When designing new skin, you typically go in those steps. You can use Skin Editor to simlify this steps.

1) Design

In any of prefered paint application you create new image, which shows the main interface. It includes the place for display properties, buttons and slidebars. Buttons have three states: default state, active on mouse over and pressed state. See below for more info on buttons.

2) Creating mask file

With Mask generator you create mask, which defines the places to be transparent. When designing new skin, you will choose one color for transparency, this color shouldn't be used in other parts of skin. Also make sure, if you use antialias in drawing with painting program, the transition will be blured. It can be visible after mask generation, so turn it off or use very dark transparent color.

3) Creating skin file

All preferences for skin are defined in file with .SKN extension. It has several sections described bellow.

a) Section Main

In section [Main] are defined this parameters:

PictureDir=directory where all images are stored, this is usually the same as skin name
Picture=name of file with the main interface image
Mask=name of file with the mask
Buttons=number of buttons used
Labels=number of display items
SlideBars=number of slidebars
CheckBoxess=number of checkboxes, swithes or display icons
Images=number of images, used for different purposes
Background=background color for some items (SlideBars)

b) Section Buttons

Here are all buttons defined.

ButXPos=left,top position
ButXSize=width,height
ButXDefault=name of file with button default state
ButXDown=name of file with button pressed state
ButXUp=name of file with button on mouse over state
ButXName=name of button

The button can be designed in two ways: The first is you will create image buttons in the main interface image in default state and another images for each button in pressed state. This will save disk space (default state image are not used). The second way is not to draw buttons on main interface image and create it separatelly. Also on mouse over state is not required, if not used, it will have behaviour like standart buttons.

c) Section Labels

LabelXPos=left,top position
LabelXSize=width,height
LabelXFont=fontname,size
LabelXColor=color of text,bold (0/1)
LabelXAlign=allignment of text
LabelXName=name of label

d) Section SlideBars

LabelXPos=left,top position
LabelXSize=width,height
LabelXName=name of slidebar, it have not to be changed (or it will not work)

If you set width grater then height, it will be positioned horizontally, else vertically.

e) Section CheckBoxes

CheckBoxXPos=left,top position
CheckBoxXSize=width,heigth
CheckBoxXUnchecked=name of file in unchecked state
CheckBoxXChecked=name of file in checked (active) state
CheckBoxXName=name of checkbox

Checkboxes can be used in two ways - it can have look of button in pressed or default state or can be icon for information purposes (on display etc.).

f) Section Images

ImageXPos=left,top position
ImageXSize=width,heigth
ImageXForeground=foreground color
ImageXBackground=background color
ImageXName=name of image

The X in parameter name is the index of item (button, label etc.).

4) Install

Installation is done by copying *.SKN file and bitmaps to the Skins directory. The bitmaps should be in separate directory with name same as skin name.