Not quite, Werewolf.... I do need to create a custom look for certain applications that I've written myself. But I need that custom look to appear - even on systems that don't have WindowBlinds installed. That's what DirectSkin does, if my understanding is correct. My main reservation is that DirectSkin is vastly more expensive than either WindowBlinds or Object Desktop and I'm trying to figure out why.... I'm really just wondering what exactly does DirectSkin contain for all that extra money?

So if I purchase Object Desktop to start with, I'm not going to be paying for components that I'd have gotten anyway?

Thanks - but I'm at the end of my tether here.... I've already emailed Support (and pre-sales support) at Stardock as well as a special Support team who deal exclusively with DirectSkin but they don't seem to want to reply. To me, it seems such a simple question.... Does DirectSkin contain everything I need to produce skins for my apps - or does it only contain the means to apply and distribute skins? In other words, will I also need to buy extra packages, such as SkinStudio or Object Desktop? I've made it clear in 3 emails that I have cash waiting to make a purchase - so I can't understand why they won't reply to me. This is my first encounter with Stardock but if this is indicitaive of the quality of their support, I think I might look somewhere else.

Thanks for the email addy Neil. In the meantime, I've found a similar product called SkinCrafter which I'm going to try out tomorrow. If it's good enough for what I want, I'll email lkuperman and say exactly why I bought somebody else's product instead of DirectSkin..!

Well, my first enquiry was about Object Desktop. I had a technical enquiry and a licensing enquiry. Kim, form Stardock, answered the licensing enquiry while Mike (also from Stardock) recommended that I should consider DirectSkin which he reckoned would be more suitable than Object Desktop. However, I noticed that DirectSkin is one helluva lot more expensive than Object Desktop - since when, I've been trying to clarify what exactly I'd be getting for the money. I've gathered that SkinStudio is needed to actually design the skins. SkinStudio is available in Object Desktop - but I'd be foolish to buy Object Desktop if SkinStudio is also included in DirectSkin. So to answer your question.... yes, I had an initial response - but the initial response generated further questions which nobody will answer...