OS2008 Custom Theme Maker

[Reggie]

Urho Konttori just released Theme Maker 1.1.3, an OS2008 (Chinook) theme maker. The app, that runs on a PC, Mac, Linux, takes in an 8000 (not a typo) x 800 pixel .PNG file and automatically dissects them to hundreds of components and then packages them to a debian (.deb) installer file. Urho provides a template file (in .psd) that he suggests you edit in Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. To give everyone an idea, below is the full template where I highlighted (in red) part of which I used on the image above. Urho, famous for his Media Converter, Theme Maker, and UKMP apps, and a regular in the forums, joined Nokia earlier this year. Links: Download Theme Maker 1.1.3 now. Urho Konttori's BlogRead the full article. (http://www.internettablettalk.com/2008/03/24/os2008-custom-theme-maker/)

[konttori]

Hey, cool post, thanks. Good idea of including the 'full template' in the post. When you start to make the theme, you'll realise that the scope is really not that big. Most of the content is variations of a button, most of the size of the template comes from the robustness of being able to have different kinds of buttons, sliders and whatnot for different situations / applications. I'd say that total conversion should take a full days effort if you have the idea and are good with photoshop. Smaller changes (say... you just want to change the home screen borders) should take one to two hours. Or less if you have the graphics or you are just nicking them from some other source (I don't suggest anyone to take any copyrighted material as a source for the themes).

I hope this will help people find the surprisingly good theming capabilities the device has. I'm really looking forward to seeing what people are able to create.

Oh, and on the psd file, notice the top layer that is not toggled by default. It contains the 'cut' marks, so toggle it on when you want to see what will be cut and where.

[dhere]

Please let me know how to install this.Im using a Nokia N810.none of these files are working on my pc or tablet.Why dont you put the installation process when you deveolop a software. even notes which are inside the zip file doesnt give specific details about installation.

[josiahg777]

This application is not meant to run on your tablet.

There are two parts to it:

One, a .psd file which is an image file that you open in photoshop or GIMP and edit to suit your tastes

Two, there's an executable contained in the .zip for windows/mac/linux run that executable to open the gui deb creator

[konttori]

I'm preparing a new release, so for that I'll put a bit more instructions to the file.

[andrewfblack]

I'm preparing a new release, so for that I'll put a bit more instructions to the file.

What will new release be changing? I'm in the middle of several themes right now nothing is going to change in the .psd layout or anything right. I hate to have to start these over.

[konttori]

No psd layout changes. Only fixes and support for fonts.

[andrewfblack]

Sweet hey can you tell me how changes the color of selected items like in the Application Manager can't figure that out.

[konttori]

I'm still struggling with the home screen applets color space a bit. I also want to make a gull black theme example to give good default colors to people wanting to make black themes, as well as to test it out that the black themes work properly.

[konttori]

I got the colors on home applets finally right! All I now need to do is package the thing for consumption.

[andrewfblack]

cool can't wait, I still havn't found out how to change the color of selected item in a list like Application Manager. Shows up White Text on White Background for me on my theme I made.

[konttori]

Hmm... What's your default text color?
Perhaps you need to change the paintedbackgroundcolor to not to be white (first row, 2nd from the top).

[andrewfblack]

ok that must be the setting I was looking for. Wasn't sure what the name was. BTW I noticed that one of my templates I started when maker was at 1.12 when I made it using 1.13 the media player buttons were messed up I fixed them are where there any other template changes besdies that to 1.13?

[andrewfblack]

Ok here is my problem I'm having with the template. If i click on an item it show highlighted blue if I use d pad to select it it goes with what do I need to do here are some screenshots

[konttori]

Any chance you could send me the template over mail? I'll take a look at the issue and see what gives. my mail is urho dot konttori at gmail com

[andrewfblack]

Any chance you could send me the template over mail? I'll take a look at the issue and see what gives. my mail is urho dot konttori at gmail com

Yeah i'll send it out today. Thanks so much

[andrewfblack]

Hey I have a feature request is there any way to add the ability to change icons and change to large scroll bars using theme maker?

[iamthewalrus]

Is there a .psd file for the Echo theme? I've been working on an idea for a theme based on Echo.

[konttori]

andrew: if you want to mess around a bit, you can change the size of the scrollbars using theme maker and text editor, but it takes a bit of doing. I have tested it myself once, but I didn't like to result enough, so I didn't proceed further with it. Let's say that I'll think about adding the support, but having the support makes things a bit tricky.

[andrewfblack]

Cool, I've had a lot of requests for it.

[konttori]

I think I should announce it here as well. Theme maker has now support for the icons as well as fonts (and installation of fonts) .
http://konttoristhoughts.blogspot.com/2008/09/theme-maker-117-now-with-support-for.html

I think I should make a new example theme as well.

[andrewfblack]

Just a heads up to any of you other theme makers out there right now new version requires you to use a icon template. You can use the standard one or use last version. I'm sure Konttori is on a fix for that. :)

[konttori]

Yep. Will fix it for the next version. I might also add the support for wider scrollbars to that version. Let's see...

[andrewfblack]

Yep. Will fix it for the next version. I might also add the support for wider scrollbars to that version. Let's see...

That would be cool I have had several people request that for my windows theme. If you add support I think I will start releasing 2 version one regular and one wide scroll so everyone is happy. I'm considering doing the same with fonts I have a cool Matrix Font but I'm not sure if people would want to use it for everyday use. So I might release one with that font and one with standard. I haven't decided yet.

[Laughing Man]

Hmm, any reason why the icon.psd is green? (will it go away when I save it?)

[skatebiker]

This application is not meant to run on your tablet.

There are two parts to it:

One, a .psd file which is an image file that you open in photoshop or GIMP and edit to suit your tastes

Two, there's an executable contained in the .zip for windows/mac/linux run that executable to open the gui deb creator

When I open the zip file I cannot find any executable, only .jar files. Is it a Java application ?

[andrewfblack]

Hmm, any reason why the icon.psd is green? (will it go away when I save it?)

The green background shows what the icon has to fit inside before you save it to .png format hide the layer named Cut Layer just make sure your icons fit on top of the green or they will be cut off.

When I open the zip file I cannot find any executable, only .jar files. Is it a Java application ?

Its a Java Application run the file MaemoThemeMaker.jar

[skatebiker]

>> Its a Java Application run the file MaemoThemeMaker.jar

How does it run ?
A jar is an MIDP file not for Windows , it cannot be opened under Windows while I have Java Runtime installed.
Is there an installer for this application ?

[astuermer]

just doubleclick on the .jar file.
if you have java runtime 1.6.0 installed it will open...

[andrewfblack]

>> Its a Java Application run the file MaemoThemeMaker.jar

How does it run ?
A jar is an MIDP file not for Windows , it cannot be opened under Windows while I have Java Runtime installed.
Is there an installer for this application ?

If you have Java Runtime installed it will run just double click it.

[konttori]

If you have messed your java installation, just re-install java from:
http://java.sun.com/getjava