Dear friends at XDA,
I am a graphic designer. Have Desire + Pico... I made a little tutorial/explanation about boot animations and I moved my NEW animation on 2nd post.
****
Well... There is a file called bootanimation.zip stored in the root file system, something like this:
/system/media/ or /data/local or /system/customize/resource/ (for HTC Sense) or somewhere else (use Root Explorer to search for it!)
This file contains two things:
1. A description file (desc.txt) that outlines how the animation progresses, what images to use, image size etc…
2. Folder(s) that contain the images for the animation
The basic structure of the bootanimation.zip file is as follows:
bootanimation.zip
- desc.txt
- part0
- part1
part0 and part1 are directories that contain a series of images for example:
part0
- boot_001.png
- boot_002.png
- boot_003.png
- boot_004.png
- boot_005.png
and:
part1
- boot_006.png
- boot_007.png
- boot_008.png
- boot_009.png
- boot_010.png
- boot_011.png
- boot_012.png
- boot_013.png
- boot_014.png
- boot_015.png
- boot_016.png
- boot_017.png
- boot_018.png
- boot_019.png
- boot_020.png
These images form the “part0” and “part1” animations that are combined as outlined in the “desc.txt” file to form the overall startup animation. The images are ordered by number and run in sequence.
The “desc.txt” file outlines how the animation progresses and a sample is as follows:
480 800 20
p 1 0 part0
p 0 0 part1
where:
“480” is the width of the animation
“800” is the height of the animation
“20” is the desired fps of the animation
“p” defines a first animation part
“1” how many times this animation part loops (in this case - once)
“0” defines a pause after this part is played (max 10, “0” is for no pause at all)
“part0” is the folder name where the animation images are for the first animation part
“p” defines a second animation part
“0” defines that it loops forever (until android starts)
“0” defines a pause
“part1” is the folder for the second animation part.
IMAGES TYPE
As far as images type… well… for the best experience (IMHO) you should use PNG files, RGB color profile, 24 bit (TRUE color), 96 dpi (not really important, could be 150, 200 or even 300… PIXELS defines size actually) and with NO transparency or interlacing.
About interlacing... IMPORTANT thing:
PNG files must be WITHOUT interlace. Interlaced PNG save several resolution built into the file, and it is mainly used for web viewing on slower connection - loading lower resolution first, than a higher one, than the highest one. This mean that ENTIRE picture is shown very quickly in lower resolution and the quality improve as the data is read. It is very similar to making JPG images progressive. Same reason. Interlacing make believe loading process faster, but it is JUST an impression. But, the file is MUCH bigger and that process is NOT needed for our android. So DO NOT use interlacing!
PACKING THE FILE
When you prepared all, use 7zip to compress and zip the files:
1. Archive format: ZIP
2. Compression level: STORE
Rename zipped file to bootanimation.zip (or else - phone specific...) and that’s about it!
WELL...
I must add one IMPORTANT thing... HOW TO PUT IT IN YOUR PHONE!
First of all... Your phone MUST be rooted (should I even tell that?) and you must have some file browser with full root capabilities... ROOT EXPLORER will do the magic
Find bootanimation.zip in /system/media/ or /data/local or /system/customize/resource/ (for HTC Sense) or somewhere else... and ERASE IT (or MOVE somewhere else to save as a backup - rename it to original.zip etc...)
Than... Find your file and copy/paste it in bootanimation folder. One thing left to do... Use ROOT EXPLORER to change PERMISSIONS of the file as follows:
------------ read / write / execute
Owner: ----- x ----- x ----- 0
Group: ------ x ----- 0 ----- 0
Others: ----- x ----- 0 ----- 0
Exit Root explorer, reboot and enjoy...
FINAL WORD
YES, I KNOW that overall packed file can be big, sure bigger than with JPG-s, but loading of PNG files is smoother and faster, with BETTER QUALITY than with JPG files... In my case I used JPG files cause I am on MIUI (lack of system storage space - CM7 hboot)
THANK YOU...
I am a graphic designer. Have Desire + Pico... I made a little tutorial/explanation about boot animations and I moved my NEW animation on 2nd post.
****
Well... There is a file called bootanimation.zip stored in the root file system, something like this:
/system/media/ or /data/local or /system/customize/resource/ (for HTC Sense) or somewhere else (use Root Explorer to search for it!)
This file contains two things:
1. A description file (desc.txt) that outlines how the animation progresses, what images to use, image size etc…
2. Folder(s) that contain the images for the animation
The basic structure of the bootanimation.zip file is as follows:
bootanimation.zip
- desc.txt
- part0
- part1
part0 and part1 are directories that contain a series of images for example:
part0
- boot_001.png
- boot_002.png
- boot_003.png
- boot_004.png
- boot_005.png
and:
part1
- boot_006.png
- boot_007.png
- boot_008.png
- boot_009.png
- boot_010.png
- boot_011.png
- boot_012.png
- boot_013.png
- boot_014.png
- boot_015.png
- boot_016.png
- boot_017.png
- boot_018.png
- boot_019.png
- boot_020.png
These images form the “part0” and “part1” animations that are combined as outlined in the “desc.txt” file to form the overall startup animation. The images are ordered by number and run in sequence.
The “desc.txt” file outlines how the animation progresses and a sample is as follows:
480 800 20
p 1 0 part0
p 0 0 part1
where:
“480” is the width of the animation
“800” is the height of the animation
“20” is the desired fps of the animation
“p” defines a first animation part
“1” how many times this animation part loops (in this case - once)
“0” defines a pause after this part is played (max 10, “0” is for no pause at all)
“part0” is the folder name where the animation images are for the first animation part
“p” defines a second animation part
“0” defines that it loops forever (until android starts)
“0” defines a pause
“part1” is the folder for the second animation part.
IMAGES TYPE
As far as images type… well… for the best experience (IMHO) you should use PNG files, RGB color profile, 24 bit (TRUE color), 96 dpi (not really important, could be 150, 200 or even 300… PIXELS defines size actually) and with NO transparency or interlacing.
About interlacing... IMPORTANT thing:
PNG files must be WITHOUT interlace. Interlaced PNG save several resolution built into the file, and it is mainly used for web viewing on slower connection - loading lower resolution first, than a higher one, than the highest one. This mean that ENTIRE picture is shown very quickly in lower resolution and the quality improve as the data is read. It is very similar to making JPG images progressive. Same reason. Interlacing make believe loading process faster, but it is JUST an impression. But, the file is MUCH bigger and that process is NOT needed for our android. So DO NOT use interlacing!
PACKING THE FILE
When you prepared all, use 7zip to compress and zip the files:
1. Archive format: ZIP
2. Compression level: STORE
Rename zipped file to bootanimation.zip (or else - phone specific...) and that’s about it!
WELL...
I must add one IMPORTANT thing... HOW TO PUT IT IN YOUR PHONE!
First of all... Your phone MUST be rooted (should I even tell that?) and you must have some file browser with full root capabilities... ROOT EXPLORER will do the magic
Find bootanimation.zip in /system/media/ or /data/local or /system/customize/resource/ (for HTC Sense) or somewhere else... and ERASE IT (or MOVE somewhere else to save as a backup - rename it to original.zip etc...)
Than... Find your file and copy/paste it in bootanimation folder. One thing left to do... Use ROOT EXPLORER to change PERMISSIONS of the file as follows:
------------ read / write / execute
Owner: ----- x ----- x ----- 0
Group: ------ x ----- 0 ----- 0
Others: ----- x ----- 0 ----- 0
Exit Root explorer, reboot and enjoy...
FINAL WORD
YES, I KNOW that overall packed file can be big, sure bigger than with JPG-s, but loading of PNG files is smoother and faster, with BETTER QUALITY than with JPG files... In my case I used JPG files cause I am on MIUI (lack of system storage space - CM7 hboot)
THANK YOU...
Last edited:
