[TUT] Transparent Wallpapers for 3VO ROMS [Archive]

ookba

3rd August 2009, 10:43 PM

You guys have been asking for it, here it is. Kinda a rough dirty way of doing it but here goes...

This will not be easy to do for newbies or people with no image editing experience. You need some Photoshop or other photo editing understanding and experience to accomplish the desired result. Eventually WM 6.5 Stanard will hopefully start supporting full screen wallpapers and transparent softkeybars or I will write an app the will automatically convert a wallpaper for you but for now...

You will need:

Your wallpaper that you want to convert (320x240)
black_softkeybar.png from \Windows on phone running a 3VO ROM (320x26)
Photoshop or similar photo editing app
The goal here is to cut out the bottom 26 pixels of your wallpaper and paste it to the black_softkeybar.png file. Then crop the wallpaper image to 320x214 top justifying. Your result will be 2 images, wallpaper.png (or .jpg) and black_softkeybar.png (must be .png, same as original filename).

Then, copy black_softkeybar.png back to \Windows on the phone and wallpaper.png to \Application Data\Home. To select it, go to Settings, Home, select wallpaper.png as your wallpaper. In order for the softkeybar image to show up, you have to reboot.

Might take some practice but give it a shot... :D

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/ookba/TWTutorial.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b235/ookba/Screen14.jpg

Here is another pack I threw together for those who want some more ready made ones.

ookba

3rd August 2009, 10:51 PM

Saved for more examples later.

luisfebar

4th August 2009, 03:19 AM

Thanks ookba :D

johnnylavah

4th August 2009, 03:21 AM

cool! i have been using army background - attached if anyone is interested....

rrgongora

4th August 2009, 03:26 AM

Works like a dream....Here's my test wallpaper. Thanks again!

ookba

4th August 2009, 06:02 AM

Works like a dream....Here's my test wallpaper. Thanks again!
Awesome!!! Keep them up! I'll make a CAB out of all of them when we get a good collection.

10507

4th August 2009, 06:22 AM

Something nice

dermann

4th August 2009, 06:39 AM

here's mine. i'm an ocean lover. :D

efeeze

4th August 2009, 07:16 AM

This is one I did a few days before you had the tutorial ,I just made mine from what was already there in the rom

lovebabyjing

4th August 2009, 08:26 AM

in my opinion,this will be better

sphinx780

5th August 2009, 11:37 PM

Awesome Ookba! Thanks for the Tutorial on this one.

Attached a few here for anyone interested depending on your tastes ladies and gentleman.

cire6

6th August 2009, 02:40 AM

sir, how about the bar on smart toolkit, how can i change it?

cire6

6th August 2009, 04:21 AM

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv195/cire6_photos/wallpaper.png http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv195/cire6_photos/black_softkeybar.png
here is mine!!!

Cyclonezephyrxz7

6th August 2009, 06:25 AM

sir, how about the bar on smart toolkit, how can i change it?

Not too different....

Use your explorer to go into the SmartToolKit folder (Program Files/SmartToolKit) and then into the Skins folder (/Skins). In there you will see either one or many folders (or none if you don't have a separate skin installed). If you dont have a skin installed, google it. they are not hard to find... Once you install a skin, you will notice a file called 320x240.skin or something similar...open it with notepad (on your phone or computer) and look where it says "start bar" (commented out) ... there will either be one or more image files listed there...in either case, delete them and drop the blackbar.png file you made into this folder and in place of those other file(s) name(s) put in that one. Restart STK and you should be fine. :)

EDIT: If you want a cleaner way of doing this, also notice in that same 320x240 file there one for the start icon (1 for activated, 1 for non-activated)...you should remake those files to match the skin you are using on your homescreen if not, you will have your tranparent skin, and on the Start button area you'll have something totally different...

ookba

6th August 2009, 10:15 AM

Here are a few:

ookba

6th August 2009, 10:20 AM

Also, I'm not a programmer but if anyone wants to take a shot a writing an app that can take a 320x240 wallpaper and cut it up into the two files to automatically create these themes, by all means!!! Go for it! :D

The mscr file I wrote in the Transparent Wallpaper pack CAB on the first post of this thread contains the registry settings and file locations for it to work right....

Anyone up for the challenge?? :rolleyes:

cire6

6th August 2009, 02:57 PM

i think i made a mistake!?!?
can i have the original black_softkeybar.png file,
i think you know what i did.
:rolleyes:

frauhottelmann

6th August 2009, 06:48 PM

I think you'll like this one, WM 7 style, though it's not transparent^^

BTW I also have the correct bronzeres.dll if you want the panels to look like WM7!

Ghostwarrior73

6th August 2009, 07:09 PM

Would be cool if we started sports theme ones. Like football, basketball, hockey and baseball.

ookba

6th August 2009, 07:12 PM

i think i made a mistake!?!?
can i have the original black_softkeybar.png file,
i think you know what i did.
:rolleyes:
Should be a copy of it in \Program Files\3VO\Transparent Wallpaper. Or just run the Transparent Wallpaper app I wrote in Start Menu\Tools and select Revert to Original.

smjfosho

6th August 2009, 10:25 PM

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z239/smjfosho/trans3.png

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z239/smjfosho/trans3_black_softkeybar.png

Tritan88

7th August 2009, 01:22 AM

I might just have this a try and see how they come out.

Would be cool if we started sports theme ones. Like football, basketball, hockey and baseball.

I would like to see some of these as well. This might be what I start with.

10507

7th August 2009, 07:05 AM

The Violin

funoffan

8th August 2009, 06:00 AM

Here are a few:

Would you provide a cab that has this clock instead of the blue one. I highly appreciate your advocating.

ookba

8th August 2009, 10:08 AM

Would you provide a cab that has this clock instead of the blue one. I highly appreciate your advocating.
Just hang tight. I will be releasing a new ROM in the next 24 hours with the new clock and dozens of fixes and additions. :)

funoffan

8th August 2009, 07:07 PM

Here we go>

funoffan

8th August 2009, 07:08 PM

Another set.

funoffan

8th August 2009, 07:10 PM

Last but not least.

alexalexoe

8th August 2009, 07:24 PM

here's mine, i don't create a layer for the bar because keeping it full transparent make the screen look more wider ...

OT: is there a way to change the topbar and the background in the start menu, the topbar is black, and the background is kind of missing some colors ...

funoffan

9th August 2009, 04:41 AM

Once again.

johnnylavah

10th August 2009, 12:25 AM

........................

istosevski

10th August 2009, 08:43 AM

Cyclonezephyrxz7

10th August 2009, 09:37 PM

Not fully sure if this has been mentioned, but for all the users of the 96 DPI Mod along with Ookba's 3vo ROM, here is a tip to get it looking better.

From my experience there is a small black area on the top of the screen with these backgrounds...so lets fix that.

Firstly, get the image you want to use.
Next, Cut the bottom <EMPHASIS> 20 </EMPHASIS> pixels (instead of 26).
Then, save the files as the tutorial on the first page tells you.
Next go into your Titanium_320x240.cpr file.
Scroll down a bit... see where it is talking about 'confetti' and 'background' or words like that...its just a few lines in. Well next to it you see how it says Top ="-54" ... or something similar in terms of value...

Well change the -54 to -40...your result is ' Top="-40" '

If you have placed the images correctly, and modified the CPR as i have said so, reboot and there you go, a nicer looking screen (IMHO).

!!REMEMBER TO BACK UP YOUR CPR INCASE SOMETHING GOES BAD!!!

(pix attached for screenshot and pieces)

EDIT: I uploaded a zip with all the images that currently exist in the Transparent Wallpaper's folder (according to 3vo 2.5). It is JUST THE IMAGES, and these are made FOR THE 96 DPI Modification...

Personally, I would create a new folder: /Program Files/3vo/Transparent Wallpaper 96DPI/ ... (as opposed to /Transparent Wallpaper/)

Then I would put the images from my zip file into there
Then I would copy the .mscr and .lnk files from Ookba's original one into the 96 DPI mod one and rename them by adding "96DPI"...then link it to the start menu NEW so that you have Transparent Wallpaper for your 96DPI mod, and for if you ever uninstall it.

Hope this helps...

(and Ookba, feel free to put that zip file on the first post if you want to :) )

TmobileDash12

11th August 2009, 03:03 PM

After installing the cab on my phone, i can't seem to find the one on the first post.

A little help would be nice.
Please and thank you in advance :]

wulfie66

11th August 2009, 03:21 PM

After installing the cab on my phone, i can't seem to find the one on the first post.

A little help would be nice.
Please and thank you in advance :]

go to TOOLS and choose TRANSPARENT WALLPAPER

TmobileDash12

11th August 2009, 03:38 PM

go to TOOLS and choose TRANSPARENT WALLPAPER

Thanks, but which one is it? :x

Cyclonezephyrxz7

11th August 2009, 03:50 PM

Thanks, but which one is it? :x

When you run Transparent Wallpaper program...it gives you a list...each option on that list will give you a different background. If you want to see what is what...go into the Transparent Wallpaper Folder (/Program Files/3vo/Transparent Wallpaper/) and look at the images. They aren't named the same as in the program, but you can sorta get the sense of what is what.

TmobileDash12

11th August 2009, 04:05 PM

When you run Transparent Wallpaper program...it gives you a list...each option on that list will give you a different background. If you want to see what is what...go into the Transparent Wallpaper Folder (/Program Files/3vo/Transparent Wallpaper/) and look at the images. They aren't named the same as in the program, but you can sorta get the sense of what is what.

Yes, but for some reason i don't have the one in the first post. o.o

funoffan

11th August 2009, 04:08 PM

Guys check this Heroexca' look.

To get the same look, put tadaaa in windows folder, edit the flowing registry>

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shell\Rai\:M SStart]
"BKBitmapFile"="\\Windows\\HTC_StartMenuBkg_320x320.bmp"

to

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shell\Rai\:M SStart]
"BKBitmapFile"="\\Windows\\tadaaa.bmp"

Thanx ookba, man your ROM is sweet....

Still needs easier method to change start menu icons...
Maybe you could help if there were good enough icon packs to play with?

try to use Resco search dll that include "icon"; you probably can find sp_program.dll, foldericon.dll, operaicon.dll. Copy them to other folder; connect your phone with pc; then open the dll file with PE exploer, in the resource mode you can change icon to whatever you like. It's gonna be a long process. At last, overwrite the original dll in windows folder with the your personalized icon pack. Hope this helps.

istosevski

12th August 2009, 09:49 AM

try to use Resco search dll that include "icon"; you probably can find sp_program.dll, foldericon.dll, operaicon.dll. Copy them to other folder; connect your phone with pc; then open the dll file with PE exploer, in the resource mode you can change icon to whatever you like. It's gonna be a long process. At last, overwrite the original dll in windows folder with the your personalized icon pack. Hope this helps.

Thanx for the advice man...
But I already did that
I was actually thinking of some more sophisticated method...
Like installing and uninstalling cab files...
Anyway i will post the fruits of my work soon...
If anyone is interested.

CacoPelao

13th August 2009, 12:48 AM

sweet!!!

here's the one I've made!

nawome

14th August 2009, 05:53 PM

if it could be cut ,the images,suitable automatically by some softwores,that will be great.............................i think.....

cafterg

19th August 2009, 09:14 PM

I cant' wait for the new pack of transparent wallpapers.. I'm lazy to make my own, so I'll just wait for a cab file.

wolfepakt

20th August 2009, 12:23 AM

For the 96 DPI tweak (that I love)

Next go into your Titanium_320x240.cpr file.
Scroll down a bit... see where it is talking about 'confetti' and 'background' or words like that...its just a few lines in. Well next to it you see how it says Top ="-54" ... or something similar in terms of value...

Well change the -54 to -40...your result is ' Top="-40" '

Ohhh That is good even if you don't use the transparent wallpapers to get any background too look right!

Now if we just get the comm manager to look right!

Cyclonezephyrxz7

20th August 2009, 01:05 AM

For the 96 DPI tweak (that I love)

Ohhh That is good even if you don't use the transparent wallpapers to get any background too look right!

Now if we just get the comm manager to look right!

Don't forget that , if you are using the 96 DPI mod AND transparent wallpaper, you have to merge the wallpaper, and cut it correctly as I described in post #33...On that same post I uploaded a modified wallpaper-pack, with everything cut correctly...(Just reminding :D)

computerpro3

30th August 2009, 04:27 PM

Guys check this Heroexca' look.

To get the same look, put tadaaa in windows folder, edit the flowing registry>

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shell\Rai\:M SStart]
"BKBitmapFile"="\\Windows\\HTC_StartMenuBkg_320x320.bmp"

to

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shell\Rai\:M SStart]
"BKBitmapFile"="\\Windows\\tadaaa.bmp"

Thanx ookba, man your ROM is sweet....

Still needs easier method to change start menu icons...
Maybe you could help if there were good enough icon packs to play with?

How come the start menu background is so blurry and pixelated compared to the home screen one? I run into the same problem on my phone...either it's blurry or it's zoomed in ridiculously far.

jdshifflett

30th August 2009, 09:03 PM

How come the start menu background is so blurry and pixelated compared to the home screen one? I run into the same problem on my phone...either it's blurry or it's zoomed in ridiculously far.
its because when he made this he stretched and shrunk the image so many times testing the pixel frame size since it's slightly different then the homescreen background pixel frame width. i believe the actual frame width is 234x135 if you guys want to make your own custom transparent start screens that aligned properly as well

dundeal67

27th September 2009, 01:25 AM

Cyclonezephyrxz7

27th September 2009, 03:17 AM

Is there a way where I can add my custom background into the .cab that you made? Or can I make my own? It would be easier so that I do not have to drag the black_softkeybar everytime I want to change the background

I don't have it on my phone at the moment, but i believe it is just a bunch of picture files and a MortScript file.

So the easiest, most convenient, way for you would be to make the wallpapers you want, then open the .mscr file in notepad or something (better on your computer) and look how it works, then add in your own wallpaper.

Sorry this is so vague, i am doing some of my own theme stuff on my phone, and don't have this installed. Good luck!

all steamed out

1st October 2009, 10:38 PM

http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv195/cire6_photos/wallpaper.png http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv195/cire6_photos/black_softkeybar.png
here is mine!!!

My favourite (or favorite when speaking American..) Girls

tj_style

29th July 2010, 11:54 PM

What should i do to make make 3VO Transparent Wallpaper Pack 2.0.cab working on my own ROM i have cooking the Samsung C6625 with WM6.5.3 Build 23090.
I try to install the 3VO Transparent Wallpaper Pack 2.0.cab on the attachment but not work.
Thank you..

Gremzor

3rd August 2010, 10:41 PM

Using the newest 3VO rom and it's awesome : )...Anyhow, I made a transparent wallpaper (with paint) that looks awesome with the titan panel on the dash:

jlongfella

19th September 2010, 05:16 AM

Then, copy black_softkeybar.png back to \Windows on the phone and wallpaper.png to \Application Data\Home. To select it, go to Settings, Home, select wallpaper.png as your wallpaper. In order for the softkeybar image to show up, you have to reboot.

Hey I overwrote the softkey bar file and rebooted but still no luck. Is there a bug in the release version 3?

datkidgabby

18th October 2010, 04:04 AM

i dont have a windows folder and i when i make one it says that theres already one made....what do i do

wulfie66

18th October 2010, 01:27 PM

set your windows explorer to show hidden/system files/folders ;)

bgtvfr

18th October 2010, 10:55 PM

i dont have a windows folder and i when i make one it says that theres already one made....what do i do

take the battery out when the phone is on if windows still dosent show when phone turn back on best thing to do is hard reset (windows folder is visible through windows file explorer) if hard reset dont work maybe you gotta reflash

datkidgabby

19th October 2010, 10:18 PM

yeah i did that and reflashed it like twice and it wasnt there

datkidgabby

20th October 2010, 12:37 AM

How do i do tht

bgtvfr

20th October 2010, 01:53 AM

How do i do tht

how to do what? hard reset goto start/accessories and find clear storage enter 1234 and press yes (backup anything on your device before) after it hard resets goto your file explorer and hit menu/7 and scroll down and see if windows folder is ther

WINDOWS FODER LOOKS LIKE THIS
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll75/joseph505_bucket/Screen0021-2.png

let try resco explorer open it up and go back till u reach my device and scroll down and see if it there if not go to (menu/options/general/browser) and uncheck all boxes theN go back to my device and check for windows folder

WAT ROM ARE YOU USING?

bgtvfr

20th October 2010, 02:00 AM

hey i overwrote the softkey bar file and rebooted but still no luck. Is there a bug in the release version 3?

goto start menu/settings/ui tweaks and enable today soft key bar
then place photo to windows and reboot should work

datkidgabby

20th October 2010, 10:15 PM

hey nvm i got it

datkidgabby

20th October 2010, 10:34 PM

hey i tried to overwrite the original file it said i dint have permisson, and i put the files in there but they were named city sunset before it but it still didnt work, wut should i do

neocorpse

22nd October 2010, 08:10 PM

hey i tried to overwrite the original file it said i dint have permisson, and i put the files in there but they were named city sunset before it but it still didnt work, wut should i do
You have to use the copy to function in Resco Explorer. First put the image of the black_softeybar.png in your storage card then go into resco and locate your card. Once you do, hover the image and hit your left softkey named Actions, scroll to the copy to function and hit Select. A new window will appear with a tree list view. Scroll down to Windows and hit Select again. You will get a prompt notifying you that it's a read only file and would you like to overwrite. select OK and another prompt will appear telling you it's part of the ROM and it may damage your system OS. Click ok and it'll overwrite the file for you. Once you're done close everything out and reboot. If you've done it correctly your new taskbar will show up.
If for some reason your screen dims but won't blacken after the reboot it has NOTHING to do with what you've done. I've discovered that for some reason or another Resco screws with the power settings of the phone, (well at least my Dash 3G). If that happens just go into your power, settings select backlight, change the time, select Done, go in and change it back and the settings will be restored to what you had previously.
Don't worry about the damage rom warning as nothing is signed in the 3vo rom which pretty much makes the entire rom editable graphically.So far I've re-skinned the menu arrow backgrounds, the taskbar, and the start button with complete success. THANK YOU OOKBA, YOU DA MAN!