Modifying the Predefined Color Schemes
Each of the predefined color schemes is a group of settings that specifies fonts and sizes of certain interface elements, as well as colors. You can tweak these predefined schemes
by clicking Advanced in the Appearance Settings dialog box. Doing so produces the Advanced Appearance dialog box.
In addition to squaring off the window frames and taskbar buttons, the Windows Standard and Windows Classic color schemes replace the relatively compact Windows Vistastyle
Start menu with one that uses fly-out submenus.
Personalizing Windows Vista
The Advanced Appearance dialog box lets you further customize the built-in color schemes.
In the sample window of the Advanced Appearance dialog box, click the screen element you want to change. Then use the lists and buttons at the bottom of the dialog box to
make your color, font, and size selections. For title bars, you can specify two colors; Windows creates a gradient from Color 1 (at the left end of the title bar) to Color 2 (at the right end).
The Item list includes some items that don’t appear in the sample window, so you might want to review it in its entirety before you move on.
The Advanced Appearance dialog box itself has a distinctly “unadvanced” appearance.
The squared-off windows in its sample area betray its ancient heritage, and the text below the sample window gives fair warning. The dialog box is really designed for customizing the Windows Classic and Windows Standard color schemes. You can use it to
modify the Windows Aero and Windows Vista Basic color schemes, but you might not get exactly the results you’re looking for, and you won’t fi nd Undo or Default buttons anywhere. Experiment carefully and keep your own mental cookie trail. If you want to be
absolutely sure you can fi nd your way out of the pool, create a restore point before you
dive in. (See “Confi guring System Protection Options.
The Color button for each item opens a selection of standard colors. If you don’t see the one you’re looking for, click the Other button. Windows then displays a Color dialog box.
Should you fail to fi nd exactly the color you want in the Basic Colors palette, you can defi ne your own custom colors. Change the color that.
Be careful with the Advanced Appearance dialog box
The Advanced Appearance dialog box itself has a distinctly “unadvanced” appearance.
The squared-off windows in its sample area betray its ancient heritage, and the text
below the sample window gives fair warning. The dialog box is really designed for cus- customizing the Windows Classic and Windows Standard color schemes. You can use it to
tomizing modify the Windows Aero and Windows Vista Basic color schemes, but you might not get exactly the results you’re looking for, and you won’t fi nd Undo or Default buttons anywhere.
Experiment carefully and keep your own mental cookie trail. If you want to be absolutely sure you can fi nd your way out of the pool, create a restore point before you dive in.
