i've been programming win32 for a long time and now i would like to make visually advanced windows.

i'm talking about the buttons which change color when the mouse is over them and which have diffferent themes instead of the dull look of windows dialogs. or animated controls which appear in a stylish way on the screen.

i don't suppose i can do all these just using the GDI. and i'm wondering if i have to use libraries to achieve this, or is pure win32 enough?

i'm not sure what i said is understandable