available color schemes. You can also create, or set your own color using color mixer.

I have discovered a way to add our own custom color scheme in pre-defined color schemes…

Now a question raises….HOW.

Do not worry! Let me explain….

REQUIRES:

· Restorator (Download 30 Day Trial)

· Registry Editor (Type regedit in start search or in Run dialog box and hit enter)

· Image Editing Software (I prefer, Adobe Photoshop)

HOW TO:

1.) Run Restorator and open themecpl.dll (located under C:\Winodows\System32) and navigate to BITMAP. Now extract any bitmap file from 1 to 8.

2.) Run Photoshop and change colors by adjusting hue/saturation

Open the extracted bitmap image in Photoshop and click on Image→Adjustments→Hue/Sturation or press CTRL+U

Adjust or change color as you want and save n exit.

3.) Now once again run Restorator and open themecpl.dll and click on Resources → Add Resources or Press CTRL+U.

Select Bitmap in resource type and type name of resource 103 or whatever you want n click on OK.

Now select the bitmap file, drag, and drop at highlighted area.

Save themecpl.dll and exit.

Windows Registry's magic starts… now.

4.) Run Registry Editor and Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Glass Colorization\Swatches

Create a key with a GUID name…..it must be unique among all GUIDs existing under Swatches

(Simple trick: Copy any GUID like {FD81078C-1B36-4595-A92E-91F05C4FA5DC} and change one of the character or digit... I am sure; it will be 99.99 % unique. The new GUID is {FD81078C-1B36-4595-A92E-91F05C4FA5DD})

5.) Create a DOWRD (32-bit) value and named to Color. Set the value of color, which you want.

(Simple trick: Right Click on desktop and navigate Personalize → Windows color and appearance, now set your favorite color using color mixer. Run Registry Editor and navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\DWM and click on ColorizationColor n copy its value and paste in Color DWORD value.)

6.) Create a DWORD (32-bit) value and named NameId. Set the value to 69 in decimal. This registry value reads string from themecpl.dll.mui file located under C:\Windows\System32\en-US.

The 69 String ID in themecpl.dll.mui contains string value Vistas.

7.) Create a DWORD (32-bit) value and named PreviewId. Set the value to 103 (The ID or name of bitmap resource file that has been added to themecpl.dll.)

8.) Create a DWORD (32-bit) value and named PreviewOrder. Set the value to 9; which tell the color scheme added at 9th number.

9.) Create a Expandable String value (REG_EXPAND_SZ) and named Resource. Set the value to themecpl.dll.

Full Formatted in PDF & HTML : Mera Windows