# DirectSkin

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/DirectSkin.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSkin
> Source revision: 1303885504
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

DirectSkin in action

***DirectSkin*** is a [software component](/source/Software_component) that is used by [software developers](/source/Software_developer) to add [skinning](/source/Skin_(computing)) capability to their applications, which may or may not be exposed to [end-users](/source/End-user). It is made by **[Stardock](/source/Stardock)**, and is derived from the ***[WindowBlinds](/source/WindowBlinds)*** component of their software subscription package, [Object Desktop](/source/Object_Desktop). Being implemented as an [ActiveX/COM](/source/Component_Object_Model) component,[1] it may be used by any COM-capable language, including [Visual Basic](/source/Visual_Basic), [VB.NET](/source/VB.NET), [C#](/source/C_Sharp_(programming_language)), [C++](/source/C%2B%2B) and [Delphi](/source/Delphi_(programming_language)).[2]

DirectSkin uses the *WindowBlinds* UIS [file format](/source/File_format), [leveraging](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leverage) skin authors' existing knowledge. Users either contract Stardock or third party companies to create their skins, license existing skins for use with an application, or make their own using *[SkinStudio](/source/SkinStudio)*.

DirectSkin has seen use in various applications; the most public has been that of the [ATI](/source/ATI_Technologies) **CATALYST Control Center**,[3] a [graphical user interface](/source/Graphical_user_interface) for their [graphics card](/source/Graphics_card) [device drivers](/source/Device_driver) running on the [.NET Framework](/source/Microsoft_.NET), introduced in 2004. Another example is [Syncfusion](https://www.syncfusion.com/), a toolkit for creating .NET applications.[4]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Gunderloy, Mike (2004-04-02). ["Review: DirectSkin"](https://adtmag.com/articles/2004/04/02/review-directskin.aspx). *Application Developer Trends (ADTMag.com)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Gunderloy, Mike (2005-05-31). ["Review: DirectSkin 4.5"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080531115759/http://www.larkware.com/Reviews/directskin.html). *Larkware*. Archived from [the original](http://www.larkware.com/Reviews/directskin.html) on 2008-05-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft) (2007-05-11). ["AMD Uses Customization Technology to Personalize Windows Vista User Experience"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100926223346/http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Windows-Vista-Enterprise-64-bit-edition/AMD/AMD-Uses-Customization-Technology-to-Personalize-Windows-Vista-User-Experience/201505). *[Microsoft](/source/Microsoft)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Windows-Vista-Enterprise-64-bit-edition/AMD/AMD-Uses-Customization-Technology-to-Personalize-Windows-Vista-User-Experience/201505) on 2010-09-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Syncfusion (2006-06-16). ["Syncfusion and Stardock improve interoperability to provide tools for .NET developers"](https://www.syncfusion.com/company/about-us/news/press-releases/2006/ockimprovtudiowork2006-06-16/syncfusion-and-stardock).

## External links

- [DirectSkin official home page](https://www.stardock.com/corporatesolutions/directskin/)

v t e Stardock products and services Games developed Galactic Civilizations Galactic Civilizations Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords Dark Avatar Twilight of the Arnor Galactic Civilizations III Galactic Civilizations IV The Political Machine The Political Machine 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Elemental series Elemental: War of Magic Elemental: Fallen Enchantress Other games The Corporate Machine Dead Man's Draw Siege of Centauri Society Star Control: Origins Third-party games Sins of a Solar Empire Sins of a Solar Empire II Demigod Ashes of the Singularity Offworld Trading Company Digital distribution Impulse Stardock Central WinCustomize Other software Object Desktop DesktopX Fences Multiplicity WindowBlinds Other BootSkin DirectSkin ObjectDock Tweak7 Related articles Brad Wardell Derek Paxton Stardock Systems, Inc. v. Reiche

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [DirectSkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSkin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectSkin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.