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Root [GUIDE] Simple Guide to Theming

Dr0idWhisperer

Android Enthusiast
Another user was asking me this so I thought since I went through the trouble of making it I would just share with everyone.

First off I dont take any credit for this. The credit goes to the people who made these tutorials and vids. They are the ones that deserve it along with the very smart and helpful member of the android forums community *cough, cough ShinySide, V SuperUser V, PlayfulGod, lDrifta, MrPNUT cough, cough*


Most of the links in this thread can be found within Android forums all things root.

=This is starting from scratch with just the ROM=

PROGRAMS that I use for this method (you can easily google search to find them and some are provided below):
Java JDK (required for apktools and eclipse)
Android SDK (required for apktools, eclipse, and Draw-9 Patch)
apktools (Command Prompt based Compiler/Decomiler)
7 Zip (Archive/Compression utility)
Notepad ++ (XML editor)
Eclipse (Java/Android package creator)
Gimp 2.0 (very nice free image editor that handles pngs very well)
Android Signer (Batch APK signer)
*NEW* Blender (POWERFUL 3D animation and sequencer)
*NEW* Android Boot animation creator
=All these programs are free and open source I believe, not sure about apktool and boot ani and the signer but they are free=


PULLING SYSTEM FILES
There are a billion different ways of doing this and this is just the easiest way for me that I have found. First thing I do is I copy the files framework-res.apk RES-Cappacino.apk and SUI.apk from system/framework and the file SystemUI.apk from system/apps to my sd card using root explorer then from there I copy them to my computer. Then I go to UOT Kitchen and I make whatever changes I want to them there. Next I take the files on my computer that have been modified with UOT kitchen and open them up as an archive with 7 Zip and I copy the res folder out of each of them (renaming if necessary just be sure you know which one goes with which file) it is important to just copy them from the archive and NOT extract them.

Here are some examples of my folder structure...I know Im not the most organized person in the world but this works out pretty good for me. Just remember this is non-essential you can do this however you like.
FolderStructure.jpg

ThemeFolderStructure.jpg


IMAGE EDITING
Now inside the res folder you will find folders with Drawable-HDPI in the name these folder contain the images you will want to edit. Do so at this point just be wary of .9.pngs as they need special treatment. Also you may find you cannot add color to an image. This might be due to the fact that its grayscale or indexed color. To solve this just convert to RGB. Here is a tutorial for using Draw 9 patch which is included in android sdk/tools. Here is a tutorial for how to edit .9
 
Thanks man! I'll try this out later. Hopefully I can make a half decent theme. Will your theme work on Broken Out?


Please post questions about my themes in their threads. But, if your talking about evirus it should work on any ZVD ROM but i have not tested it on any other ROM than black plauge. If you try it on Broken Out and everything works please let me know.
 
first i wanna come up with a black and red theme and second a halo theme Lol and can u help me install apk toll idk how to use that :D

For apk tool download this, extract it and inside theres a folder called "apk" move that "apk" right click and copy it. Go to the "root" of your harddrive (OS (C: )) and paste it and youre done ;)


APKTOOL
 
first i wanna come up with a black and red theme and second a halo theme Lol and can u help me install apk toll idk how to use that :D


If you just wanna change colors and not icons and what not, just take a theme you already like and use PaintDotNet to change the colors to what you want and use UOT kitchen to change the status bar icons to the color you want. It will MUCH MUCH easier than making one from scratch.
 
If you just wanna change colors and not icons and what not, just take a theme you already like and use PaintDotNet to change the colors to what you want and use UOT kitchen to change the status bar icons to the color you want. It will MUCH MUCH easier than making one from scratch.

Thnx am gonna try to do that witg #2 black and red
 
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