Traditionally, GUIs for VST/AU plugins have been created using pre-rendered graphic images, typically in the form of a large background image and any number of smaller image files used for knobs and the like. Allowing these image files to be loaded at run-time made it possible for users to substitute their own images, thus changing the GUI's appearance. This process (also widely used for games) has come to be known as “skinning”, with each collection of files called a “skin”. (See also Skin_(computing) and Theme_(computing).)

The present version of SARAH provides for a minimalist skinning approach—just a single background image—the technique, limitations, and philosophy of which are discussed below. For details about how to create your own SARAH skin, go to https://github.com/getdunne/SARAH/tree/master/Skinning, and look in the Skinning folder in the source code.