Dwm Glow

Question

I have a label and checkbox control I want to add the glow effect to, don't really have glass or anything, don't need it I think, just think the glow effect is cool, is there possibly a short code I can use that I can apply to labels and checkbox text?

I made an app that uses glass too, I could use it in there possibly too to make the words more easily visiible i guess, just mainly though looking for non-glass but have glow, if possible, otherwise I need the glass with the glow.

On my glass form, I am using compatible text rendering mode, and glow effect would make nicely the text look better for labels and checkbox text, it looks great in the button control im using.

Answer 1

How do I get the vista glass effect like IE and all has it so around its top part, not just the very top bar, but also down to where the forward, back, and address buttons has aero glass effect too, how do I get this?

I am using Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition, and I don't want to install any aditional software.

Also, I am wanting to see if there is an effect that will do more than IE does and it will do like all parts of the screen, just not any of the controls.

Answer 2

Try these articles from the links below may be it will help
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/buttons/Enhanced_GlassButton.aspx
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/buttons/VistaButton.aspx
kaymaf

---

I hope this helps, if that is what you want, just mark it as answer so that we can move on

Answer 3

i checked those, those seem to want me to download something to add a class to my program, and i dont want to need to download it. especially from that site to download the zips i dont want to need to register.

Answer 4

Martian answered this here.

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/38135623-94af-41fe-99ea-23cc1e06c2dc

---

Adam - Please remember to mark the answers.

Answer 5

i dont see how it was answered there, i see a link to the two things u sent me in which i am not able to download without registering.

Answer 6

well, is ok if you dont want to download anything but dont expect someone to post the full code here for you.
kaymaf

 

---

I hope this helps, if that is what you want, just mark it as answer so that we can move on

Answer 7

I don't want to register and download because my internet is ____, download like 1kb if im lucky a second... usually like 200 bytes/sec my internet has been ____ for the last 2 days.

even some webpages are timing out upon loading and stuff, and some just dont display correctly at all.

Answer 8

view following link..

vista aero glass rendering help

the op of this thread had a similar question, and i was able to fix the button problem on my end ..
since i haven't gotten a reply back from my suggestion, i did not proceed with the rest, not knowing if the solution worked for the op.

basically, for the button, create a transparent image with just the button's caption and place that in your button.

trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 9

I don't want to register and download because my internet is ____, download like 1kb if im lucky a second... usually like 200 bytes/sec my internet has been ____ for the last 2 days.

even some webpages are timing out upon loading and stuff, and some just dont display correctly at all.

 Both links in my previous post have total of ~110kb of source code and library file size. Dont tell me your computer cannot download files with small size.

kaymaf

---

I hope this helps, if that is what you want, just mark it as answer so that we can move on

Answer 10

I don't want to register and download because my internet is ____, download like 1kb if im lucky a second... usually like 200 bytes/sec my internet has been ____ for the last 2 days.

even some webpages are timing out upon loading and stuff, and some just dont display correctly at all.

 Both links in my previous post have total of ~110kb of source code and library file size. Dont tell me your computer cannot download files with small size.

kaymaf

---

I hope this helps, if that is what you want, just mark it as answer so that we can move on

LOL

this thread contains maybe already more bytes

---

Cor

Answer 11

ok, the one link u said trajude coming back as page does not exist error... as for the others i managed to get them downloaded but can't seem to get it to run in VB 2008 express.

I need button to work and text display correctly in VB 2008 express regular windows forms app.

Answer 12

Michael Key, try refreshing your browser if the links come back as error on the forum ..
this seemed to have worked quite a few times in the past for me.

about your last reply:
vista aero glass rendering help
as web address:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/963ac84b-b08e-4133-8a5d-fd80d1deff08

let me know if the buttons display properly after you try my image suggestion..
you might have to do the mouse over and mouse click images entirely.

to easily do so, have a normal form, with buttons renamed after your vista glass app buttons..
screen capture form, and add resources to your app.
Creating a capture window
and as web address:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/aab6d155-794d-4da6-a45a-4fa4858a26e6
if you don't already know how.

your textbox should be different.. if you downloaded the code sample, and is easy to add to a reply, do so..
if needed manipulating, there is something to manipulate.

trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 13

Michael Key, try refreshing your browser if the links come back as error on the forum ..
this seemed to have worked quite a few times in the past for me.

about your last reply:
vista aero glass rendering help
as web address:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/963ac84b-b08e-4133-8a5d-fd80d1deff08

let me know if the buttons display properly after you try my image suggestion..
you might have to do the mouse over and mouse click images entirely.

to easily do so, have a normal form, with buttons renamed after your vista glass app buttons..
screen capture form, and add resources to your app.
Creating a capture window
and as web address:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/aab6d155-794d-4da6-a45a-4fa4858a26e6
if you don't already know how.

your textbox should be different.. if you downloaded the code sample, and is easy to add to a reply, do so..
if needed manipulating, there is something to manipulate.

trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

ok i figured it out, no clue why it dont work but i have manually copy the link and paste it, im using IE8, maybe that matters...

Answer 14

shhh.. don't tell anyone here, but i'm using firefox..
and it works on a microsoft forum.. lol
trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 15

also, if you could post direct what i need to look at because my browser problem, and also so i will know at all what i am supposed to look at on those pages, it would help a lot.

Answer 16

shhh.. don't tell anyone here, but i'm using firefox..
and it works on a microsoft forum.. lol
trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Thanks, I don't like firefox as much, but it's an alternative i'm willing to think about, thanks for the info.

Answer 17

ILPX..
i might have solved your button problem, for starters..
to get a properly viewed button, create a image with text, and add it as the button1 image.
you probably have to do other images for mouseover, mouse leave events, but at least the button shows properly..

i'll look into the other stuff.
trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

this is posted from this thread.vista aero glass rendering help
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/963ac84b-b08e-4133-8a5d-fd80d1deff08

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 18

ok, heres my latest post.... http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/09e1e62d-0ff5-4913-b668-dfbcb4f13e30 i need help now with only the vista word glow effect.

Answer 19

if you can add a image of exactly what your 'glow effect' should look like, do so.  some member might be able to help, but have no idea of what the 'glow effect' looks like.

this link is posted at the top of the forum.
How to insert a PICTURE into a forum post

trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 20

i do have a simple solution..
 might take some paint editing, but i'm sure you can find a way to create a bordered glowing image..

here's something for starters


add that image to your resources, place a picturebox on your form with the sizemode to StretchImage, and place a button center of it.
then add the following code to your button's events.

Private Sub Button1_MouseHover(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.MouseHover
        PictureBox1.Image = My.Resources._1 ' replace _1 with your glow effect image
    End Sub

    Private Sub Button1_MouseLeave(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.MouseLeave
        PictureBox1.Image = Nothing
    End Sub

you should get better results with a better 'glow effect' image, so don't make fun of mine.. lol

this suggestion is simple, if you do not want to get all technical with the code.
trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 21

if you can add a image of exactly what your 'glow effect' should look like, do so.  some member might be able to help, but have no idea of what the 'glow effect' looks like.

this link is posted at the top of the forum.
How to insert a PICTURE into a forum post

trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

cmon man i told u man that links dont work right...u need to tell me what its linking to not words pointing to a link..i have to manual copy links.  maybe i didnt tell u but i posted it to someone in my other pages.

http://people.itdt.pl/dmk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/mobility-center-thirdparty.jpg

customized by various third parties word on there, it has a sort of white glow, its by the Dwm is what it is, i want that white glow.

Answer 22

you should be able to right click the image, then from the drop downmenu, select Save Image As..

you can add any other image if you like..

about the link, i did mention that it is posted at the top of the forum's threads .
here's the address for it.
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vbgeneral/thread/33bf2119-5f56-40b2-a689-d437ec09e550
trujade

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 23

This is what i'm looking for. The words 'Customized by various thirf parties' has a small white type glow to it, hard to see, but it's part of vista's Dwm (Desktop Window Manager), it also does transparency as shown there, viatas tranaparency in action on the whole window has vista's transparent glass effect to it.  

Answer 24

 its by the Dwm is what it is, i want that white glow.

Dwm???

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 25

vista Desktop Window Manager, its transparency program new by vista.

Answer 26

have you tried my approach with the picturebox in the background?
other that what i posted, i have no other suggestions..

someone else might be able to offer a different approach..
trujade.

---

help out microsoft for helping you.. test run 7

Answer 27

You don't get it, sure, that code would probably work, but im looking for vistas Dwm glow effect, Dwm is also what provides the transparency, it's an available api to do this through Dwm on vista, but i dont know how to do it. and when someone shows me they need to show me how to apply it to an item, the main item right now is just Label1 and another CheckBox1

Answer 28

To help, i will post a link to some type of 'guide' its in C# but im coding in VB.net, already tried a free conversion but also, i want to do the effect without the glass and dont know how i would apply it to mine correctly to a control like checkbox because it has text, or a label control.

heres the link http://www.codeproject.com/KB/vista/VGGlassIntro.aspx?fid=346011&df=90&mpp=25&noise=3&sort=Position&view=Quick&select=2178159#drawtextdlg

Answer 29

This is a link to an online code converter for C# to VB.net

http://www.developerfusion.com/tools/convert/csharp-to-vb/

---

Coding for fun Be a good forum member mark posts that contain the answers to your questions or those that are helpful

Answer 30

sorry i wasnt clear, i did convert it using that tool, then when i compile i get an error about something not being declared...

anyways, i don't even know what part gives it the glow effect or how to apply it when there is no glass, and is regular control, i put a label control on a blank form and now want the glow effect applied to it.

Answer 31

The main problem its having is with GraphicsPath not being defined, how do i fix this?

Answer 32

The main problem its having is with GraphicsPath not being defined, how do i fix this?

actually, when i imported

System.Drawing.Drawing2D

it works now and compiles with translated code, but I have a checkbox control, and a label both i used, but with both i use it with no glow effect, no added words, etc... what am i doing wrong, i used the code straight from that site...

also, the code he uses doesn't even use vista's api to do it, he draws the 'glow' effect on his by himself, i am needing to use the api obviously because using his did not work for me.

Answer 33

someone, please, i would like to add the text flow effect from the image posted previously, i got text to appear and all on glass, but I need to create the gloe effect to that label on my form, its probly some api in Dwm new to vista, maybe DrawThemeTextEx, but i wouldnt know how to use it, and if an example online i see it drawing both the text and the effect, i want only the glow effect from it around my letters, not the words and everything.

Also, if you do something like this please try it first because I want to make the glow effect not cover the words or anything, so you need to make sure it doesn't.

To make the letters appear correctly, i went to the right side, and changed option from false to true that says UseCompatibleTextRendering, it wont work if cleartype isnt on on the vista computer, which i dont mind but i just want the glow effect only! and with not covering up the letters/words in the label.

Answer 34

bump, i need this done before the 7th, that is my deadline

Answer 35

Since you're in a time crunch check these open source projects out, some of them have accomplished it.  These are likely all going to be C#, so you can compile them and then dissasmble them with .Net Reflector to get VB.Net code to start from to save you mucho time.  I didn't read in this thread whether this was a WinForms or a WPF application.  The below examples are for traditional WinForms.

http://windowsformsaero.codeplex.com/

http://aeroglassprovider.codeplex.com/

Answer 36

thanks for looking those up but on conversion to vb.net im getting errors, also, the main thing shown here makes it draw the text with the glow effect, and not really a way to add the glow effect to words.  Anyways, these aren't easy to really implement because I need to make checkboxes work when moused over any part of the text still, also, another thing is i want it to make it so i can easily tell it which controls, labels, checkboxes, possibly others that I want to add the effect to, because im not a big fan of coding, and i find it difficult to code both long and hard, just long, or just hard code.

I used VB mainly because it has almost all you need pre-built into it and you dont really have to code all too much to make your programs work the way you want them to.

U can anchor controls instead of coding for them to resize which is what I found out just a few days ago, so its easier than ever to not code very much yourself when making programs, and I wouldn't think it would be too much to ask for someone to make this code work for me when the code is hard to understand, and it's definitely not a short code to implement.

I just want kind of a explanation of w/e code you give me unless its a copy paste code meant to work by making all glass controls auto glow or making textbox controls, button controls etc so that text is readable, probly not done with glow effect, i would hope, because it has its own surrounding 'background' it's just that it's text is not visible.