How to: Create Skin Files (Devices)
You can create new skins or customize existing skins using the same techniques. OEMs use high-performance graphic tools to design and develop the graphic files required for skins. Nevertheless, you can achieve satisfactory results using simpler tools—even Microsoft Paint. You can write the Skin Definition File (an XML file) using as simple a tool as Microsoft Notepad.
To customize an existing skin, save the existing skin files under new names and edit them. When you want to use new skins, ensure that all the files for a skin, that is, the Skin Definition File and the graphic files that accompany it, share the same directory.
The following steps describe how to create a new skin. For more information, see Skin Technology (Devices).
To create a new skin
Create a bitmap (BMP) or Portable Network Graphics (PNG) file that shows the default appearance of the skin.
Create a BMP or PNG file that shows the appearance of the skin with all buttons pressed.
Create a BMP or PNG file that shows the area of each button filled with a single unique color.
These button colors represent hotspots and are used in handling mouse events. If you want the appearance of each button to change independently of the other buttons on the skin, use a different color to fill the area of each button. For more information, see How to: Process Mouse Events (Devices).
Note
For best visibility, do not use white or black to fill these areas.
Create a Skin Definition File.
For more information, see Skin Definition File Details (Devices) and Skin Definition File Example (Devices).
Save the three BMP or PNG files and the XML file to a single directory.