Introduction

In this article we will understand the Image based Text Effect on Windows Phone 7. Ever wonder how to add a gradient-like effect but as an image?

Let us see how to do that.

Step 1 : First of all we need to create a new project for Windows Phone 7 (I preferred that) import this image below in your application.

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Step 2 : In this step you need to add a label to your project.



Step 3 : Now change its Foreground value to get the image we've imported above.

Step 4 : Change Stretch into UniformToFill to get a better view. Here's what we've achieved:



Hope its an useful trick for you :)

Windows Phone 7 Skins for NOKIA N8 and SAMSUNG NEXUS GT are ready for download and trying!

Copy the WM7_Skin file and image files for each skins to:

For 32-bit: C:\Program Files\Microsoft XDE\1.0

For 64-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft XDE\1.0

There is no button added for emulator and when you design your app using Expression Blend or Visual Studio 2010,

you wont be able to see your skin here.

These skins are for XDE only.

WP7 Skins.rar (1,60 mb)

Did you like it? I've just finished!

Well, Maybe Samsung Nexus GT doesnt support WP7 but it would be nice,it were! 

Dont you think?

Im making some skins for WP7.When they are all finished, i will be sharing them with you :)

You've just installed Windows Phone 7.1 Developer Tools RC but you were unable to debug it.Right?

This is because some files are missing from your PC that Emulator needs.

Lets run Standalone Windows Phone Emulator and see which file it is!

See? MFPlat.DLL file is missing from your PC! This problem here isnt about running VS2010 as Administrator or not! I saw guys talking about this so often but they are focusing on the wrong direction :) The real problem here is: our emulator needs this MFPlat.DLL file.

So where to find it?

Dont worry i've Google'd around a bit for you and found the required files that will help you run WP7.1 Emulator properly.

First of all, download the archive file i'm giving you.

wp7reqfiles.rar (296,15 kb)

Now extract these files.

There are 3 folders: "C_Windows_System32" , "C_Windows_System32_en-US"  and "C_Windows_SysWOW64"

Copy the 3 files inside these directories into the same location as folder name given within archive file.

Furthermore:

1) Copy mfplat.dll inside "C_Windows_System32" folder into C:\Windows\System32 directory.
2) Copy mfplat.dll inside "C_Windows_SysWOW64" folder into  C:\Windows\SysWOW64 directory. (if you're using 32-bit Win OS, ignore this step)
3) Copy mfplat.dll.mui inside "C_Windows_System32_en-US" folder into C:\Windows\System32\en-US


After this step you're ready for WP7.1 Development!

Hope it helps!