Creating Custom Windows Media Player Skins: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction to Windows Media Player Skin Creation

Customizing your media player experience can be a fun and rewarding project. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the process of creating custom skins for Windows Media Player. We'll cover everything from designing the visual elements to coding the XML file and packaging your skin for distribution.

Designing the Skin's Visual Elements

Setting Up Your Image Editor

To begin creating your custom skin, you'll need an image editing software. For this tutorial, we'll be using Adobe Fireworks, but you can use any image editor that supports layers and transparency.

1. Open your image editor and create a new document.
2. Set the canvas size to 200x200 pixels (you can adjust this as needed).
3. Ensure your canvas background is set to transparent.
4. For easy visibility during editing, set a bright background color (e.g., #FF00FF).

Creating the Main Background

1. Draw a rectangle that covers most of the canvas.
2. Choose a color for your background (e.g., #123456 for a nice shade of blue).
3. Apply a texture to the background if desired (e.g., a star pattern).
4. Adjust the border color to complement your design.

Adding Buttons

1. Use the vector tools to create a button shape (e.g., a star).
2. Set the button color (e.g., #C00000 for a red hue).
3. Remove any texture from the button.
4. Choose a contrasting border color for the button.
5. Apply filters or effects to give the button depth (e.g., an inner bevel).

Saving Your Background Image

1. Name your layer (e.g., "background").
2. Save the image as a PNG file (e.g., "background.png").

Creating the Mapping Image

The mapping image is crucial for defining interactive areas in your skin.

1. Duplicate the background layer.
2. Hide the original background layer.
3. Remove the background texture and effects from the duplicated layer.
4. Choose a distinct color for the mapping area (e.g., #65FFFF).
5. Save this new image as "map.png".

Writing the XML Code

The XML code defines how your skin behaves and links the visual elements together.

Basic Structure

Open a text editor and start with the basic XML structure:

<theme>
  <view>
    <!-- View elements go here -->
  </view>
  <buttongroup>
    <!-- Button group elements go here -->
  </buttongroup>
</theme>

Adding View Properties

Inside the <view> tag, add the following properties:

<view
  clippingColor="#FF00FF"
  transparencyColor="#FF00FF"
  backgroundColor="#FF00FF"
  image="background.png"
  unloadImage="load;">
</view>

Defining the Button Group

Inside the <buttongroup> tag, specify the mapping image:

<buttongroup
  mappingImage="map.png">
</buttongroup>

Creating a Button Element

Add a button element within the button group:

<button
  mappingColor="#65FFFF"
  upToolTip="Minimize"
  onClick="player.minimize()">
</button>

Saving the XML File

Save the XML file with a .wms extension (e.g., "skin.wms").

Testing Your Skin

1. Double-click the .wms file to open it in Windows Media Player.
2. Verify that the skin loads correctly and the button functions as expected.

Creating a Hover Effect

To add interactivity to your buttons, you can create a hover effect.

1. Duplicate the background layer in your image editor.
2. Modify the button colors for the hover state.
3. Save this new image as "hover.png".
4. Add the hover image to your XML code:

<buttongroup
  mappingImage="map.png"
  hoverImage="hover.png">
</buttongroup>

Removing the Default Title Bar

To create a fully custom look, you can remove the default Windows Media Player title bar:

<view
  clippingColor="#FF00FF"
  transparencyColor="#FF00FF"
  backgroundColor="#FF00FF"
  image="background.png"
  unloadImage="load;"
  titleBar="false">
</view>

Packaging Your Skin

To distribute your skin easily, you'll want to package all the files together:

1. Select all image files (background.png, map.png, hover.png) and the .wms file.
2. Right-click and choose "Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder".
3. Rename the .zip extension to .wmz.

Your skin is now ready for distribution and can be installed by double-clicking the .wmz file.

Advanced Skin Features

Adding More Buttons

To expand your skin's functionality, you can add more buttons:

1. Design additional button graphics in your image editor.
2. Update the mapping image with new colors for each button.
3. Add new <button> elements to your XML code:

<button
  mappingColor="#FF0000"
  upToolTip="Play"
  onClick="player.play()">
</button>

<button
  mappingColor="#00FF00"
  upToolTip="Pause"
  onClick="player.pause()">
</button>

Creating Sliders

Sliders can be used for volume control or seeking within a track:

<slider
  mappingColor="#0000FF"
  thumbImage="thumb.png"
  orientation="horizontal"
  cursor="hand"
  tooltip="Volume"
  parameter="volume">
</slider>

Adding Text Displays

Display track information or player status:

<text
  fontFace="Arial"
  fontSize="12"
  fontStyle="bold"
  foregroundColor="#FFFFFF"
  backgroundColor="#000000"
  justification="left"
  value="%Title%">
</text>

Optimizing Your Skin

Performance Considerations

1. Keep image sizes small to reduce loading times.
2. Use PNG compression to minimize file sizes.
3. Limit the number of layers and effects in your design.

Compatibility

1. Test your skin on different versions of Windows Media Player.
2. Ensure your skin works with various screen resolutions.
3. Consider creating multiple sizes of your skin for different player modes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Skin Not Loading

1. Verify all file paths in the XML are correct.
2. Check for syntax errors in your XML code.
3. Ensure all required files are included in the .wmz package.

Buttons Not Responding

1. Double-check the mapping colors in your XML and image file.
2. Verify the onClick actions are correctly spelled.
3. Ensure the mapping image aligns perfectly with the background image.

Visual Glitches

1. Check for transparency issues in your PNG files.
2. Verify that clipping colors are consistent across all elements.
3. Test the skin at different player sizes to ensure scalability.

Sharing Your Skin

Online Communities

1. Join Windows Media Player skinning forums to share your creations.
2. Participate in skinning contests to get feedback and recognition.
3. Create a portfolio website to showcase your skins.

Documentation

1. Write clear installation instructions for your skin.
2. Document any special features or keyboard shortcuts.
3. Include version information and update history.

Conclusion

Creating custom skins for Windows Media Player is a rewarding way to personalize your media experience and showcase your design skills. By following this guide, you've learned the fundamental techniques for designing, coding, and packaging a custom skin. As you become more comfortable with the process, you can experiment with more complex designs and advanced features to create truly unique and functional skins.

Remember to always test your skins thoroughly and gather feedback from users to continually improve your designs. With practice and creativity, you'll be able to craft stunning and user-friendly skins that enhance the Windows Media Player experience for yourself and others.

Happy skinning!

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7FnvvvAHvs&t=14s