how to Skin mfc dialog

[eroy4u]

I have an application using MFC dialog,
I want my application to be more beautiful.

I want to use pictures as the background of the dialog, as the minimize buttons, as the maximize buttons...

Can anyone tell me how to do this or give me references?
I tried to google and found CDhtmlDialog but doesn't know if it's really fit my want.

[fransn]

This will give your program the XP look and feel if that's what you mean: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/winsdk/makexp.aspx

[John E]

The quickest route to a slick looking app is to use one of the existing skinning suites such as:-

Stardock's DirectSkin

or

SkinCrafter

Unfortunately, the most basic useable license for DirectSkin costs a whopping $5,000 so it's only useful for medium sized companies. I'm sure they'd sell lots more of their product if they could make a small scale version for private developers - but they don't.

SkinCrafter is much cheaper ($399) and it looks pretty good. BUT (and these are BIG 'buts')

1) There have been no new SkinCrafter skins for well over a year. The company keeps recirculating old skins and pretending that they're 'new'.

2) Technical support is pretty near non-existent (check out their tech support forums if you don't believe me).

3) The company's attitude generally stinks. Once they've taken your money they don't/won't listen to customers in any meaningful sense. If you decide to go with SkinCrafter, make sure that any problems get resolved before you part with any cash. The chances are high that they'll totally ignore you once the money's in their bank.

[BytePtr]

I just looked at their forums and what John E says is truth.
So many questions from so many people and most questions have just 0 answers. Just silence.
In General forum there are many people complaining about very poor support.

Really, people should read forum before buying anything from them.

I've never seen such poor support like they have.

[eroy4u]

Thanks for your detailed reply.
Is there a free way to do it?
I just want to make my dialogs and buttons more beautiful.

[kirants]

http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dialog/ezskin.aspx

Search for skin in the codeguru/codeproject articles section