Root Theming Help?

[PerkinsII]

I haven't ever made a theme, but am curious on how you would start. To the themers out there, was there a specific guide you used to start or a video??? I haven't seen a guide, but it doesn't appear to look to hard (correct me if I am wrong). I would want to build the theme to incorporate "theme chooser", that way you could apply and switch back easily. Any help would be greatly appreciated .

 

[Mobstergunz]

I haven't ever made a theme, but am curious on how you would start. To the themers out there, was there a specific guide you used to start or a video??? I haven't seen a guide, but it doesn't appear to look to hard (correct me if I am wrong). I would want to build the theme to incorporate "theme chooser", that way you could apply and switch back easily. Any help would be greatly appreciated .

start by taking apart framework-res.apk in the system> framework and seeing what goes in there also try doing this to a "theme" apk from theme chooser

 

[agentc13]

Like MG said, decompile a theme chooser theme apk and see what is in there. Then you can just change the images/files to whatever you want them to be and recompile it. I haven't done a total theme from scratch, but have made many changes to those sorts of themes and it works well.

 

[PerkinsII]

Like MG said, decompile a theme chooser theme apk and see what is in there. Then you can just change the images/files to whatever you want them to be and recompile it. I haven't done a total theme from scratch, but have made many changes to those sorts of themes and it works well.

start by taking apart framework-res.apk in the system> framework and seeing what goes in there also try doing this to a "theme" apk from theme chooser

Thanks, is there anything I should keep in mind when doing this. Like keeping borders, etc.

 

[Mobstergunz]

Thanks, is there anything I should keep in mind when doing this. Like keeping borders, etc.

yeah, you don't want to remove anything that your not going to change or replace its possible it might brick your phone when its applied

 

[agentc13]

You might have to watch out for the .9 pngs. Google for some guides on that if they screw up. I haven't messed with them much, but I hear they can cause issues if not handled correctly.

 

[Mobstergunz]

also don't change any xml files unless you know what you are doing as this can surely lead to a bricked phone

 

[PerkinsII]

also don't change any xml files unless you know what you are doing as this can surely lead to a bricked phone

By bricked you mean I have to reflash, not really bricked right????

 

[ziggy46]

By bricked you mean I have to reflash, not really bricked right????

you should be fine as long as you have a nandroid backup. this phone is pretty much bullet proof when it comes to that stuff

 

[agentc13]

By bricked you mean I have to reflash, not really bricked right????

If you can put it in download mode you will be fine. I doubt you will permanently brick your phone by theming but I can't say for sure.

 

[ziggy46]

If you can put it in download mode you will be fine. I doubt you will permanently brick your phone by theming but I can't say for sure.

it is safe to say that this device is un-brickable... unless you somehow completely mess up all of the phones partitions. and even then, if you know how to, you can fix that in linux lol

 

[PerkinsII]

you should be fine as long as you have a nandroid backup. this phone is pretty much bullet proof when it comes to that stuff

That's what I thought his use of the word bricked confused me for a sec

 

[agentc13]

it is safe to say that this device is un-brickable... unless you somehow completely mess up all of the phones partitions. and even then, if you know how to, you can fix that in linux lol

I would assume so, I have not seen anyone post a verifiable brick yet, but you never know. Someone might be able to figure out a way to do it.

I just don't want to say it in absolutes in case someone would seriously mess it up beyond our help.

 

[b_randon14]

Yeah this phone is tough. If anything would have permabricked it it would have been the mobile drive. However there are some more partitions that I haven't been able to her mounted in Linux that I believe have radio files or something like that. If you wiped those it may permanently cripple your phone
Those ain't easy to get to. You have go do it in Linux so don't anyone go and try. And of course wiping the entire internal nand chip may permanently mess things up lol.

As for theming, I use Photoshop and gimp for windows(gimp works good for the indexed pngs because Photoshop botches them). If you need t edit an XML like for text color changes or layout changes the apk has to be rdecompiled in order to edit it. But just decompile a theme app you like and go from there!

 

[PerkinsII]

As for theming, I use Photoshop and gimp for windows(gimp works good for the indexed pngs because Photoshop botches them). If you need t edit an XML like for text color changes or layout changes the apk has to be rdecompiled in order to edit it. But just decompile a theme app you like and go from there!

What's the difference between normal pngs and the indexed ones????

 

[Mobstergunz]

What's the difference between normal pngs and the indexed ones????

im not sure myself but heres a complete themeing guide that covers pretty much everything there is to know

Ultimate Themeing Guide

 

[b_randon14]

What's the difference between normal pngs and the indexed ones????

The indexed ones in Photoshop will show up very pixelated looking. But indexing a png is kinda like compressing it. It saves space. You can change a PNG from rgb to greyscale to indexed in both Photoshop and gimp, but alot of more simple icons get indexed when a rom is built or when you PNG optimize an app or even just compiling it. And forever the indexed icons drove me crazy cause I just used Photoshop and I could not edit the indexed ones without them looking butchered until I found that gimp for windows handles the indexed pngs just fine!

 

[ziggy46]

The indexed ones in Photoshop will show up very pixelated looking. But indexing a png is kinda like compressing it. It saves space. You can change a PNG from rgb to greyscale to indexed in both Photoshop and gimp, but alot of more simple icons get indexed when a rom is built or when you PNG optimize an app or even just compiling it. And forever the indexed icons drove me crazy cause I just used Photoshop and I could not edit the indexed ones without them looking butchered until I found that gimp for windows handles the indexed pngs just fine!

^^ look and listen guys as the theming god has spoken! lol

yep and gimp is alot more simple to use than photoshop! lol

 

[agentc13]

yep and gimp is alot more simple to use than photoshop! lol

Au contraire. I prefer Photoshop hands down. I am just not used to Gimp at all, while I am very used to Photoshop. That makes Photoshop much easier for me.

Brandon has some good advice though.

 

[ziggy46]

Au contraire. I prefer Photoshop hands down. I am just not used to Gimp at all, while I am very used to Photoshop. That makes Photoshop much easier for me.

Brandon has some good advice though.

oh i love photoshop too! its really easy to use IMO. look at the top of bROM's op, you will see a logo. i made it in photoshop