I have tried UOT Kitchen before, always was unlucky at having flashing errors.
My question is this... If I take a flashable theme, with permission from the creator, I should be able to use the scripts that they include for flashing? I am savvy with un-APKing zipping, signing and what not, is that all I would have to do to recreate a theme using my own images?
Thanks to everyone here!
Yes, the script you see other themes using can be changed out with your own, as well as the content. You can also just use the UOT Kitchen script. Credit given where credit is due, of course, but the script itself (IMHO) is not something you really need permission for.
Another tip, this from firsthand experience, when you're zipping everything up getting ready to flash, make sure you're zipping the contents of the theme folder (/META-INF/ & /system/) vs zipping the theme folder.
It sounds really stupid, but it took me forever to figure out why everything I did in UOT Kitchen perfectly but everything I did, using the same damn script, just froze. But ya gotta learn somewhere, right?
Remember when using the kitchen make sure u click amend scripting in the area where u load the apks... x2 uses 2. Something recovery.. if u don't click that there will be errors everytime
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Thank you, I think I've tried UOT 5 times but never had success.
Kevin, I tried the amend scripting, it solo didn't work.
I would much rather use my own images then those offered in uot kitchen.
I'm going to try to put a theme together this weekend, I haven't modded anything since BF2 wake island air show
Dee Ex Two - See Em Seven
Ok, how much do you know about themeing? Because if you are wanting to edit just the images(.pngs) you will need some info first...
You can "simply" take the framework-res.apk and systemUI.apk and go to the HDPI folder(or wherever the images are) and "drag n drop" to your desktop and edit those... OR you can take a .png that you wanna use(say one from another theme) and just drag n drop in the HDPI folder. And then, simply make a flashable .zip and your good to go.
.9s !!!
These are a PAIN if you dont know what you are doing.
If you are going to try and get into themeing, download APKManager and decompile the framework-res.apk ... go to a .9 image(i think its .png.9 or something of the like). When you load the image(say in GIMP) you will see black squares on the OUTSIDE of the image(like near the edges of the ACTUAL picture edge)... DONT TOUCH THOSE!!!! leave them there and make edits how you choose to the rest of the image. Once you are finished, just recompile(DONT SIGN AND YES! THESE ARE SYSTEM APPS!). Put in a flashable .zip and your set.
NOW Please note:
When you are doing the drag and drop method, make sure you are REPLACING an image and not ADDING more images.. catch the drift?
this is quick how to, hope it helps and good luck. let me know if you need anything else.
All the themes rock! I have poor eye sight (far sight) so my main concern always is status bar and the battery icon. I love being able to see the percentage, but some themes use smaller battery percentage text.
.9 seem like the stretchable area I'm beautiful widget... I understand that
Thanks Peperm1nt
Dee Ex Two - See Em Seven
I was thinking of trying out theming. That is until I looked at the crap load of images just thrown into one directory. lol. It may not be as hard as it looks but I havent looked any further than that yet. I still want to try something out though. Is there an easy way of figuring out what image does what on the phone? Like if I want to change some things, I have to know the name of the image. Well, to me, it looks like they aren't named plain and simple. Plus when they are just thrown into one directory its kinda hard to distinguish what is what. It was so much easier theming for webOS. lol
Js if u really look at the framework u will see all the images in the drawable hdpi folder are really a lot of the presses..tabs. status bar icons... over scroll glow theming takes a lot of time to build straight from scratch... any .9 PNG can be edited when it is decompiled in apk manager or apk multi tool just don't edit the black patch as peppermint said or u will not compile...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Kevin3328 said:
Js if u really look at the framework u will see all the images in the drawable hdpi folder are really a lot of the presses..tabs. status bar icons... over scroll glow theming takes a lot of time to build straight from scratch... any .9 PNG can be edited when it is decompiled in apk manager or apk multi tool just don't edit the black patch as peppermint said or u will not compile...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, one of these days ill download the tools and play with it. I've always enjoyed theming.
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk
I'm just trying to figure out the script to flash, is it the one in the google folder?
Dee Ex Two - See Em Seven
@js I know what you are saying about the desire to do it but the system isn't really what I would say themer friendly! Admittedly I am not the sharpest tool in the shade when it comes to some things (like the Android OS), so I would imagine that plays a big role in my intimidation of the whole thing.
What got me was the De-Compiling and Recompiling of everything just to change something. Not to mention the signatures and etc... perhaps one day someone will write a piece of software (be it windows based or Android in a shell on a PC) that will make it all pretty simple on that part. Till then I will prob. just enjoy and appreciate the work of others.
GL, Slim!
SlimMan said:
@js I know what you are saying about the desire to do it but the system isn't really what I would say themer friendly! Admittedly I am not the sharpest tool in the shade when it comes to some things (like the Android OS), so I would imagine that plays a big role in my intimidation of the whole thing.
What got me was the De-Compiling and Recompiling of everything just to change something. Not to mention the signatures and etc... perhaps one day someone will write a piece of software (be it windows based or Android in a shell on a PC) that will make it all pretty simple on that part. Till then I will prob. just enjoy and appreciate the work of others.
GL, Slim!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I agree about the decompiling and recompiling thing. When I had a webOS phone I created my own theme just by simply replacing the images and restarting the phone. With android, it seems you have to take the whole framework out, theme it and recompile the package file and flash it to the phone. Just seems a bit overwhelming.
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk
It's not that bad if you are just changing the images... Just timely. I suggest gimp to do the work. Another tip, some of the images are indexed. In gimp change from indexed to rgb...back to indexed, then rgb. Reason being that you are now able to add any color and doing it twice clears the pixelation...
What gets hard is smali editing and .xml editing. Let me know if you need help there.
Tapin' the Talk on the xSquared
Send a PM to "KTT16" on the Motorola Photon Forums, he is a great themer, let him know what you need help with, tell him you are running stock on the X2, he'll ask you for whatever files he needs, and he will help out.
By the way, if you are at all interested in a signature image, I can create one for you, just PM me, and I'll get on it.
Peperm1nt said:
It's not that bad if you are just changing the images... Just timely. I suggest gimp to do the work. Another tip, some of the images are indexed. In gimp change from indexed to rgb...back to indexed, then rgb. Reason being that you are now able to add any color and doing it twice clears the pixelation...
What gets hard is smali editing and .xml editing. Let me know if you need help there.
Tapin' the Talk on the xSquared
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can batch process in PS.....and what is this bout clearing the pixelation...lol
Thanks I'll check it out
Dee Ex Two - See Em Seven
When you find a indexed image going to rgb pixelates the image...going back to indexed and then to rgb fixes this.
Tapin' the Talk on the xSquared
Peperm1nt said:
When you find a indexed image going to rgb pixelates the image...going back to indexed and then to rgb fixes this.
Tapin' the Talk on the xSquared
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was p playing with you, all my online gaming and forum names have always had pixel, pixelated, pixelation, pixelized or any variety of pixel
Edit: swyponese
Dee Ex Two - See Em Seven
I am trying this out for the 1st time. My main goal is to create a transparent status bar for CM7. Will this make that "patch" I need for this?
Kevin3328 said:
Js if u really look at the framework u will see all the images in the drawable hdpi folder are really a lot of the presses..tabs. status bar icons... over scroll glow theming takes a lot of time to build straight from scratch... any .9 PNG can be edited when it is decompiled in apk manager or apk multi tool just don't edit the black patch as peppermint said or u will not compile...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i seem to be a complete idiot lol
im sitting here trying to use apk manager and have no clue how to go about it
i cant get it to friggin pull files, i have no clue what im doing tho lol
i been trying to find info on how to use it with the x2 but cant find jack that is actually useful.
time to go eat, clear my head, and get back to researching, im probably just missing something extremely easy i knoow, but hey, i havent had a working computer in years so yea, im kinda learning on the fly here, lol
Lol @ash
In apkm select the apk you want, then decompile... Make edits, recompile.
Tapin' the Talk on the xSquared
Related
Cannot figure out which png it is in framework ( I think its in here) for when you are installing or downloading something. Its the solid one, not the stripped one. Anyone? Thanks in advance.
umm it is in the drawable as three seperate png i just cant think of what they are called right now
wait I think it is actually called Progressbar_intermediate1.png 2 and 3 under res/drawable-mdpi
PimpShit420 said:
wait I think it is actually called Progressbar_intermediate1.png 2 and 3 under res/drawable-mdpi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
those I already know about. I meant the one that is a solid color for when installing something or downloading. you see it moving along. its a solid orange by default
That is controlled in the resource.arsc file. I haven't figured out how to edit it yet but the color is Def in that file, if I just switch that file only with one I got from an in credible. Theme, it changes
Sent from my Eris using XDA App
PimpShit420 said:
That is controlled in the resource.arsc file. I haven't figured out how to edit it yet but the color is Def in that file, if I just switch that file only with one I got from an in credible. Theme, it changes
Sent from my Eris using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would you mind sharing this file? And where is it located? And if I copy the file over that you give, what else changes?
yea there is only one problem with using this file that I have come across so far and its kind of big. The text color on all buttons is white so it cant be seen. The file itself is located in the framework-res.apk. I was using a program called winmerge to go through and the whole file is completley different but I havent figured out how to edit it nor how to read exactly what is says. I just formatted my laptop and put Ubuntu on it so as of right now I cant get the file to you, You can either search for Indigo_Blue Theme for CM6 here on XDA or blackle(google). The theme is in all hdpi but still has some good looking pngs you can use in your theme. I have resized all of them as well for mdpi but for some reason I get errors when trying to apply them all. If you cant find it I will send it to you here in a little bit though. I have been doing alot of reading and messing my phone up trying to figure out the best way to theme. For one I want to take the spinner out of the nfl program and put it in my theme but Im a long way from that. If you like I can send you over my notes as I come up with more discoveries of what it controlled where and how to edit its defaults to what I want.
PimpShit420 said:
yea there is only one problem with using this file that I have come across so far and its kind of big. The text color on all buttons is white so it cant be seen. The file itself is located in the framework-res.apk. I was using a program called winmerge to go through and the whole file is completley different but I havent figured out how to edit it nor how to read exactly what is says. I just formatted my laptop and put Ubuntu on it so as of right now I cant get the file to you, You can either search for Indigo_Blue Theme for CM6 here on XDA or blackle(google). The theme is in all hdpi but still has some good looking pngs you can use in your theme. I have resized all of them as well for mdpi but for some reason I get errors when trying to apply them all. If you cant find it I will send it to you here in a little bit though. I have been doing alot of reading and messing my phone up trying to figure out the best way to theme. For one I want to take the spinner out of the nfl program and put it in my theme but Im a long way from that. If you like I can send you over my notes as I come up with more discoveries of what it controlled where and how to edit its defaults to what I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, if ya dont mind. I am not going to get into heavy themeing as you can see from my theme, but this is one of the things that bugs me as i want to change it and cant figure it out, lol.
Anyone have a Dark themed Google Voice? That would go with FunkenEclipse?
Anyone know how to theme this and up for the challenge?
** UPDATE **
Here is a working DarkGrey/Green themed version of GoogleVoice (0.4.2.32) if anyone wants it.
*Thanks to xkape*
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=721602&d=1316189086
** Just put on SD card, boot into recovery, install zip and reboot **
There is a screenshot in xkape's post #16
Okay, So I've been trying everything I can think of, have done alot of reading. Really could use some help here guys. If anyone can give me some pointers I would greatly appreciate it.
I DLed the Google Voice from the Market, put on my computer, unzipped it with 7zip.
Took the res folder (drawable-hdpi), and replaced all the .png files with updated green/black themed ones from that above post.
This is where I get lost. I try to rezip the package, tried it with every kind of compression.
Everytime I go to install it on my phone, it tells me.....
Parse error
There is a problem parsing the package.
Anyone got some pointers?
OK buddy, 1st off, I am assuming by dark voice, you mean black background with white text. If that assumption is true, theres a lot more work to be done than editing images.
However, if you are in fact just trying to change images and are familiar with 7zip, the process is pretty easy. Especially since you already edited your images.
Lets do it this way, since your progression will yield the right results...
grab your completely stock voice that you have.. open it (NOT UNZIP) it with 7zip... find your way to the proper folder(s) and move your edited images into.. yes, while still zipped. Once thats done, close 7zip. it will ask you about updating the archive.. say yes... you're done.
And if you are in fact looking for the black backgrounds with white text.. grab my BNB theme and pull the Voice out if it. Its inverted.
xkape said:
OK buddy, 1st off, I am assuming by dark voice, you mean black background with white text. If that assumption is true, theres a lot more work to be done than editing images.
However, if you are in fact just trying to change images and are familiar with 7zip, the process is pretty easy. Especially since you already edited your images.
Lets do it this way, since your progression will yield the right results...
grab your completely stock voice that you have.. open it (NOT UNZIP) it with 7zip... find your way to the proper folder(s) and move your edited images into.. yes, while still zipped. Once thats done, close 7zip. it will ask you about updating the archive.. say yes... you're done.
And if you are in fact looking for the black backgrounds with white text.. grab my BNB theme and pull the Voice out if it. Its inverted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, Dark themed Google Voice, like in the 1st post. The green one.
I havent thought about the TXT color... crap im not going to be able to read it after i update the PNGs......
One of your themes has a themed Google Voice? I might have to try that.....
Thanks for your help sir.
K, So I ended up pulling your Voice.apk from the BnB theme (which looks awesome btw... dunno how I missed that one)
I like it, but its just black and white. So I opened it with 7zip, go to res/drawable-hdpi and replace the file "widget_inbox_background.9.png"
That is the background for the widget.... only thing I care about..
I let it update the archive and save.
Copy the apk to my SD card and attempt to install it.
Everything looks great it appears to be installing then it gets to the end and says "Application not installed" done
I cannot get past this part..... am i doing something wrong?
bobhilton.... what color do you want it to be? Im willing to bet I can find the color you are looking for.
I mean the whole app, not just that background image. I can make that right in 5 minutes for you.
xkape said:
bobhilton.... what color do you want it to be? Im willing to bet I can find the color you are looking for.
I mean the whole app, not just that background image. I can make that right in 5 minutes for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? wow that would rock. I'm just starting to learn this stuff. I've done so much reading and feel like i've came so far. but I'm finding out how much a pain in the arse these .9png files are....
The theme I'm looking for is the Dark greyish/ green one. Its in my first post of this thread. There is a screen shot here
http://www.mpmitchell.com/download/droidx/Apps/GVDA3.jpg
I like those colors.... not a fan of the font but i dont really care. I've tried everything. I found that .9png background widget image but I cannot insert it into your BnB theme
I would love if you could insert it if its not a big deal, you make it sound easy. I'm going on about 4 days of reading and about 10 different programs..... I must be missing something.....
Thanks for you help man.....
wait, you just want the widget?
Like this?
xkape said:
wait, you just want the widget?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well..... All I use is the widget and the inbox....You click the widget it takes you to your inbox for your voicemail.......
The pic you posted was of FaceBook....
I basically like it the way you themed it but with darkgray/green like the theme in the first post.....
Ok I get you now. Send me that image.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
All the images and pngs are in this thread.....how can I send them to u?
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
bobhilton.... I was looking back thru here and didnt see the widget image attached anywhere BUT.. I also noticed something... did you by change try sticking the apk in an update.zip template and installing it thru recovery?
xkape said:
bobhilton.... I was looking back thru here and didnt see the widget image attached anywhere BUT.. I also noticed something... did you by change try sticking the apk in an update.zip template and installing it thru recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is all of the PNGs with the dark theme.
http://www.mediafire.com/?kk6hk22abeajyc1
Yes, I did try flashing them with an update.zip it went with no errors but did not work. But I dont really know if I did it right..... this is a huge learning process for me.... If you can get these to work.... please tell me how.... and it better not take you 5 mins lol
Bob
ok I am downloading it now.. let me see what I can do.
---------- Post added at 11:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 AM ----------
why in the hell did I post a facebook widget?...lol wow.. just realized I did that. And you even told me I did.
Doesn't look all that fantastic with all the rest of my orange theme but.. speaking on the app, I believe this is what you wanted?
xkape said:
Doesn't look all that fantastic with all the rest of my orange theme but.. speaking on the app, I believe this is what you wanted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome man! Geeez that was fast..... mind giving me a few quick pointers on how you did it?..... You must've used cheat codes or a game genie
Actually, I think you may have just been trying to install it wrong..lol I decompiled it thinking I was going to need to fix some 9pngs but the log said they were all ok. So I just stuck it in an update.zip and installed it..lol
I attached mine if you want to try it.
Wow, I don't get it....
It worked flawlessly.... looks perfect.... you rock man.....
So if you don't mind.... just help me understand this a little....
I went through your flashable zip (Voice.zip) and looked at everything.... It just pushed the apk (Voice.apk) to ssytem/app..... right?
K, so, the Voice.apk that is in your updatezip... system/app/voice.apk
how did you get this to work?
Is this your original inverted voice.apk? and then you just replaced the drawable-hdpi complete folder? or just the updated pngs? and thats it? Thats like the first thing i tried.... for like HOURS....
I just went through the apk.... looks like you just overwrote the pngs and 9pngs with the new gray/green ones.... man... you didnt have to mess with any xmls did you?
That just seems way to easy... I tried that like 10 times
Anyhow... thank you so much for your help man!
If the above is true, shouldn't I be able to do this same process with the new updated googlevoice from the market? and just update the pngs?
Don't know if I want to try it yet, but im really curious where I went wrong so it might be a good challenge...
I think I may of had a bad update.zip... I will try yours next with themed facebook
Theres an new GVoice? I guess I need to get to it.
For this, All I did was take Voice out of the BNB theme and opened it with 7zip. (NOT UNZIP)... then I opened (again, not unzip) you hdpi folder. I highlighted all the images and moved them all at once into the BNB hdpi folder. I then closed 7zip and yes to updating the archive. I stuck Voice.apk into a update.zip template and put it on the SD Card. I rebooted into recovery and installed the zip.
Ive never tried just sticking something in the system folder and hiting install. Not sure that would work.
Maybe just putting the apk in there, making sure the permissions are correct and then just rebooting would seem more like the solid option to me. I mean, technically, if its in your system folder it is installed.
Just modded my soft keys to light up red, attempting to get the theme on Virus's Eternity ROM to match. Could anyone change all the green to red, or point me to some tools to help me edit the framework? I'm new to the theming, but I have a decent understanding of ADB and Android file structure.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
spenceizzle said:
Just modded my soft keys to light up red, attempting to get the theme on Virus's Eternity ROM to match. Could anyone change all the green to red, or point me to some tools to help me edit the framework? I'm new to the theming, but I have a decent understanding of ADB and Android file structure.
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
M10 tools and eclipse for Modding .9 pngs. And gimp for adding colors and a ton of experimentation
Sent from my PG86100 using xda premium
That looks... daunting, so lets start small. Now lets say I just wanted to mod the notification bar icons for now, I think that would fall under the .9 png modding portion. What files exactly would I be modifying? Is it some sort of jar file I would be ripping the pngs out of, modifying, and replacing? I am quite new to this, so please don't flame me too much
spenceizzle said:
That looks... daunting, so lets start small. Now lets say I just wanted to mod the notification bar icons for now, I think that would fall under the .9 png modding portion. What files exactly would I be modifying? Is it some sort of jar file I would be ripping the pngs out of, modifying, and replacing? I am quite new to this, so please don't flame me too much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
notification bar icons are mainly in systemui.apk and are standard .pngs.
Theirs alot of guys willing to help those who help them selves. from what your asking i'de suggest doing a ton of reading. their are a ton of theming modding how tos. but if you wanna jump in grab 7zip,gimp(or a similar graphics editor) and android signer, and start experimenting, If you wanna edit .9.pngs your gonna have to learn how to use apktool and a .9 compiler. But just do a search theirs alot of great how tos and tools all over the forum.
I found the systemUI.apk from reading the beats headphone icon thread. So I'm assuming that the .pngs found in the systemUI.apk are normal .pngs that don't need any kind of special encoding or transparency values. If I were going to change some sense 3.0 assets, I would need to use this guide posted here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5206698, correct?
Edit: Also, is the SystemUI.odex file anything I have to worry about?
spenceizzle said:
I found the systemUI.apk from reading the beats headphone icon thread. So I'm assuming that the .pngs found in the systemUI.apk are normal .pngs that don't need any kind of special encoding or transparency values. If I were going to change some sense 3.0 assets, I would need to use this guide posted here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5206698, correct?
Edit: Also, is the SystemUI.odex file anything I have to worry about?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if your just looking to change images the .odex isn't something you need to worry about, the link you posted refers to .9.pngs, when you say assets if your refering to the images that are in assets folders tose are .m10 files and for those you need the .m10 tools that can also be found here on xda.
Well, I got the drawable-hdpi finished, I may have to tweek the 4g icon, the signal bars look a little pink. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find the syncing icon, battery percentage, and other little odds and ends that I can easily edit. I'm attaching the SystemUI.apk for anyone who wants to try it.
Sooooo basically I've never actually gotten all technical with the the theming on android. Nothing legit like you guys. But isn't it just a series of file replacements? Im an artist and have spent all my life drawing n such, and if someone would show me what to replace and how to safely do it I would give then whatever they need to release a flashable theme if anyone likes It. Im a very picky person. I like change on my phone baaddddd. If shown how; expect to see new themes like every other week if possible (depending on how difficult it is). Along with wallpapers that I usually spend hours trying to find.
Any takers?
Use search. I found some great links in this forum alone on theme creation.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium
I'm new to theming, but for my theme, UOT Kitchen helped me out! The only downside is that you can't do status bar, boot animation, or lock screen. There's a thread for UOT Kitchen some where around this forum. But your right, just file replacements. Look under the systemUI.apk and framework-res drawable-hdpi files with 7zip (or something similar). You can edit the images without unzipping the file!
I started with a UOT Kitchen file and added/changed stuff in the file. If you can't find an image or need help with changing something, try asking the ROM creator, the would probably know where the stuff is in the ROM.
If you fail, try and try again! I epically failed my first time and SBF a couple times because I was an idiot. Then I asked some questions and got started the right way. But make sure you do a back up before you flash a new file. I learned the hard way. A file can look fine to the phone at first, then it deletes everything it should, and then starts to copy files over like normal until a part of the file is bad. Then you have to SBF or restore.
Backing up is easy, just go into recovery and go to advanced, then back up, and choose to put the back up file under internal or external SD card. I do external, just my preference.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
A lot of it is file replacement. However to change some of the colors such as text and the color of the volume indicator (those are the only ones that I can think of right now) will involve replacing the color hex values in XML files. In order to get the xml files in a readable/editable format you'll need to use apkmanager or apktool. Those are used to decompile the apk packages. You can then edit what you need to (including images) then re-compile the package. Search around in this themes forum for Navenedrobs post about android tools. He includes a download for apkmanager, apktool and some other necessary tools. I use apkmanager myself.
I also use 7zip for some small edits as mentioned in the last post but I prefer to decompile then edit. Apkmanager makes it easy to then optimize the images prior to recompile.
Oh another that required xml edits for colors is AOSP calendar. Not too many images in there but lots of colors are defined.
Here's a link to naven's android tools post.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1261198
Theming is time consuming... its not quite as easy as simple image replacement especially on stretchable images also known as 9 pngs ... also if u want to start creating your own images that too could get tricky as u will need to use a program like gimp or another photo editing program.. gimp is the best in my opinion... sometimes it is necessary to add layers when creating your own images.... Hedwig... do use draw 9 patch for your. 9 pngs.... if not how do u edit those... I use apk manager to decompile and recompile each apk.. just curious if u know of a better tool for editing the. 9 pngs .. neways the way I started theming is with 7 zip... I went in and changed the images regular pngs and then tested it out uot kitchen is a good start but u r limited as far as how much u can theme
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Kevin3328 said:
Hedwig... do use draw 9 patch for your. 9 pngs.... if not how do u edit those... I use apk manager to decompile and recompile each apk.. just curious if u know of a better tool for editing the. 9 pngs ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you decompile the apk the 9.png images gain the one pixel border where the patch is drawn. I'm just careful not to edit any of the black pixels around the edges. When you re-compile the border is lost (values of those are stored). So, no, I don't use draw 9 patch at all. If you're making new images that you plan to compile into the apk the you can just draw the patches in gimp, photoshop, or whatever you use. Just remember to add a one pixel border all around to the size of your new image.
So, XGrinder911. Any of this discussion helping out or are we all just blah, blah, blah?
Well I was considering Adobe Illustrator? Might that program work to create images? And so I get this apk manager, it decompiles and whatnot then I edit the files. Recompiles and voila theme? I get using apk manager on like the calendar cause its an actuall app but what about things like the status bar n notification pull down? they are in serious need of a make over.
And I tried using the kitchen. Didn't work out for me. Got my loving boot loops. Even when replacing the framework res apk.
Ooohhhh! Is It that? That's the apk?
PS- Hedwig your my new best friend.
IDMA.DROID.X2 said:
I'm new to theming, but for my theme, UOT Kitchen helped me out! The only downside is that you can't do status bar, boot animation, or lock screen. There's a thread for UOT Kitchen some where around this forum. But your right, just file replacements. Look under the systemUI.apk and framework-res drawable-hdpi files with 7zip (or something similar). You can edit the images without unzipping the file!
I started with a UOT Kitchen file and added/changed stuff in the file. If you can't find an image or need help with changing something, try asking the ROM creator, the would probably know where the stuff is in the ROM.
If you fail, try and try again! I epically failed my first time and SBF a couple times because I was an idiot. Then I asked some questions and got started the right way. But make sure you do a back up before you flash a new file. I learned the hard way. A file can look fine to the phone at first, then it deletes everything it should, and then starts to copy files over like normal until a part of the file is bad. Then you have to SBF or restore.
Backing up is easy, just go into recovery and go to advanced, then back up, and choose to put the back up file under internal or external SD card. I do external, just my preference.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
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Just want to say you DO NOT go to advanced for backup(nandroid)
You go to backup/restore
just clarifying
Good luck OP....hope to see some awesome theme soon....don't give up PLEASE! !!
ashclepdia said:
Just want to say you DO NOT go to advanced for backup(nandroid)
You go to backup/restore
just clarifying
Good luck OP....hope to see some awesome theme soon....don't give up PLEASE! !!
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Click to collapse
Oh yeah! Your right! Sorry about that!
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
Wasn't trying to "get on your case"
just wanted to clarify
Haha didn't even notice it. I make a backup everydayyyy (flashaholic).
Question: is there anything I can do about those lil lines that separate lists like in messaging and settings? I hate them and we all know on this phone's screen they basically become invisible while scrolling anyway. Get them out of here.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
I used UOT Kitchen to color. Not sure what file you would change to take them away. Ain't no shame in being a flashaholic! I bootlooped my phone on purpose when I for bored
Ash, no worries. Glad you clarified. Don't know what I was thinking with the advanced haha
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To "take them away" can't u just make em the same color as the menu
XGrinder911 said:
Haha didn't even notice it. I make a backup everydayyyy (flashaholic).
Question: is there anything I can do about those lil lines that separate lists like in messaging and settings? I hate them and we all know on this phone's screen they basically become invisible while scrolling anyway. Get them out of here.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
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The file is in framework-res.apk
framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\dark_header.9.png
Do what ashclepdia said and change the color in the bottom of that image to match the top. You'll see what I mean when you look at the image.
(Or light_header.9.png if you're working with a light framework.)
hedwig34 said:
The file is in framework-res.apk
framework-res.apk\res\drawable-hdpi\dark_header.9.png
Do what ashclepdia said and change the color in the bottom of that image to match the top. You'll see what I mean when you look at the image.
(Or light_header.9.png if you're working with a light framework.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is this exactly? All I see is a long rectangle with a hint of blue at the bottom.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
XGrinder911 said:
What is this exactly? All I see is a long rectangle with a hint of blue at the bottom.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
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Click to collapse
That image is streatched across the width of the screen. Creating the menu item that has the blue line at the bottom.
Think of it as that image repeating over and over again side by side.
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hedwig34 said:
That image is streatched across the width of the screen. Creating the menu item that has the blue line at the bottom.
Think of it as that image repeating over and over again side by side.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
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Wait so where exactly is this rectangle?
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
Its a vertical rectangle repeated over and over again to make a skinny little horizontal line?? Wow, that's deep.
DX2 Eclipse 1.3
I have a question too. How do you devs mod the build.prop? Is that mostly the difference between ROMs?
(Thought it would be better here instead if a new thread. Don't mean to thread jack)
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IDMA.DROID.X2 said:
I have a question too. How do you devs mod the build.prop? Is that mostly the difference between ROMs?
(Thought it would be better here instead if a new thread. Don't mean to thread jack)
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
No the differences between roms isn't mostly the build.prop
the build.prop can easily(usually) be modified using root explorer or similar.(I am having trouble editing the additions that kejar has made to build.prop tho. Never had this problem before. But its just the extra entries at bottom I can't change.
The biggest differences in roms come from the UI and system frameworks and scripts inside init.d
There are a few performance tweaks and edits u can make inside build.prop but ur.choices are kinda limited in what can be.done. even the line in eclipse build.prop that mentions raising the touch points recognized by the screen to 5 requires changes elsewhere in the "framework" to allow it to actually recognize that amount.
Hey anyone out there good at themeing some things, got any ideas on what i (a TOTAL 100% Noob) would have to do to edit some of the things in sense 5? possibly create a theme?
I dont need like a super long drawn out tutorial on EVERYTHING id have to do, unless youd be so kind as to provide one.
Just general bits and pieces and ill put together something from a collab of information given here ive been thinking about making a theme for a while but TOTALLY lack the skills lol
any information you can give as to what might work, what worked in sense 4.5, and what will very likely work in sense 5.0 id love to hear it. Even if its just somethin small my ears and eyes are WIDE open.
Ok so luckily for you skins have been removed in Sense 5, so the theming process is a bit easier (no need to extract m10 files and such). Basically though, you'd take the apk you want to edit, and decompile (extract) it. This can be done using apktool. To get that working, use these tools and this guide. Once your done editing your apk file, recompile (compress) it using "apktool b decompiled_folder_name" (or by reading the guide). Once it has successfully been compiled, sign it with this (copy the PPC Geeks folder to the /Program Files directory on your c: drive, and create a shortcut of the .exe file on your desktop) or you can alternitavely use this tool, which includes an option to zipalign (optimize?) the apk as well as sign it. However, if you use the latter, make sure to sign with test, not private keys.
Also I should mention that the majority of the images you will be editing within the apks are located in /res/drawable-xxhdpi, and the color of most of the text in the apk will probably be located in either /res/values/colors.xml, or /res/values/styles.xml. You may stumble upon a few ".9" images, which are special images that will only stretch along the places that are overlapped by the 1px tall border surrounding them. I recommend using this program to create your own .9 images, or you can edit pre-existing .9s in an image editor progam like photoshop or gimp, just make sure that you do not touch the black 1px border (9patch).
That's all! Good luck, have fun, and you're welcome
ssojyeti2 said:
Ok so luckily for you skins have been removed in Sense 5, so the theming process is a bit easier (no need to extract m10 files and such). Basically though, you'd take the apk you want to edit, and decompile (extract) it. This can be done using apktool. To get that working, use these tools and this guide. Once your done editing your apk file, recompile (compress) it using "apktool b decompiled_folder_name" (or by reading the guide). Once it has successfully been compiled, sign it with this (copy the PPC Geeks folder to the /Program Files directory on your c: drive, and create a shortcut of the .exe file on your desktop) or you can alternitavely use this tool, which includes an option to zipalign (optimize?) the apk as well as sign it. However, if you use the latter, make sure to sign with test, not private keys.
Also I should mention that the majority of the images you will be editing within the apks are located in /res/drawable-xxhdpi, and the color of most of the text in the apk will probably be located in either /res/values/colors.xml, or /res/values/styles.xml. You may stumble upon a few ".9" images, which are special images that will only stretch along the places that are overlapped by the 1px tall border surrounding them. I recommend using this program to create your own .9 images, or you can edit pre-existing .9s in an image editor progam like photoshop or gimp, just make sure that you do not touch the black 1px border (9patch).
That's all! Good luck, have fun, and you're welcome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks alot i will definitly check this out, looking to add some transparency throughout the rom. Does anyone know what blinkfeeds apk is named o.o
Prizm something
Sent From My Sweet Ass EVO LTE
dased14 said:
Prizm something
Sent From My Sweet Ass EVO LTE
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guys if i wasnt outta thanks today id throw you both one (EDIT: Aparantly xda thinks that the middle of the day is the time for renewing thanks -_-) thanks a bunch. Not too sure how to edit XML files now, all im trying to do at the moment is make blinkfeed's background transparent, however i am lost as to how to even read XML files at the moment, dont have a program on my computer that displays it correctly.. I found how to do the new weatherclock, and steal25 is working on the App drawer, and Sysui pull down.
Well theres vts(can decompile and recompile)and has a notepad++ type thing built in and notepad++ is a must for any themer to read xmls, smali (but need apktool, or something like it to decompile and recompile)
Sent From My Sweet Ass EVO LTE
dased14 said:
Well theres vts(can decompile and recompile)and has a notepad++ type thing built in and notepad++ is a must for any themer to read xmls, smali (but need apktool, or something like it to decompile and recompile)
Sent From My Sweet Ass EVO LTE
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What he said Notepad++ is the best.
And Prism.apk is what you're looking for.
Gumby63 said:
What he said Notepad++ is the best.
And Prism.apk is what you're looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Downloading it now, thanks for the responses guys i really appreciate it especially coming from all of you recognized themers with 1000+ thanks. Wow i feel like im going to do good here.
and yeah i found the prism, and the XML file i need to edit for blinkfeed to be transparent, and i actually got some config from someone in the general thread too! ill try to have blinkfeed and some other stuff transparent by the end of the day tomorrow. (like thats gonna happen right?)
igotlostintampa said:
Downloading it now, thanks for the responses guys i really appreciate it especially coming from all of you recognized themers with 1000+ thanks. Wow i feel like im going to do good here.
and yeah i found the prism, and the XML file i need to edit for blinkfeed to be transparent, and i actually got some config from someone in the general thread too! ill try to have blinkfeed and some other stuff transparent by the end of the day tomorrow. (like thats gonna happen right?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind that when you're editing colors, the first two digits in the hex code control transparency...also don't be surprised if edits need to be made in multiple places...sometimes both an image and a color need to be set to transparent
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
ssojyeti2 said:
Keep in mind that when you're editing colors, the first two digits in the hex code control transparency...also don't be surprised if edits need to be made in multiple places...sometimes both an image and a color need to be set to transparent
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
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Oh man, if i started off thinking it was going to be easy for me, i would think you guys have it easy, and i dont. I knew this would be a difficult task when i jumped ship on this transparency thing and hope i can get it out soon because sense 5.0 is amazing as it is now, and i wanna add that touch of beauty its missing.
Feel free though guys, if anyone wants to get this going without me go for it. Ill be on it for like 3-4 days (possibly straight) figuring this stuff out before i have a even possibly close version of this looking right is my guess.
igotlostintampa said:
Oh man, if i started off thinking it was going to be easy for me, i would think you guys have it easy, and i dont. I knew this would be a difficult task when i jumped ship on this transparency thing and hope i can get it out soon because sense 5.0 is amazing as it is now, and i wanna add that touch of beauty its missing.
Feel free though guys, if anyone wants to get this going without me go for it. Ill be on it for like 3-4 days (possibly straight) figuring this stuff out before i have a even possibly close version of this looking right is my guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would love to help but pc crashed about a week ago so im sidelined until i save enough for new one, but good luck
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igotlostintampa said:
Oh man, if i started off thinking it was going to be easy for me, i would think you guys have it easy, and i dont. I knew this would be a difficult task when i jumped ship on this transparency thing and hope i can get it out soon because sense 5.0 is amazing as it is now, and i wanna add that touch of beauty its missing.
Feel free though guys, if anyone wants to get this going without me go for it. Ill be on it for like 3-4 days (possibly straight) figuring this stuff out before i have a even possibly close version of this looking right is my guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat as you. I want to get into learning this stuff too. Hopefully after this week is over, I will have a little more free time to learn.
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Its so good to see people want to learn. Keep it up bro. We need all the contributors we can get.
Only if everyone was like this
Thumbs up
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igotlostintampa said:
Feel free though guys, if anyone wants to get this going without me go for it. Ill be on it for like 3-4 days (possibly straight) figuring this stuff out before i have a even possibly close version of this looking right is my guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you need any help just ask away
Actually I haven't been able to start just yet as I've been a bit busy with errands and when I get on xda the forum is packed with things I needs throw in the sense 5.0 q/a thread. I'll start working on it soon and if I need any help I'll definitely post back here. Thanks a lot for your help and support guys
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igotlostintampa said:
Actually I haven't been able to start just yet as I've been a bit busy with errands and when I get on xda the forum is packed with things I needs throw in the sense 5.0 q/a thread. I'll start working on it soon and if I need any help I'll definitely post back here. Thanks a lot for your help and support guys
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The intro to themeing thread in evo 3d themes and apps is a great place to start.
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