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Microsoft® Windows Media™ Player lets the user choose from a variety of standard skins, each one providing an additional visual experience that enhances listening and viewing pleasure. Windows Media Player comes with several skins to choose from, but it is relatively easy to create and distribute custom skins.
Even though skins can be quite elaborate and artistic, the basic technology is easily learned. Skins are nothing more than a collection of one or more files of computer art that is organized by a text file that tells Windows Media Player how to use the skin. Even if you do not consider yourself an artist, you can use a variety of art programs to modify existing art or create simple art of your own. For example, using the drawing tools and clip art supplied with Microsoft® PowerPoint®, you can create artwork by just dragging and dropping. Similarly, you do not need to be a programmer to create the text file used to define an individual skin.
One of the reasons that skins are relatively easy to create is that you can look at the individual pieces of art and the source code for any skin, and see how each skin is put together. Several simple example skins will be provided with this SDK, as well as a complete reference for all skin elements and attributes.
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