Download Rainmeter: Clock Skin: Do I need A Jacket Skin: -. Click Install to complete the installation of the package. Note: If Rainmeter is being run as a installation, start SkinInstaller.exe from the Rainmeter program folder, and browse to the.rmskin file to install it. Installing Manually Before Rainmeter 1.3, most skins had to be unzipped and moved to the Skins folder by hand.
Windows Operating System is officially developed by Microsoft Corporation. There is one default interface present in the Windows OS in every version of Windows 10, 8.1, 7 etc. But rather than that if we want to change the background we can able to apply various types of wallpapers. Applying various wallpapers we can only change the backgrounds only but the interface still remains old and boring. But there is a good chance for all the Windows users that they can easily customize the interface also with the help of RainMeter Skins. RainMeter is a software through which you can apply any RainMeter themes or skins on your Windows PC. So there is no problem custom your Window interface in the Windows version 10, 8.1, 7 from now.
There are many people out there who keeps downloading screen savers and customization packs to change the way Windows looks. If you are among them, then do not use such kind of customization packs as they may make your system vulnerable. RainMeter themes and RainMeter skins will allow you to customize your desktop according to your needs. The best thing about RainMeter skins and themes is that you can download them for free and even you can download RainMeter software for free. If you haven’t heard about this software, then this post can be useful for you as we are going to tell you about best RainMeter skins and best RainMeter themes which you can use with RainMeter software to customize your PC.
Let’s start to know how to enable or work with rain meter skins to apply it on your PC. Many of the users getting bored in using the old default themes. Some of them think that there is no option except changing backgrounds to customize the Windows interface. But no there are many better options to change or customize your desktop notification icons and interfaces. Before applying the skins you need to know or get clear about the RainMeter. So here on the next point, we are going to discuss it.
What is RainMeter?
RainMeter is a software which displays the themes or skins in your Windows interface to change app icon, to change the skin of battery meter, WiFi, sound, media player, etc. and more. Once you install the theme it will automatically change the overall visual experience of the Windows Interface. So you need to download the RainMeter at first to install on your PC. To download the current version of RainMeter you can visit the official website of RainMeter or Click Here to get it now.
List Of Top 40 Best RainMeter Skins Themes 2020 for Windows 10/8/8.1/7
Some of the best top rated RainMeter skins for Windows PC in 2017 is given below. Besides the name of every skin, you can get the downloading link from various sources against each skin. Click on the title of the Skins to start downloading it.
Do note that there are many websites and places available to download RainMeter themes and to download free RainMeter skins but below you can find best among them. We’ve tried many RainMeter free themes and skins and then prepared this post with top RainMeter themes skins.
Battlefield 3
This is gaming theme in which you can find the custom side bar on the right side of the window. On that side bar, you can insert your favorite app or shortcut which you need always. Get custom clock and date widget on the screen with live weather updates and all. Besides that, you can access all the best shortcuts which you regularly need from the desktop screen only. Those users who need to custom their PC into an original gaming console then they can definitely use this theme to give the proper visual effect.
JARVIS And SHIELD
if you are an Iron Man fan then you’ll definitely like this rainmeter skin. JARVIS Rainmeter is one of the best rainmeter skin for windows 7, 8 or windows 10. It will make your computer desktop look like iron man’s JARVIS computer. There are many different kind of RainMeter skins Jarvis available out there but this one works best among them as it have many widgets and customization options.
- Also Check: free movie streaming sites
Windows 2019
Popular RainMeter skin for Windows is Windows 2019. It provides one best icon pack with the customizable quick notification bar. Get news, feeds, weather updates, Music control in a single screen only. The main advantage of using this skin is that it gives you the proper arrangement to decorate your desktop screen and access get your apps in a finger tip. Choose the customised icon to change the look of your default icons of Windows. If you keep connecting your PC to the internet then you can get live notification of mail, weather, events etc.
Darkness Falls
This a night view skin with a dark scenery besides your interface. If you always like the dark interface in your PC screen then definitely you can go for this skin only. Starting from the wallpaper, widget, icons everything you can change into the dark mode only. Also get the instant on/off button in the below panel with icon notification and more. The new interface provides every user a best visual experience at all. This skin really makes the work of user so much easier than before with customised widgets and all.
Obsidian
To convert a very user-friendly interface for accessing your PC then definitely go for Obsidian RainMeter skin. It creates a step like structure on the PC screen by arranging the useful icons and widgets on your main screen. The main visual of the screen looks like an architecture model in which every apps or shortcut remain arranged in a block like structure. Pick any one of your apps and arrange in this block to get access them instantly. One of the best extra ordinary looks will you get while using the Obsidian Rainmeter skin on your PC.
Mass Effect Skin
The main focus of creating this skin is to provide one Aero effect on your desktop screen. Apply this skin once to get the actual aero theme based visual experience. Earlier we need to use various aero wallpapers or back grounds on our PC. But only the backgrounds do not fulfill the actual need of the user. As user need to change the overall looks like an icon, background, folder style, etc. So by using the Mass Effect skin you can able to change all the user needed items in your desktop. Get the time, date, music player, weather etc, widgets on a single screen also.
End of the World
One of the imagination theme to change your desktop visual then use the End of the World theme. This looks like an imagination scenery that what it may look while the World will get destroyed for ever. This is not based on any real scenario. So the whole skin pack is built under the imaginary scenario of the end of the world. Thus here you will see the half ended background of the earth with effective looks on your screen. Besides the background, you can also get change the customised icons, widgets, clock etc.
Pog Pack
This skin provides you an instrument cluster type design on your desktop screen. All the needful things you can get access directly from that cluster screen. This is a type of digital cum analog view which mixed in a single screen to provide the custom look of your screen. So install this theme on your PC and feel the awesome using experience and also the visual effects on the screen. This skin pack is free to download for using on your desktop and laptop also. Sometimes this desktop screen looks like the dashboard of any sports car also.
My Rainmeter Desktop
Get the universe effect on your current desktop screen by replacing the old screen now. So download RainMeter skin Windows and apply this my rain meter desktop on your Windows PC. The universe is consists of various planets, stars, sun, moon etc. Altogether the whole universe content you can get to apply for changing the visual effects of your PC. Besides that, you can change or customize the screen icons, widgets, player, etc. through a single Rainmeter skin only.
Horde
Horde is a simple classic theme to decorate your PC interface. There is nothing extra ordinary in this skin pack. Those users who want a simple classic style view on their PC then they can definitely go for this Rainmeter skin. This theme has a quick app launching feature with user-friendly interfaces. The simple customising feature is also available in this skin pack only. Change the style of your clock, date, weather widgets through this skin pack only.
Space
From the name of the Skin may you get to know that this theme will provide the universe and space-related visual effect on your screen. This is a very cool and beautiful skin which gives you the best look while you watch your screen in the dark or in the night time especially. The effects which are provided by this theme really feels like you are in a space only. Including the background, icon, folder style, widget style, clock, weather etc. also get transformed into the space style only.
Galaxy Suite Rainmeter
This theme also provides one of the best galaxy backgrounds with visual interface effects on Windows. This is also a type of universe related theme which provides the same effects like the whole galaxy in general. From the name of this skin you can guess that this is n over all theme suite for your desktop. Yes, you are right as Galaxy Suite Rainmeter will change the over all looks of the desktop including the icon, folder, widgets etc.
Switchin
This is also a type of classic theme with simple and best user view interfaces. Install it on your PC and use the best performance provide by this skin. Users who need to get the simple style for a user-friendly look and use it comfortably then go for this theme definitely. Here you will get one whitish customize task bar on the top of your screen from where you can view your tasks instantly. This bar also shows the current notification of battery, wifi, on off etc. in one place.
Eker Lina Rainmeter
The greenish effect provide by the eker lina rainmeter theme will give you a crystal clean visuality on your desktop items. The widgets which you will get on the screen is fully customizable. The special black color of the widget provides a very nice look when you apply some light color wallpaper in the back ground. The main feature is that you can time, live weather, CPU status etc. on one screen. You can also change or customize the color and combination of the widgets with your background also.
Encoded
The four color black, white, gray, red interface will give a most eye-catching interface for the Windows users. This is some what extra ordinary skin as you can avail the same widget with four different color scheme. It comes with music player widget from where you can play, pause, change the track instantly.If you want you can add more widget in the same place to access them easily.
Pileus Suite
Pileus suite is a type of artistic theme with various color effects on the widgets and icons on your PC. The whole screen is converted into a painted view. Like you can access the apps from the icons which really looks like a prismatic picture. The CPU usage is showing a graph effects to give the extra ordinary look on your PC screen. No body can explain in words the whole features of this theme. SO once you need to install it feel the visual effect of the skin.
Moon Glow
Get a beautiful natural effect on your PC screen with the help of Moon Glow Rainmeter skin. The back ground of this default rainmeter meter screen is so cool that all the on screen widgets looks very attractive while you use this rainmeter skin. You can get the outer temperature widget, weather condition, date, time etc, in a live notification system. Save your favorite notes on the main screen so that you can access it very easily.
Morph
Classic effect with an abstract icon and widget design is created with the help of Morph skin. It arranges your desktop items in a sequence with a shelf and tray like structure. The default structure which is created in this skin is very nice and beautiful. If you need to change the structure then you can also customize it according to your own choice. Every needful widget for controlling is present on the single screen only.
Before dawn
The coolest and fresh effect you will get through this before dawn skin. This skin is very simple and easy to use. The all in one bar gives you all the notification and information about the live widgets on your desktop screen. Even you can get to know about the system status, memory space all in all from this single bar on the desktop only. This is very easy to handle this screen on your desktop and laptop too.
ABP
One exceptional theme which gives you block type of interface with all live notifications on your screen. All the information, notifications, icons are categorized in a tabular segmented form. So any beginner or an advanced user can easily get to access his/her PC very easily. You can get the live notification on this screen only. So ABP helps you to replace your boring screen with the new one and thus use the most beautiful interface of this skin.
Razor
If you want to need a simple clear desktop with a customizable live view then go for razor Rainmeter skin. The crystal clear screen gives you a fresh look which you use your PC anytime in any mood. Get the top view dock with time and date and also get the status of your PC instantly. All the default windows icons will get changed into a new look and thus you feel more comfortable while using your System.
Orange Glow
This is a Rainmeter theme which looks like orange in color with dark effects. The whole desktop screen is get arranged with the frequently used apps and widgets also. The default color combination which is provided in this skin is very excellent. But still if you want to change the color scheme then also you can go for it easily.
Raleway Skin
This is nature based theme with a simple interface and gets all the important widgets on your screen. Simple and classic view of this skin gives you a fresh mood while using it on your PC. The weather and other live notification is available on a single screen only. All the useful icons you can tag on the middle of your desktop screen.
Simple Dock
Simple Dock creates on a dock on your desktop screen from where you can select your favorite apps to launch instantly. This skin provides a customizable dock to hold you most frequently used important apps on a single bar only. So that you need to jump here and there to find the apps every time. Besides this you can get the clock and date widget in a very wide view on the middle of the screen.
i2 bar
This is abstract category theme which gives you great visual effects with white and black combination skin. It comes with stylish top and bottom task bar. Both the bar you can customize with various themes and icons too. The bar provides you the battery status, wifi status, temperature etc in a single place.Directly access your needful app from the main screen only.
Rising Reflection Interface
The rising reflection interface gives one early morning themes with this skin pack. It also comes up with side bar panel having all the needful app launching icons. The early morning view is provided while you use this skin. Besides the backgrounds, you can get change all the folder view style, icons, status bars, widgets etc. in you screen. Overall the whole system view get changed after using this theme.
GeoSans 2.0 Rainmeter Skin
GeoSans is a simple textual based rainmeter skin that will offer you with some simple yet elegant look to your desktop. This rainmeter skin can offer your desktop with the elegant look for your professional desktop. This will not only look elegant but with a more elegant screen saver from our list you can get the perfect desktop screen for your desktop at your office or your private space. You can event make the skin look more amazing with more elegant wallpaper background. There are many things to customize from like CPU meter, new digital clock, date option, RAM meter, Up and down network monitor etc.
Play Station
Love the look your Play Station? Want to customize your desktop like the Play Station too, well if that’s so then this is the perfect rain meter for you. The Play Station rain meter skin offers you with customization that can help your desktop look and feel like Play Station. Just like the Play Station control center, with this theme you can control & access all the functionality from the desktop itself. The skin already comes with an elegant wallpaper that make using this skin feel even more like Play Station.
OSX Transformation
Customizing your desktop like the way you want to is a great option with rain meter skins. And OSX Transformation skin offers you with the same which is an OSX (Apple MAC) skin for your Windows. No need to worry about installing any cracked version of OSX on your regular gaming rig, simply install the rain meter and run the OSX transformation skin. This skin offers with a dock and wallpaper just like a MAC book. You can customize and add more icons on the dock as you need to and customize to your need.
Glass Rain Meter Skin
Glass Rain Meter Skin is yet another elegant skin for Rain meter to customize your boring desktop. This skin offers with a mid-transparent display which looks amazing with wide view wallpaper in the background and to make things more interesting with the skin, you will have every little thing at your finer tip. Personally, I definitely haven’t seen such great rain meter skin in long time. Access your social media sites, browsers, document, music, files and much more from the desktop itself. The icons are semi-transparent which makes it even more cool.
B&R Radar Clock
Are you into aeroplanes? Well if you are then the B&R Radar Clock can grab your first attention. With this rain meter skin you will be able to customize your whole desktop just like a blueprint of aeroplane with smart working radar. The radar in actual is a working clock where the large plane is the hour hand and the smaller plane is the minute skin. This is great rain meter skin for customizers who are really into aeroplanes. The colour of the text can be easily customizable as all you need to do is change the “Tint=255,0,0,255 to something else depending on your colour code need.
Toxic
The Toxic rain meter is a simple rain meter skin. This skin comes with a toxic wallpaper which matches perfectly with the rain meter gadgets which shows the CPU and RAM meter. You can also see the Date and time on the top of desktop. So if you want a simplistic skin but which also looks cool at the same time then Toxic rain meter skin is what you need.
Carbon and Ice II
The new version of Carbon and Ice is here and it never look so good. This is a great theme for those who want add a smooth look to their rain meter. The skin offer with a simple glass ice effect colour with carbon fiber look finish for the widgets and gadgets. Carbon and Ice color contrast is what makes this skin look so great and with Ice glass (bluish) Carbon (grayish) and White color for the text makes this skin really worth trying. You can access every little thing from the desktop itself like temperature, email, notifications, time & date, Network speed meter, all the system drive info and many more. What makes this theme even more interesting is that you will be able to customize all the little thing as your need and want.
MagicSkins
This is rain meter skin which only works for rain meter 3.3. This is really a amazing skin for all the gamers out there as you can mode the games icon and customize it with the skin itself. Be it music, photos, Photoshop, alarm or any other thing you can get all the basic things on the deck bar below. And if you are thinking about adding any new icons, you can simply drag and drop them into the tool bar on the bottom right as well.
ProteusChroma
ProteusChroma is graphic rain meter skin that offer you with a minimalistic designed skin that allows you to create your own customizable skin. This Rain Meter skin can be added with different types of skins to create a new skin with the wallpaper applied with it. So if you are thinking that you want something unique then ProteusChroma is what you need. Customize the skin till your heart’s content with ProteusChroma, so get the skin right now with rain meter 2.2 onward.
MonoBar
If you want a rain meter skin that is responsive to your screen cursor movement then the MonoBar is what you need. With MonoBar you can create up to 6 different customizable shortcut menu for access different application or you can create a custom path to even access folders. The background applied with the skin is really great too and matches perfectly with the MonoBar’s Black and White contrast. You can add the shortcuts in different parts of the screen which will create responsive feedback like popping up and more when you move the cursor over it. This makes the MonBar skin worth using as any other skin isn’t customized like this.
Webcamz 1.2
Want a Rain Meter Skin that is all about customizing photos and more? Well, Webcamz is what you need. Just like windows slide show, the Webcamz 1.2 also plays the different image that you select in a folder or the whole folder together in one single place in your desktop. You can also add more than just one slide show to make you desktop look more amazing. And if that’s what you want then Webcamz skin for Rain meter is what you might want to get. Note that this skin only works for Rain meter 3.3.
Central Computer Core 10
If you are looking for a rain meter skin to customize all the stuff you want in your rain meter theme then Central Computer core 10 is what you want. You can create and link different pathway of your folder, apps, and games into one place into the skin itself. With many existing gadgets like gmail, time, turn off, standby & sleep, RAM meter, clock speed and many more. So if you want a highly customizable skin for your latest 3.3 rain meter then Central Computer core 10 is what you need.
Beta Clock 1.0
This is as simple as a rain meter skin can get. This is a rain meter skin namely Beta Clock 1.0 and the skin is simply what it is named after. It is a clock that you can use to give your desktop a clean look that you might have wanted so far. So get Beta Clock 1.0 right now for the most minimalist rain meter skin.
Steel Plates With Pipes A Rain Meter DieselPunk HUD
This rain meter skin is a complete Skin for customizing everything on your desktop. With Steel Plates With Pipes A Rain Meter DieselPunk HUD you can add every single thing right on the desktop. You can add stuff like Wallpaper frame, CPU, Feed Reader, HDD details, Music players, Network meter, Storm Quake customization and many more. This skin is simply a whole package of skins and many other stuff that makes out to a perfect skin for customization enthusiastic. So if you are also searching for a complete skin makeover for your desktop then get the Steel Plates With Pipes A Rain Meter DiselPunk HUD Right now.
Best Rainmeter Skin Reddit
As we know Reddit is one of the best place to get information repleted to anything in this world and you’ll find lots of thread regarding your topic. Like that there is also a thread on best rainmeter skin where people share and discuss about their favorite rainmeter skins. So you can visit that threat to get more best rainmeter skins for windows pc. Best Rainmeter Skin Reddit Thread
How To Install Rainmeter Skins or Themes on Windows 10/8.1/7?
Some of the easy steps to install the RainMeter themes on your PC are given below. So go through the steps to know about installing it on your PC.
- Initially, you require Windows 7 or upper to install this theme. So you can also use RainMeter themes for Windows 10.
- After downloading the RainMeter software from the above link you just install it on your PC.
- Now select your own top RainMeter theme or free RainMeter skins from the above list and download it from various sources in your PC.
- One zip folder will download from which you need to copy all the files present inside the Zip folder.
- Now paste the files on the RainMeter Skins folder which you can be going to find on document folder.
- Now restart the RainMeter app and right click on the icon and select the Config. You will get the new theme which you have downloaded for applying on your PC.
- That’s it the new RainMeter skin will be successfully installed on your PC.
Bottom Line
That’s all about the top best RainMeter themes or RainMeter skins through which you can completely replace the old, boring and dull look of your Windows PC. Besides these themes for RainMeter, you can also get many other skins for RainMeter software which also you can apply on your PC following the same method as given above. For all the Windows users we have given all the download links of each skin with the Rainmeter software to install on your PC. Hope you all are satisfied with the content which we have discussed above rainmeter skins.
Do note that there are many RainMeter skins Windows 10 available out there and every theme works differently on different version of Windows. So if you want same RainMeter theme for different version of Windows, then you can search like RainMeter themes for Windows 7 or RainMeter skins for Windows 10. We will keep updating this post with more new RainMeter themes, skins, so keep visiting this post if you want to download RainMeter themes and RainMeter skins for free.
Rainmeter includes tools that make it easier to share skins that you have created with other users. This page describes how to use the Skin Packager feature, and offers some guidelines for distributing a new skin in a public gallery, such as deviantArt.
Skin Packager
The Skin Packager is used to create a 'package' file that contains all of the files needed to install a skin in Rainmeter.
The package file is created in the 'Rainmeter Skin Installer' format, with the extension .rmskin. The file is actually a modified zip file, with the addition of certain metadata that is used to verify the integrity of the package. (As of version 2.3, Rainmeter will not install a normal ZIP file changed to the '.rmskin' extension; the package must be created with the Skin Packager.)
To launch the Skin Packager, open the Manage window and click the button labeled Create .rmskin package... in the bottom-left.
Step 1: Information and Components
Start by providing some basic information about the skin:
Name:
The name of the skin. (Required.)Author:
The name of the skin's author. (Required.)Version:
The current version of the skin. This can be a number (such as '1.0'), a date ('15 November 2008'), or any other identifying string. (Optional.)
Next, choose the files that will be added to the package:
Add skin...
Choose the root config folder of your skin. This is the folder that will be copied to the user's Skins directory when the skin is installed. It must be a single folder that contains the entire skin or skins, including any resource files needed, such as addon utilities or fonts. You may choose a folder from your own Skins directory, or somewhere else on your computer. Only one root config folder is allowed in a single package. (Required.)Add layout...
You may choose any number of layouts to be installed along with the skin.Add plugin...
You may choose any number of plugins to be installed along with the skin. Only custom plugins should be distributed in this way. The standard plugins described in this manual are included with all versions of Rainmeter, and never need to be installed separately. To include a custom plugin, you must provide both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the plugin to ensure compatibility on all systems.
Click Next to continue.
Step 2: Options
All of the following fields are optional. The default settings are appropriate for most skins.
Save package to:
Choose where the new package file will be created. Defaults to the current user's Desktop folder.After installation
You may choose one of two actions for Rainmeter to take after installing the skin. (Before installing, the user will have the option to skip this action.)Load skin:
You may choose one of the skin '.ini' files in your package. This skin will be automatically loaded alongside any other skins that the user is already running. This setting is recommended for most skins.Load layout:
If you added any layouts to the package, you may choose one layout to be loaded automatically, replacing the user's existing layout.
Minimum requirements
You may set the minimum versions of Rainmeter and/or Windows required for the skin. Rainmeter will not install the skin on a system that does not meet these requirements.Rainmeter version:
Defaults to the current version of Rainmeter on your system. If you are sure that the skin will work on an earlier version, you may change the minimum requirement accordingly. Rainmeter version numbers are written in the form Major.Minor.Patch.Revision. For example, Rainmeter 4.0.0 (r2551) would be written as4.0.0.2551.
Note That the revision number is just a minimum, intended to allow you to target a specific build of Rainmeter. So to target the .rmskin at any revision of 4.0 or later you can leave off most of the number, and just use4, target any revision of 4.2 with4.2or a specific revision number with4.2.0.3111.Windows version:
Defaults to Windows 7, which is the lowest version of Windows supported by Rainmeter 4.0 or later. Some skins may require higher versions of Windows, depending on their plugins, addons, or other factors. You can set this to a lower version of Windows, but should only do so if you are targeting a Rainmeter version less than 4.0, such as3.3.0.2519.
Step 3: Advanced
For additional options, click the Advanced tab at the top of the window.
Header image:
You may choose a custom header image to be displayed in the Skin Installer. The image must be a bitmap image (.bmp) that is exactly 400x60 pixels in size.Variables files:
Some skins have one or more include files to store variables that can be changed by the user. If a user is reinstalling or upgrading a skin that they already have in their library, they will most likely want to preserve their existing preferences. You may specify these files in your skin package, so that the existing variable values are used instead of the defaults in the package.Specify the file location starting with the root config folder, e.g.
illustroClockVariables.inc. You may specify multiple files by separating them with pipes (|), e.g.illustroClockVariables.inc | illustroFeedsVariables.inc.Merge skins
If selected, the Skin Installer will not remove any existing files found in the user's Skins directory. (Normally, the root config folder is removed and replaced with the version in the skin package.) This can be used to install an 'expansion' or a 'patch' to a previously-installed skin, without duplicating unchanged files.
Finally, click Create package to complete the process. It may take several seconds to create the package, depending on the size of your skin. The file will be saved in your chosen location as Name_Version.rmskin (using the 'Name' and 'Version' fields that you entered in the first step).
Hidden Files
The Skin Packager will ignore any hidden files or folders in your root config folder. You can take advantage of this behavior by storing development files (such as Photoshop 'PSD' files, or backup copies of skin code) as hidden files, so that they are excluded from the final product.
Publishing Guidelines
When distributing a skin to a small or private group of users, strict adherence to standards probably isn't too important. However, you may want to publish your finished work in a public repository like the Rainmeter skin galleries on deviantArt for other users to discover, download and share. In this case, taking the time to follow a few simple guidelines will be helpful to you, your users, and the Rainmeter community at large.
Use the Skin Packager.
Most sites that allow users to publish their Rainmeter skins now require the skins to be uploaded in the official '.rmskin' format created by Rainmeter's built-in Skin Packager. This is not only more convenient for regular users, since a skin package can be installed automatically in just a few clicks—it is also safer. Rainmeter always checks the validity of a skin package before installing it, to ensure that the package was created by the Skin Packager and not modified or tampered with in any way.
As with any open-source software ecosystem, malware disguised as Rainmeter skins has been an occasional concern for the community. By using the official format, you can help us reduce this concern by promoting a more secure method of distribution.
Use metadata.
Many skin authors tend to ignore the [Metadata] section in their skins, because it has no effect on a skin's function or performance. But there are good reasons to make sure your skin is fully-tagged before you release it into the wild. A skin with complete metadata is easier to find in the Manage window, and offers a reliable, built-in way to provide users with setup and usage instructions, or at least direct them to a webpage or readme file with more information.
In addition, because a skin's code is often copied or excerpted in posts and comments across the Internet, good metadata makes it easier to trace the code back to its source. The Version tag is especially helpful to avoid confusing multiple revisions of the same skin that have been released at different times.
Choose the right license for your skin (and respect others').
The Rainmeter community is built around a free, open exchange of ideas and resources. We wholeheartedly encourage skin authors to release their works under terms that allow other users to borrow their code and concepts, modify them, and release them in a new, unique form. We believe that this kind of frictionless collaboration is a big part of what has made the Rainmeter ecosystem thrive.
There are a number of open-source software licenses available, and it couldn't be easier to add them to your Rainmeter skin: just paste the name into the License tag in your [Metadata] section. The following licenses are commonly used for Rainmeter skins, plugins and addons:
That said, the same rule applies to Rainmeter skins as it does to any other content on the Internet: if you are not explicitly given permission to use it, you don't have permission. You really need some indication of consent from the creator - even a quick email is enough. In addition, it's always a good idea to credit the original creators when you post your own skin, even if their license doesn't require it. This means not only the original author of some code that you have modified, but also any images, addons, plugins and fonts that are not your own.
Make sure your license and credits are included both on your download page (for example, in the deviation comments on deviantArt) and somewhere in your skin package (either in your metadata tags, or a separate 'readme' file).
Clean up your layouts.
Rainmeter Skins Free Download
The ability to include a custom layout with your skin can make for a great presentation, especially in a large 'suite', where it is helpful to provide a template or starting point for your users to get started on customizing their desktops instead of loading skins one by one.
While arranging a layout on your own desktop, and using the Manage window to save it to a file, there are some steps you can take to make your layout load smoothly and cleanly on other users' desktops:
Rainmeter Skins Black
Remove [Skin] sections that don't belong to your suite. An easy way to keep only the sections you need is to check the 'Exclude unloaded skins' option when saving the layout.
Remove options from your skin sections if they are unchanged from Rainmeter's default settings, such as Draggable or SnapEdges. This will both reduce the size of your layout file, and make it easier to keep track of your code if you need to edit any layout settings by hand.
Use the 'From right' and 'From bottom' options to make sure your skins are loaded in the correct position regardless of the user's screen resolution. If you need to determine the skin's position in a more complex way, you can edit the 'Rainmeter.ini' settings file for your layout and write your own formulas for the WindowX, WindowY,AnchorX and AnchorY options for each skin section, using built-in variables. Here are some basic formulas you can use:
Center a skin on the desktop:
WindowX=(#WORKAREAX# + (#WORKAREAWIDTH# / 2 ) - (SkinWidth / 2) + Offset)1WindowY=(#WORKAREAY# + (#WORKAREAHEIGHT# / 2 ) - (SkinHeight / 2) + Offset)Center a skin on the screen:
WindowX=((#SCREENAREAWIDTH# / 2) - (SkinWidth / 2) + Offset)WindowY=((#SCREENAREAHEIGHT# / 2) - (SkinHeight / 2) + Offset)Align relative to the left edge of the desktop:
WindowX=(#WORKAREAX# + Offset)Align relative to the right edge of the desktop:
WindowX=(Offset + SkinWidth)R
orWindowX=(#WORKAREAX# + #WORKAREAWIDTH# - SkinWidth - Offset)Align relative to the top edge of the desktop:
WindowY=(#WORKAREAY# + Offset)Align relative to the bottom edge of the desktop:
WindowY=(Offset + SkinHeight)B
orWindowY=(#WORKAREAY# + #WORKAREAHEIGHT# - SkinHeight - Offset)
1. 'Offset' should be a number, e.g.
25R,-10B,(#WORKAREAX# + 75). If you don't need an offset (the skin is exactly centered or adjacent to the edge of the screen), leave it out. 'SkinWidth' and 'SkinHeight' should be the probable width and height of the skin.