uLaunchELF Skins Thread (v3.52+)

[flamingo24]

Thanks to Polo35 it is now possible to skin uLaunchELF :dance: I am posting some skins I made recently, feel free to post your own :)

Skins Included: "uLaunchELF Skins (v3.57 Above).rar"
Red Spheres
Blue Forest
Night Stars
Liquid Void
PS2 Platform
Scorched
Biohazard
Nightmare
Close Encounter
Lake Of Fire

Skins Included: "uLaunchELF Skins (v3.57 Below).rar"
Red Spheres
Blue Spheres
ULE 1-4 (my first skins designed for ule)

Templates Included: "ULE Templates.rar"
ULE Template (Universal v3.58+).jpg
ULE Template (NTSC v3.58+).jpg
ULE Template (PAL v3.58+).jpg

Memory Card Icon's Included:

"uLaunchELF MC Icons.rar"
3D Cube (PS2 Style)
3D Rectangle (PS2 Style)
3D Cube (ULE Style)
3D Rectangle (ULE Style)

"Sys-Conf MC Icons.rar"
3D Cube (Folder Style)
3D Rectangle (Folder Style)
3D Cube (3.5 Floppy Style)
3D Rectangle (3.5 Floppy Style)
3D Cube (5.25 Floppy Style)
3D Rectangle (5.25 Floppy Style)

Notes:

- With new skin/s I'll make a new post on the thread, then add the new skins and color directory info to the archives. This way I can post my skins in a centralized location.

- Please review the "Skin Color Settings Directory.txt" for the settings that go with each skin...

- I've also placed attachments for my ule templetes & memory card icons for ule/sys-conf.

- PS2 Skins Gallery (http://skins.sksapps.com/thumbnails.php?album=10) - A variety of skins for uLaunchELF can also be found here.

- Fonts & Font Creation (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=48978) - As of v4.02 the uLaunchELF font type can be altered. Thanks Polo35.

- uLaunchELF Skinning Tutorial (http://sksapps.com/launchers/ule_skins_tutorial/uLaunchELF_Skinning.html) - Guide for the more sophisticated skinning methods offered in newer ULE releases (v4.12b-v4.21+). Thanks JNABK.

[Experiment1106]

So here are my favourite Skins at the Moment:dance:

[zabolyx]

A quick little reference pic for making skins for uLE...

I based it upon the title and status bars in Skin-a.jpeg by Ps2Dragon... (which is a very nice skin...)

This should help in making the skin if your wanting the boxes on there... I'm going to take a crack at a few.

[rathunter]

Thanks zabolyx!

[ps2dragon]

Ok, I've decided to use this post as my main post. I will update it whenever I add or change something. Here you will find the newest version of my uLaunchELF Template, and the uLE skins I've created. The reason for having both NTSC and PAL versions is explained here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=319453#post319453). If you want any modifications done to my skins to better suit what you want, please let me know, and I'll do my best to fix it for you (ex: change the colors, add something, etc).

2006-05-19 Update:

I created a Skin Template Readme that explains how to create your own custom skins in uLE. Click here to download (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10156&d=1146890094). You can also find it in my signature.

2006-04-16 Update:

Skins have been moved over to spedmetal's uLE gallery here (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule). My uLE skins will sill be here, but all new skins will now be posted over in the gallery instead. Soon I will upload the templates there as well.

2006-04-11 Update:

Uploaded my new skin titled "Classic", which contains two separate versions. The "classic1" skin just has the controller visible (for simplicity), and "classic2" has the Controller with accessories compatible with uLaunchELF (see preview). Both versions are included in the classic_640x480.zip attachment below. I think this is currently my best uLE skin so far.
NOTE: I was waiting for someone to test the PAL version of my "classic1" skin first, but I'm too impatient and decided to release it now. If there are any alignment or display problems with these skins, please let me know, although I'm pretty sure there isn't.
With uLaunchELF v3.60, you can now set Menus to have filled backgrounds with the "Popups Opaque: ON" option under "SCREEN SETTINGS". This fixes the issue with my "Jellies" skin colors clashing with the Virtual Keyboard text, thanks dlanor! :)

2008-10-01 Update:

I made a minor edit to my classic skin uLE-classic_skins_640x480.zip in the "classic2 - with accessories" folder, by adding a drop shadow on all accessories so it's more consistant. I know it's probably irrelevant to most people and probably unnoticeable, but this minor detail was bugging me, so I decided to change it.
Since spedmetal's allps2skins gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule) is no longer online, any updates I make to my uLE skins will be here.



NOTE: all my Skins from now on will only be compatible with uLE v3.58 and above. If for some reason you want the older version of my skins or template compatible with uLE v3.52 to v3.57, then just PM me and ask. Check the "change_history.txt" file for previous update info.

Hope you enjoy my updated skins and templates!

[flamingo24]

thanks for the templates ps2dragon & zabolyx; these skins are the same only skin-uule3.jpg has no templates and skin-uule4.jpg does, nothing to fancy :cheers:

edit slightly modified skin-uule4.jpg.

[darkangel84]

This is my uLe skin. It's very simple! ;)

[SJCarl]

Here's a nice and simple / small one I threw together last night. It's just a gradient from dark gray / blue to black at the bottom. Also, I figured since it's going to be drawn at 512x240 anyway, I'd just make it that size to begin with (to save space).

[zabolyx]

I've noticed on my NTSC unit that the bottom of the 640x480 image is cut off... so the credits to the makers of the images are not visible on uLE.... sorry guys... but it is there...

a couple... for ya... wish I had made the images... thought about using one image that I did make though..... maybe later...

Now Magma and Jacks are from a great group in the UK that have several PSP wallpapers.. in fact both of those are converted from those....

Also I've noticed that the darker the image weither from a dark pic or from overlaying the darker box in the middle.... the image in general looks better on the TV screen... and the words are easier to read....

[HypERSoniC]

your skins are really nice zabolyx. your "branding" detracts from them though..

[zabolyx]

I figured it wouldn't be a prob.... on my screen the bottom is cut off at the bottom of the lower status bar.... so the info at the bottom is not seen... although I could still remove it...

It'd be nice if we could setup a gallery with these in there

[SJCarl]

Different screens have different overscans ... and if someone's using an LCD, there's almost no overscan.

I agree with what you're doing with the branding: crediting the original picture source. Maybe you could just make it fit the background a little better / make it less obtrusive. If you're using Photoshop, this can easily be done with text filters like stroke, drop shadow, etc.

[Fnu Lnu]

Here's the PS2 browser background. Not very creative, but small. You can use either the full or 4:3 ratio. I'm currently using the 4:3 ratio background. I had to make it uneven at the top and bottom to display correctly on my TV - not sure if it'll look the same on every system. The settings are as follows:
Color1 Color2 Color3 Color4
80 00 FF 00
80 00 FF 00
80 00 FF 00
Make sure to turn interlace off and use version 3.55b to avoid flickering. And it may be handy to have an option in future releases to show the frame or not as it messes with this one a bit.

[dlanor]

Make sure to turn interlace off and use version 3.55b to avoid flickering.
No, that is wrong.

First off, there is no such version released. What we have is "v3.55b beta", which is not a normal release, but a test version. You should never recommend anyone to switch permanently to a beta version. That is intended only for testing specific features, before they are approved for a proper release.

Secondly, there is NO anti-flicker code in the normal menus of that beta. That code has only been added to the CONFIG menus and submenus. (More detail on that is available in the beta release package.)

And it may be handy to have an option in future releases to show the frame or not as it messes with this one a bit.
IMO it doesn't really 'mess' with anything, as that implies dynamic action. It merely gets displayed 'on top' of the skin, which may visually interfere with whatever the skin contains in the same picture area. That was obviously never a problem before, when no skins were implemented.

Your wish for a removable main frame is noted, but I'm not promising anything.

Btw: I hope you realize that the frame is not just a decoration, but actually serves a purpose. That's especially true in the file browser, where a scroll box at the right edge of the frame shows your current browsing position, if the directory you view has more entries than can be displayed on one screen.

Best regards: dlanor

[Fnu Lnu]

No, that is wrong.

First off, there is no such version released. What we have is "v3.55b beta", which is not a normal release, but a test version. You should never recommend anyone to switch permanently to a beta version. That is intended only for testing specific features, before they are approved for a proper release.
I was just reporting how I got it to work. I had problems with flickering with 3.55 when it first booted up, but it went away with the 3.55b. And I said that I wasn't sure it will display correctly for everyone.

IMO it doesn't really 'mess' with anything, as that implies dynamic action. It merely gets displayed 'on top' of the skin, which may visually interfere with whatever the skin contains in the same picture area.
That's what I meant to say. It just kinda looks odd with the frame is all.

[dlanor]

I was just reporting how I got it to work. I had problems with flickering with 3.55 when it first booted up, but it went away with the 3.55b. And I said that I wasn't sure it will display correctly for everyone.
Please try it with the new proper version v3.56 that I just released.

That's what I meant to say. It just kinda looks odd with the frame is all.
The new version has the feature you asked for, so that's no longer a problem.

Best regards: dlanor

[hussross]

stupid question

were do u download v3.56 link?
sorry im a noob

thanks dragon
ihave another dumb question

whats the difference between the bootc.elf and the regular boot.elf???

btw nice program im new to all of this :)

[ps2dragon]

stupid question

were do u download v3.56 link?
sorry im a noob
You can get it right here: http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37242

[Fnu Lnu]

Wow, thanks for the border option - that was a quick update! While we're at it, I have another suggestion. This probably isn't the right place to put this, but while I've got your attention...I always thought that there should be a menu that says what each button does on that screen. For example, in the Filebrowser across the bottom it says "X=Ok O=Cancel Title on/off=R1/L1" etc, and it doesn't have room to say that Select will bring you back to the first screen. So I thought that maybe you could just have one command on the bottom: "Start=Help" This would show a submenu with all the button commands for that particular screen. Just a thought...

[ps2dragon]

whats the difference between the bootc.elf and the regular boot.elf???
BOOT.ELF is the uncompressed version, and BOOTc.ELF is the compressed version. There really is no different as far as I know, just one is compressed. So use that one, but make sure you remove the "c" if you want to use it as your BOOT.ELF on your Memory Card.

[fkreisch]

Hi!
This is my CTU skin.

Settings:
Color1: R: 00 G: 00 B: 00
Color2: R: 00 G: 00 B: 00
Color3: R: DF G: C6 B: 6E
Color4: R: 00 G: 00 B: 57
Menu title: CTU - System Online... (or sometning...) :)
Menu Frame: OFF (3.55+)

CTU Skin (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=9740&d=1143982479)

[HypERSoniC]

It'd be nice if we could setup a gallery with these in there

funny you say that.. do you want to help me beta test my skin section on my website?

[flamingo24]

these are the same skin except one is red & the other is blue (pretty obvious, heh) :)

edit: modified to be more defined and clear; images look much better now.

[broodje]

ok, dumb question here lol, i was trying to load a background DL from here, it was in jpg format, but i dint find any settings to load it into ulaunchelf, i looked at the readme's, but i dint found any info anywhere.

could u gimme a link or help me out ? thx :)

[Experiment1106]

ok go to select config and then look at screen settings in there you find skin settings ok i think this helps u

[broodje]

yeh thx m8, i saw that, but do i have to enter all those variables? from a jpg pic? forgive me, but i have no clue on how to do that :(

[Experiment1106]

works for you or not - give more Info when is not working 4 u

[dlanor]

yeh thx m8, i saw that, but do i have to enter all those variables? from a jpg pic? forgive me, but i have no clue on how to do that :(
You don't have to edit any of the 'variables' in the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' menu, just to activate a skin. Here's a full guide, starting in the main menu:

1: In the main menu, open the CONFIG menu
2: In the CONFIG menu, open the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu
3: In the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu, open the 'SKIN SETTING' submenu
4: In the 'SKIN SETTING' submenu, click on the 'SKIN PATH:' entry
5: The file browser appears, so use it to choose your JPG
6: Back in 'SKIN SETTING' you can repeat step 5 until you find a skin you like
7: Click on the 'APPLY NEW SKIN' entry, to activate the skin for real
8: Click on the 'RETURN' entry to go back to 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu
9: Click on the 'RETURN' entry to go back to 'CONFIG' menu
10: Click on the 'OK' entry to save your settings and exit to main menu

In all cases above, I use the word 'Click' as an abbreviation to describe moving the menu cursor to an entry and then push the gamepad button used for 'OK' actions in your uLaunchELF setup (either 'X' or 'O', that choice is up to you).
(In these menus that's the closest thing we have to the mouse clicks used for a computer's menus, so I borrow that term for our purposes.)

Edit:
Having said all the above, about how simple it is to add a skin, I must also add that you often will need to edit the text colours too, to avoid text becoming invisible on a background using the same colour... But that naturally depends on the skins you choose.

Best regards: dlanor

[dlanor]

I see that a lot of you have invested some work in producing great-looking skins based on templates, which depend entirely on the precise screen location of output strings used by uLaunchELF.

Please don't overdo this, as we are currently revising the physical layout for higher resolution. Many things are likely to change, including the size of the menu frame. So much of your hard work could end up being wasted... :(

Sorry, but we can't stop progress because of some skins.

Best regards: dlanor

[broodje]

You don't have to edit any of the 'variables' in the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' menu, just to activate a skin. Here's a full guide, starting in the main menu:

1: In the main menu, open the CONFIG menu
2: In the CONFIG menu, open the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu
3: In the 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu, open the 'SKIN SETTING' submenu
4: In the 'SKIN SETTING' submenu, click on the 'SKIN PATH:' entry
5: The file browser appears, so use it to choose your JPG
6: Back in 'SKIN SETTING' you can repeat step 5 until you find a skin you like
7: Click on the 'APPLY NEW SKIN' entry, to activate the skin for real
8: Click on the 'RETURN' entry to go back to 'SCREEN SETTINGS' submenu
9: Click on the 'RETURN' entry to go back to 'CONFIG' menu
10: Click on the 'OK' entry to save your settings and exit to main menu

In all cases above, I use the word 'Click' as an abbreviation to describe moving the menu cursor to an entry and then push the gamepad button used for 'OK' actions in your uLaunchELF setup (either 'X' or 'O', that choice is up to you).
(In these menus that's the closest thing we have to the mouse clicks used for a computer's menus, so I borrow that term for our purposes.)

Edit:
Having said all the above, about how simple it is to add a skin, I must also add that you often will need to edit the text colours too, to avoid text becoming invisible on a background using the same colour... But that naturally depends on the skins you choose.

Best regards: dlanor

and again u rock my world :p

[spedmetal]

This is my uLe skin. It's very simple! ;)

This is actually the best looking one so far I think. Simple and clean.

Come on people lets see some more!

[flamingo24]

with a much better resolution the update to v3.58 rendered the old templates obsolete, so if anyone is interested in adding templates to future skins or updating old skins, I decided to post a template that is compatible with the newer version :)

[rathunter]

Thanks flamingo24!

[farfromover]

I had some trouble with v3.59.... I loaded a .jpg and .bmp to test and put in on my pendrive. Transferred it to mc0: and then tried to apply one of the images as a skin. It didn't seem to work....

Are there specifics that I need to know?? I created my images at 532x299 and tried both .bmp and .jpg and neither seem to load....

I must have missed a simple step or something....

[ps2dragon]

I've just updated my original post in this thread (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733). Now all my skins and templates are compatible with uLE v3.58 and above. Please continue to view that post for any additional updates to the template or to get the latest version of my newest skins.

[farfromover]

Does anyone have the original readme file on all the specifics for adding a skin to v3.59?? Like good size to use and resolutions to use?

I just can't seem to get my .jpg's to import.... I always get the standard default page....

Any help or steps to make this work would be appreciated....

[ps2dragon]

I had some trouble with v3.59.... I loaded a .jpg and .bmp to test and put in on my pendrive. Transferred it to mc0: and then tried to apply one of the images as a skin. It didn't seem to work....

Are there specifics that I need to know?? I created my images at 532x299 and tried both .bmp and .jpg and neither seem to load....

I must have missed a simple step or something....
farfromover, you can't use skins with those dimentions anymore. uLE has been updated to only use specific sized skins, which I believe is only 640x480 (maybe there are other sizes that work also). Read this post (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=319179&postcount=1310), where dlanor explains what dimensions work with the skins and it's corresponding preview window in uLE.

[farfromover]

Thanks... I'll definitely try those dimensions out....

[farfromover]

I just tried it out....

You have to re-configure the LaunchELF.CNF file settings right??

Are the settings standard for all skins that we want to apply?

Does anyone have a copy of the settings from the readme of v3.58?? I can't seem to find it anywhere....

Thanks

[ps2dragon]

I just tried it out....

You have to re-configure the LaunchELF.CNF file settings right??

Are the settings standard for all skins that we want to apply?

Does anyone have a copy of the settings from the readme of v3.58?? I can't seem to find it anywhere....

Thanks
Just look at the file "Must_Read_v3.59.txt" in the new version "uLaunchELF v3.59.zip" file.

[farfromover]

Thanks for the tip.... the original zip I found didn't have the readme.... I just found this copy now....

Thanks again... I'll try those settings.

[farfromover]

Okay i've changed screen settings to:

NTSC with Interlace OFF:
Screen_X = 158
Screen_Y = 26

.... AND, i've tried loading another CNF file but I still can't seem to get my jpg's to load...

I have a version 4 NTSC PS2....

suggestions??

[Stonebone]

I've just updated my original post in this thread (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733). Now all my skins and templates are compatible with uLE v3.58 and above. Please continue to view that post for any additional updates to the template or to get the latest version of my newest skins.
I tried your planets skin with LaunchELF v3.59. I like it, but unfortunately it's slightly off in PAL mode so it doesn't look as good as it could have.

[ps2dragon]

I tried your planets skin with LaunchELF v3.59. I like it, but unfortunately it's slightly off in PAL mode so it doesn't look as good as it could have.
What do you mean by "slightly off"? Do you mean the text doesn't line up with the background, or do you mean the screen isn't centered properly?

[Stonebone]

The text doesn't line up with the background.

[ps2dragon]

The text doesn't line up with the background.
Is it possible for you to send me a screen shot of it somehow? Right now I'm running my PS2 through my PC's Video Card and I can see it in PAL-B mode. From what I can see, it's the Location Text (at the top telling you where you are), and the Select Text (commands at the bottom), that appear to be 'slightly off'. The top text appears to be a little too high and the bottom text appears to be a little too low. Is that what you meant, or is there more to it?

[Stonebone]

Yes that's exactly what I meant. I don't think you need a screenshot then. I should have explained better from the start I guess.

[ps2dragon]

Yes that's exactly what I meant. I don't think you need a screenshot then. I should have explained better from the start I guess.
Thanks, I'll work on a PAL version of my Skins and Template ASAP... after I get a nice long sleep...

[ps2dragon]

Can someone with a real PAL PS2 & TV please test my new TEST my PAL skin for me with uLE v3.58 or above? The filename is "TEST-jellies_640x480-PAL.jpg", which is of course located in this same thread at post #5 (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733).

[slicer74]

I'm in NTSC so....

[Stonebone]

Can someone with a real PAL PS2 & TV please test my new TEST my PAL skin for me with uLE v3.58 or above? The filename is "TEST-jellies_640x480-PAL.jpg", which is of course located in this same thread at post #5 (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733).
It looks very good now, thank you!

I've noticed something though which seems like a bug in LaunchELF. When the amount of free space is written in the top right corner, like [2.3MB free], the background under this text seems to be shifted one or two pixels up.

[ps2dragon]

It looks very good now, thank you!
Perfect, now I'll design the new version of my 'Planets' skin and Templates for PAL display.
I've noticed something though which seems like a bug in LaunchELF. When the amount of free space is written in the top right corner, like [2.3MB free], the background under this text seems to be shifted one or two pixels up.
Yes, I've noticed this myself with both my skins. I didn't say anything about it since it's just a small visual flaw and nothing major, but yea it would be nice if they can fix it.

[farfromover]

ps2dragon....

I think I found my problem.... You mentioned something about .jpgs made with photoshop.... I made my .jpg in photoshop and need to know all the steps you used to get the .jpg to work.

I think you said something about saving a photshop picture by flattening the image then saving as .bmp. What program did you use to convert the .bmp to .jpg?? Also, I should save my photoshop picture with the quality setting set to 2... correct??

Thanks in advance for your help.

[farfromover]

ps- I'm using Photoshop 6.0...

[zabolyx]

I use ACDSee.... simple viewer converter.... Mine is several versions old though.

[ps2dragon]

ps2dragon....

I think I found my problem.... You mentioned something about .jpgs made with photoshop.... I made my .jpg in photoshop and need to know all the steps you used to get the .jpg to work.

I think you said something about saving a photshop picture by flattening the image then saving as .bmp. What program did you use to convert the .bmp to .jpg?? Also, I should save my photoshop picture with the quality setting set to 2... correct??

Thanks in advance for your help.
farfromover, that post (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=316962&postcount=1147) you read was with the older version of uLE v3.51 (skin version) and v3.52 (I think), but was definitely fixed in v3.53. Although, the newer version of uLE v3.58 and above require you to have your skins set at a certain size (which i've already mentioned here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=319417&postcount=37)).

Hope that helps, if not let me know.

EDIT: yes, ACDSee is what I originally used before it was fixed, you can see that from that old post (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=316962&postcount=1147) I mentioned. Is your image size 640x480?

[farfromover]

Yes, that is my image size (640x480)....

Are you sure the resolution quality setting in photoshop still doesn't need to be set to 2?

Can you post a copy of your .cnf file?? I'm running a v4 Ps2 that is NTSC.... Is there anything I should change in the .cnf file to make this work?? I'm using uLaunchELF v.3.59....

The image doesn't show up in the preview or the main after applying the filepath..... (I tried placing the image on my MC and HD, and seem to work)

Thanks again for your help, when I get home tonight I'll try out one of your Planet .jpg's and see if it works....

[ps2dragon]

Yes, that is my image size (640x480)....

Are you sure the resolution quality setting in photoshop still doesn't need to be set to 2?

Can you post a copy of your .cnf file?? I'm running a v4 Ps2 that is NTSC.... Is there anything I should change in the .cnf file to make this work?? I'm using uLaunchELF v.3.59....

The image doesn't show up in the preview or the main after applying the filepath..... (I tried placing the image on my MC and HD, and seem to work)

Thanks again for your help, when I get home tonight I'll try out one of your Planet .jpg's and see if it works....
Ok, I attached a copy of my .CNF with all the same settings I'm using in uLE v3.59. Can you please upload a copy of your skin that isn't working, so I can test it and see if we can eliminate the cause? I'm using Photoshop CS, and using the "Save For Web..." option instead of the regular "Save As..." option, but that shouldn't make any difference.

I know that sometimes when I use FTP to transfer my skin, it sometimes doesn't work either (error in transfer). So it could also be that your memory card is too full to store the image or some error occurs during transfer.

[farfromover]

Thanks I'll try out that .CNF file..... I'll be sure to post up my skin tonight when I get home for you, so you can try it out and see if you can troubleshoot it for me....

Thanks a ton, i'll be sure to check the capacity on my MC. The .jpg I have is around 100kB, although it should have worked when used with the HD. It might have been that my resolution is super high.

[Stonebone]

I had a go with making skins. The choice of colors here makes a big difference since the background is grayscale. Here are some very colorful ones which I like:

R: 00 00 FF 41
G: 00 60 00 AA
B: 00 60 A0 FF

GUI_Col_1_ABGR = 00000000
GUI_Col_2_ABGR = 00606000
GUI_Col_3_ABGR = 00A000FF
GUI_Col_4_ABGR = 00FFAA41
This skin is for PAL displays.

[Jones23]

Originally Posted by Stonebone
I've noticed something though which seems like a bug in LaunchELF. When the amount of free space is written in the top right corner, like [2.3MB free], the background under this text seems to be shifted one or two pixels up.

Originally Posted by ps2dragon
Yes, I've noticed this myself with both my skins. I didn't say anything about it since it's just a small visual flaw and nothing major, but yea it would be nice if they can fix it.

This prob is discussed here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37242&page=88) by EP, dlanor and polo35. (posts 1314-1316)
I think this will be fixed with the next release. :)

[Jones23]

@ Stonebone:
Your skin looks really nice. :ups: Have to test it when I get my PS2 back.

[ps2dragon]

This prob is discussed here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37242&page=88) by EP, dlanor and polo35. (posts 1314-1316)
I think this will be fixed with the next release. :)
Yes, I just re-read those posts and realized they are aware of it. E P originally said "I was testing with skins but this issue seems to only appear when not using a skin", so I didn't know if it was the same as the problem with a skin applied, but after reading more I realize it's the same issue. Anyway, thanks for pointing it out.

[ps2dragon]

Ok, I just released the PAL versions of my Template and Skins. So now you can make NTSC and PAL compatible skins. I've also added the location of my skins in my signature, so anyone can easily find it...

[farfromover]

PS2Dragon-

I loaded your CNF and planets.jpg.... Every thing works fine. Even using my default CNF file I can still load your jpg.... So there must be something wrong with my image.....

I'm going to try using another program for creating .jpg's and see if it makes any difference.

[farfromover]

Yep, that totally was the problem..... For some reason jpg's created in Photoshop will not show up....

Create it in Photoshop, save as a bitmap file, then convert to .jpg using ACDSee... and that should solve your problems....

[ps2dragon]

Yep, that totally was the problem..... For some reason jpg's created in Photoshop will not show up....

Create it in Photoshop, save as a bitmap file, then convert to .jpg using ACDSee... and that should solve your problems....
I don't know why you have a problem with photoshop, that problem I had was fixed in uLE v3.53. Maybe it's just a problem with Photoshop 6, since I'm using Photoshop CS.

Can you upload your non-working skin? Cause I want to know why it's not working.

EDIT: I know you got the problem solved already, but I still would like a copy of that non-working jpg to find out why certain images may not work.

[farfromover]

Okay, here is my original skin that doesn't work. I don't know why. It isn't anything fancy, just something I was using to test out the Skin App. I have already put something nicer on my PS2....

If you can figure it out, that would be great.



Good Luck

[propered]

Little mess around came up with this

[ps2dragon]

Okay, here is my original skin that doesn't work. I don't know why. It isn't anything fancy, just something I was using to test out the Skin App. I have already put something nicer on my PS2....

If you can figure it out, that would be great.
Yes, this skin doesn't work for me either. When I examined this file as a text file, it has some extra information in it's header, which I've attached so you can check it out. Maybe it has to do with this information that Photoshop 6 is saving to the files, or it's simply just not a compatible jpg format with the current uLE.

[ps2dragon]

Little mess around came up with this
propered, this skin works for me fine in uLE v3.59. Although, I did notice that it has a resolution (dpi) of "96", compared to what I use "72". So you can try changing that. If that's not it, then maybe it was just corrupted during transfer, or your memory card was out of storage space and couldn't store all the data. Othen then that.. I have no idea why it's not working for you.

EDIT: I appologize, I misread your post and thought you had a problem with your skin.

[farfromover]

hmmm, interesting..... Good to know anyways...

[flamingo24]

Little mess around came up with this

propered, this skin works for me fine in uLE v3.59. Although, I did notice that it has a resolution (dpi) of "96", compared to what I use "72". So you can try changing that. If that's not it, then maybe it was just corrupted during transfer, or your memory card was out of storage space and couldn't store all the data. Othen then that.. I have no idea why it's not working for you.

When did "propered" say his skin was not working?

[ps2dragon]

When did "propered" say his skin was not working?
Forgive me. When he said "mess", I incorrectly assumed he meant there was a problem with his skin, which he posted right after "farfromover" posted about his non-working skin. This lead to my confusion in thinking they were both talking about the same thing. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

[dlanor]

Okay, here is my original skin that doesn't work. I don't know why. It isn't anything fancy, just something I was using to test out the Skin App. I have already put something nicer on my PS2....

If you can figure it out, that would be great.
This is due to a well-known limitation of the 'libjpg' function library used by uLaunchELF. It lacks support for many features now considered standard for JPG files, and used by default in some current software when saving JPGs. (Photoshop is perhaps the most important example.)

Such JPGs need to be loaded and then resaved without using those defaults, and if you don't know how to change them this resaving is best done by a different program, using other (simpler) defaults.

I use a program named "IrfanView" for all my picture browsing, and it also has capabilities for conversions, smart rescaling, etc, so usually it can do most of the things I need, which includes fixing JPGs with this problem. I just load a JPG with the problem and then resave it again, which removes the problem.

NB: This problem is not to be confused with the other problem that can prevent some JPGs from being displayed, simply because of their unsuitable proportions, relative to the rescaling needed for uLaunchELF. To avoid that problem you simply need to make sure that your horizontal resolution is 640 or larger, while your vertical resolution is 256 or larger. Having said that, I must also add that very large pictures are also to be avoided, as they would waste both storage space and loading time. My own preference in skin dimensions is 640x480.

Best regards: dlanor

[propered]

THanks none the less guys...nice to know freindly people at the ready to offer help....

[rathunter]

used by default in some current software when saving JPGs. (Photoshop is perhaps the most important example.)
All my uLaunchELF skins made in Photoshop work fine (v6 Mac). I suspect this may be a result of using the "Save for Web..." command, which I normally use when trying to create small files (important for MC space). So if you want to save from Photoshop, try "Save for Web.." instead of "Save As..."

[JustinHayabusa]

Karst gardens getting crunk up in this piece

[spedmetal]

@flamingo24

What color combos do you use for the text with your red sphere skin? Which BTW is VERY nice!

[el88]

Here is a really simple PS2 style background I made.
The colors used in the preview are:

Color1 Color2 Color 3 Color4
00 88 00 FF
00 88 AA FF
00 88 FF FF

[sL1pKn07]

my skin

Based on Elfen Lied

[JNABK]

Ahh.........heres my 2 cents worth...
Made with PaintShopPro 7 using LaunchELF V3.59. Added a color setting.txt for anyone who likes this.

download from Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/)

[JNABK]

el88 thats very nice!

[spedmetal]

@JNABK

wow that is very nice! Almost reminds me of the xbox start up blubber :)

Nice work man.

@el88

Yours is very nice too

[ps2dragon]

Ahh.........heres my 2 cents worth...
Made with PaintShopPro 7 using LaunchELF V3.59. Added a color setting.txt for anyone who likes this.
Thanks JNABK, I really like this skin (looks like a ToxicOS type of skin). Did you use PaintShopPro to make the image in it, or where is it from?

[spedmetal]

Thanks JNABK, I really like this skin (looks like a ToxicOS type of skin). Did you use PaintShopPro to make the image in it, or where is it from?

You know what it kinda also reminds me of.... one of the scenes from Beyond Good and Evil.

[JNABK]

I found it during a search for something , long time ago. I just overlayed it with the frame. That was a trial & error to get it to fit just right........lol

Heres the original, if you are interested.

[JNABK]

Decided to do another one.........getting the color was a little tricky, but i found a good setting & included a color settings.txt ;)

download from Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/)

[spedmetal]

Very nive work JNABK

[slicer74]

Hey JNABK, happy to see u here.

[JNABK]

Hey slicer, wats up!

[slicer74]

Dah, not to busy...
Watching the game...
Drinking a beer !!!

Working on that InfoNES...

[JNABK]

Heres another 1............Color Setting.txt included. (Recommended)

download from Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/)

[JNABK]

I havent seen any older windows skins..........so heres 1.
Color Setting text included.

download from Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/)

[camintmier]

Hi everyone. Thought I'd take a shot at creating some anime styled skins, specifically the anime "Tenchi Muyo". I've attached the pics and settings inside each of the zip files. Also, I dunno if this matters or not, but I'm using uLaunchELF v3.59, on an NTSC-U tv. I'm probably gonna make some more anime themed ones, but dunno if I'll upload them or not (depends on if I think they're good enough).

Anyways, hope ya like'em.

Later,

[flamingo24]

@flamingo24

What color combos do you use for the text with your red sphere skin? Which BTW is VERY nice!

thanks :)

I like to let the user decide on the color palette, for me with the red sphere skin I used.

R: 80 FF 8A 00
G: 80 FF 8A 00
B: 80 FF 8A 00

GUI_Col_1_ABGR = 00808080
GUI_Col_2_ABGR = 00FFFFFF
GUI_Col_3_ABGR = 008A8A8A
GUI_Col_4_ABGR = 00000000

Below I'm posting a new skin along with a memory card icon I created for uLaunchELF. I used el88's nice ps2 style ULE for the mc icon there is a example .bmp included in the rar file; the actual icon is in 3D-Cube format :) just drop/replace with the ule.icn & icon.sys in the mc-folder you want the icon displayed.

[ps2dragon]

Hey, can someone please test this PAL skin on your PAL system & TV, and give me a screen shot of how it looks? I want to make sure I have it lined up correctly before officially releasing it.

EDIT: I've already tested it on my PC through the video capture card, but I want to make sure it looks ok on a real PAL PS2 and TV.

[JNABK]

@ flamingo24
Thats a real nice MC icon!!
I made one with the launchelf look, before the newer ones. Also as a 3D cube.

Note: icon.sys & the .icn MUST be in small letters for it to work.
If used in the BADATA folder, it wont work, as the PS2 continuosly replaces it with the generic PS2 icon at each restart.

[zabolyx]

I've never had my PS2 replace the icon... unless the icon is not present... I wonder... what name are you giving the icon in the icon.sys file... I use just ICON.ICO (or is it ICN)... either way... my icon stays the same.

[JNABK]

.icn is what bmp2icon creates, i'll see if it works as ICON.ICO

[JNABK]

@ zabolyx
YES! thanks for the info.. it has to be .ico , not .icn also anyname.ico works, dont need to be icon.ico
Does yours work if in caps? mine wont.
I'll have to update my tutorials now.........lol
[EDIT]
Damn...i jumped the gun ,its back to the ps2 generic icon again. I tried icon.ico too & it still replaces it after i run the exploit via trigger disc. Oh well.

[slicer74]

I think ico or icn would do the job.
Some of the games have a .icn while other has a .ico.

[JNABK]

There must be something about my version console [SCPH 300001 ] NTSC U/C
I forgot i had to run the exploit (to access the badata folder) first , before restarting the PS2 ,to see if it was unchanged. The only other icon i have ever had stay there was the one from the later versions of KeyLauncher.

I dont have any problem with any other folders, just the badata folder.

[JNABK]

Maybe dlanor or EP might think about putting something in Ulaunchelf to let us keep our icons too, like keylauncher does.
Just a suggestion......... :)

[dlanor]

Sorry, but you guys are completely off track concerning the icon usage... ;)

For normal save folders (including "mc0:/BOOT/") any icon file name at all will do. Neither the main name nor the extension has to follow any specific pattern, because the entire file name is determined by the file "icon.sys" which MUST have exactly that name and no other. That file contains three references to icon file names, which are usually identical but may also be different, so that the Sony PS2 browser can use different files to animate browser actions.

Anyone familiar with a hex editor can easily modify an icon.sys file from a normal gamesave for use in a homebrew folder, with your own icon file(s). You can also use PS2SaveBuilder to construct icon.sys with proper icon file name(s) of your own choice. However, if you use that method you will get some incorrect SJIS characters in the save title chosen, as PS2SaveBuilder uses the wrong SJIS character for typographical spacing. You can correct such errors by changing any occurrence of 0x8100 to 0x8140 in the title section at offsets 0x00C0 through 0x00FF.

The same rules do NOT apply to the system save "mc0:/BADATA-SYSTEM", or "mc0:/BEDATA-SYSTEM/", or "mc0:/BIDATA-SYSTEM/" (depending on your region). The "icon.sys" file used for such a folder is different from those used for normal saves, and does not refer to any icon file on MC at all. instead it refers to a system defined icon file (in my case "_SCE8"), which is assumed to be in the PS2 ROM.

There is no valid way for a user to modify the icon used in a system save, so don't waste time on it.

Best Regards: dlanor

[flamingo24]

@ flamingo24
Thats a real nice MC icon!!
I made one with the launchelf look, before the newer ones. Also as a 3D cube

thanks; it's always good to have variety :)

PS2SaveBuilder uses the wrong SJIS character for typographical spacing. You can correct such errors by changing any occurrence of 0x8100 to 0x8140 in the title section at offsets 0x00C0 through 0x00FF.

dlanor is da bomb (so to speak) :) you are 110% correct I just fixed a few icons using that method, to bad you did'nt have a hand in the programming of ps2savebuilder; it seems "mc icon.sys generator" has similar problems w/character spacing :cheers:

[Jones23]

I always use a hex-editor to make my icon.sys. Like dlanor said, it's easy and you get a clean file without any garbage between the lines. (ps2savebuilder uses the empty space between the filenames to store some extra information)
Wrote myself a little alphabet which I attached here. I hopefully will find out some more symbols once I get my machine back.
Hope someone can use this.

regards Jones23

[dlanor]

----- snip ----- re: PS2SaveBuilder using 0x8100 instead of correct 0x8140 for space characters
you are 110% correct I just fixed a few icons using that method, to bad you did'nt have a hand in the programming of ps2savebuilder; it seems "mc icon.sys generator" has similar problems w/character spacing :cheers:
Yes, mcIconSysGen.exe uses 0x823F for space, which can easily be hexedited to the correct value of 0x8140. But IMO the worst thing about it is that it wastes space. Even with a super-simple monochrome image it always wastes 33KB, even though I have seen functional icons as small as 5KB elsewhere.
Now that's the kind of icon size you want when having many homebrew folders on an 8MB MC. :)
But I don't know what tool can make them... :(

Best regards: dlanor

[JNABK]

hmm........thanx for the tips guys, i didnt even think of hexediting.

[gibbo501]

If planet skins are popular with you folks, you may be interested to see the planet pictures here:

http://www.begann.de/start.html

Click on GALLERIE and the planet ones are in THE STARS 1 2 3

[ps2dragon]

Just wanted to let anyone interested know that I just uploaded my newest skin titled "Classic," which I think is my best skin so far. Click here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733) for the direct link.

[JNABK]

@ ps2dragon
That is absolutely beautiful !!

[ps2dragon]

@ ps2dragon
That is absolutely beautiful !!
Thanks JNABK, I put a lot of hard work into it. Glad you like it! :)

[Experiment1106]

here my new skin

[slicer74]

Keep it up good work guys...

[Snakehands]

Just wanted to let anyone interested know that I just uploaded my newest skin titled "Classic," which I think is my best skin so far. Click here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733) for the direct link.


Classic2 is my new skin. Awesome :)

[slicer74]

I'm not very good in photo edition, but i'm wondering if someone can make a skin with the template and this photo (http://photo-origin.tickle.com/image/90/6/6/O/90666559O456494868.jpg).

thanks a lot.

[JNABK]

here ya go buddy, not sure what ya like, so i just gave it a frame.

[slicer74]

Hummm, not bad, but i wanted it with the template of uLaunch.
U know,the one in PS2Dragon post.

[ps2dragon]

Hummm, not bad, but i wanted it with the template of uLaunch.
U know,the one in PS2Dragon post.
Hey Slicer, is this what you were looking for? If not let me know. I think you will have a hard time finding the right colors for this though (with the "Classic" skin template), but I could be wrong.

EDIT: I also included the other version I first made, since I already had it done before realizing what you really wanted. Both of these skins don't include a readme.txt file with the color settings, as I'll leave that up to you. I didn't know if you had a PAL or NTSC system, so I made both versions.

[spedmetal]

@ps2dragon

I like your classic skin the best so far. Great work! I also like that you give the file for the text colors with your skins, great idea.


I have set up a section in my gallery for ULE skins, do you guys think you would be interested in using it?

[JNABK]

Yea, thats a great idea. I kinda like making these, count me in.

[slicer74]

Hey Slicer, is this what you were looking for? If not let me know. I think you will have a hard time finding the right colors for this though (with the "Classic" skin template), but I could be wrong.

EDIT: I also included the other version I first made, since I already had it done before realizing what you really wanted. Both of these skins don't include a readme.txt file with the color settings, as I'll leave that up to you. I didn't know if you had a PAL or NTSC system, so I made both versions.

One word for this....... AWESOME........ thanks a lot.

[spedmetal]

Yea, thats a great idea. I kinda like making these, count me in.

Ok here it is for anyone that would like to use it a ULE skins gallery

http://www.norcalmods.com/ule

Its independent from my own gallery as well as the store. I modeled the albums after allxboxskins. Login, upload, have fun!

[ps2dragon]

One word for this....... AWESOME........ thanks a lot.
Your welcome, glad you like it.

I have set up a section in my gallery for ULE skins, do you guys think you would be interested in using it?
Sure spedmetal, you can post all my skins there no problem. Although, I'll probably still post them in my main post, so anyone that downloads one of my skins can also find the others I made along with my template.

By the way, I've been looking over your gallery of ps2 chip installs (http://www.norcalmods.com/gallery/) and I was wondering if you do these mods yourself personally, or do you have a team of others who all contribute?

[spedmetal]

Your welcome, glad you like it.


Sure spedmetal, you can post all my skins there no problem. Although, I'll probably still post them in my main post, so anyone that downloads one of my skins can also find the others I made along with my template.

By the way, I've been looking over your gallery of ps2 chip installs (http://www.norcalmods.com/gallery/) and I was wondering if you do these mods yourself personally, or do you have a team of others who all contribute?

I could create a templet album as well.

I do all the installs. I have others that help out with other aspects.

[ps2dragon]

I could create a templet album as well.

I do all the installs. I have others that help out with other aspects.
Yea I think it would be better to include the template so anyone linked to your site can also use the template to make their own skins if they choose.

I just wanted to say that your ps2 mods are the best i've seen. I read somewhere that the wiring your using (in this example (http://www.norcalmods.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=6&pos=1)) is from the HD Connect kit? If not I'd like to know where you get them from, cause if I ever get into modding.. this is exactly how I would want to do it also. They are a work of art.

[JNABK]

Ok here it is for anyone that would like to use it a ULE skins gallery

http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/

Its independent from my own gallery as well as the store. I modeled the albums after allxboxskins. Login, upload, have fun!
I uploaded the 4 skins i posted here, but i wasnt thinking about how to add the settings text,so i uploaded the .rar's for each, but found i couldnt use them to link to the images. I also didnt think to add the settings into the comment, until it was to late.
So if you could, delete the rar files & add the settings to the comments, as i cant now. I will be sure to put the color settings in the 'comments' next time.

[ps2dragon]

@spedmetal: Is it possible to add a 'delete' feature to your gallery for the authors of each skin? I want to test it out, but I don't want to upload something and then not be able to remove or change it later. I just uploaded a zip file, and now I can't delete it through the "Album Manager" under the "Create / order my albums" link.

Are you also willing to take some suggestions for the design of your gallery? I was thinking it would be nice to add the creators name underneath the skin preview, and maybe rename some of the current categories. I also think it would be better if you have the preview linked to a zip file. That way I can upload a preview of what it looks like with my colors (like I do in my main post), which links to a zip file containing both NTSC and PAL versions of my skin and the readme.txt file.

EDIT: Can you please remove my "classic_640x480.zip" file from the "Games" section until I decide how I'm going to upload my skins?

[spedmetal]

@All sorry it took so long to reply to your posts. Just got home.

@ps2dragon

Yes I will delete it. I dont know if coppermine has a delete feature for the user group but I will surely look it over here very soon, maybe there is even a plug in if not. Also yes I'm more then willing to take suggestions as this is a free community gallery just like ULE its self is free to suggestions and changes.

About the zip feature you mentioned how about I create a NTSC and PAL category and in each category I have all the albums we all agree on mirrored in each? I dont know if coppermine can link to a zip but I will also have a look to see what I can do to add an option like that.

BTW what changes do you think need to be made to the album names?

EDIT: Oh also in the thumb previews it does have the users name under the thumb, did you mean something else?

@JNABK

I though editing the description users could do but maybe I didn't configure a setting. I will look. I think putting the color settings in the description is the best solution as well.

[Experiment1106]

Here my new skins i hope you like it :D

[ps2dragon]

bout the zip feature you mentioned how about I create a NTSC and PAL category and in each category I have all the albums we all agree on mirrored in each? I dont know if coppermine can link to a zip but I will also have a look to see what I can do to add an option like that.
Would it be possible to add a NTSC and PAL category within each skin preview instead? Meaning, after you click on the thumbnail, above the preview you would have "NTSC | PAL" links. This would avoid duplicating categories.

I had no idea you were using a pre-made database interface, I thought it was something you put together yourself. Hopefully you can add a detete/modifty type feature for the skin authors. I would also love it if you could either set up a link to the zip file (instead of a screen pop-up), or have a link to the zip within the skin preview area, but this idea came to me thinking you had full control over this interface. How much control do you have over this coppermine setup?

EDIT: Oh also in the thumb previews it does have the users name under the thumb, did you mean something else?
Well right now the current method of finding the author's name is by clicking on: Category > Thumbnail > "Display/hide file information" button (3 clicks from main page). I was thinking it would be better to have the author's name directly under the skin thumbnail by clicking on: Category [author's name under the thumbnail] (1 click from main page). Right now the filename shows up under the thumbnails, so could you instead display the author's name?

EDIT: Or instead of just the skin title, it could be "<skin title> by <author's name>".

I think putting the color settings in the description is the best solution as well.
I'll do this too, but I'm still hoping there is a way to link to a zip file, but if you can't then no problem, since I now know you may not have full control over the setup.

Attached is a copy of the categories I think would be better then the current ones.

[flamingo24]

Here my new skins i hope you like it :D

nice work :) only the templates are off center when using ULE v3.58+.

@ps2dragon

that classic skin is awsome :)

[hip725]

Can someone make a skin that looks like or matches with MyPs2? And pelase have a colour code/font colour code txt file... thanks.

[JNABK]

@hip725
This what you wanted? The font in the preview is not exact, its made in the paint app, its just to show the text colors.
I included a color setting text in the rar.


download from Skin Gallery (http://ule.norcalmods.com/)

[broodje]

Well, u couldn't help myself adding one of my 'own'. Its pretty fun to do. I made a fk up with one pic, but it turned out to b pretty cool actually :)

its the last skull with white background.

here they r...

[hip725]

Thanks... not EXACTLY what I wanted but it'll do for now.

[spedmetal]

OK I like your suggestions on the albums and I have updated them as well as I added the templets album. I also think I found a setting to let the users delete and modify the image/description however they like. JNABK try and edit your uploads now with the color settings.

@ps2dragon

what exactly are the differences with the PAL and NTSC images are they two really needed? I cant seem to find a way to link the thumb/image to a zip nor can I have two category set under one thumb.


I was thinking it would be better to have the author's name directly under the skin thumbnail by clicking on: Category [author's name under the thumbnail] (1 click from main page). Right now the filename shows up under the thumbnails, so could you instead display the author's name?


I think its like that now, have a look I changed a setting just before you posted that.

Let me know if there is anything else that comes to mind and I will continue to look for a solution to link to a zip file.

EDIT: Oh also should I remove the file name from the thumb view and just have it look like this.

---------------------
Electric Blue
13 views
JNABK
---------------------

instead of this

---------------------
ElectricBlue.jpg
Electric Blue
13 views
JNABK
--------------------

Also I found a setting that allows everyone to view the members list from which you can navigate to all the files unloaded by just that user.

EDIT 2: Also File information is visible by default now. I have just tested unloading/deleting/editing under a test user and its now working great. You just click on the file you want to modify and when logged in you can edit the files you have uploaded with the buttons under the file.

[ps2dragon]

OK I like your suggestions on the albums and I have updated them as well as I added the templets album.
Cool.. just wondering, if you rename Templets to "+Templets" or with some other special character, will that album show up first in the list? Would be better if it was at the top of the album list.

what exactly are the differences with the PAL and NTSC images are they two really needed?
If you ever try one of my skins on your console (with the wrong version) you should see the difference, or read this thread (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=319453#post319453). At first I was only making one skin too, then 'Stonebone' explained the difference to me, so I then started making both NTSC and PAL versions. It's only a slight difference, but it's definitely noticeable if a skin is designed perfectly for an NTSC of PAL display (which you can see from testing one of my skins).

EDIT: Here's a quote from my explaination "From what I can see, it's the Location Text (at the top telling you where you are), and the Select Text (commands at the bottom), that appear to be 'slightly off'. The top text appears to be a little too high and the bottom text appears to be a little too low."

I cant seem to find a way to link the thumb/image to a zip nor can I have two category set under one thumb.

Let me know if there is anything else that comes to mind and I will continue to look for a solution to link to a zip file.

EDIT: Oh also should I remove the file name from the thumb view and just have it look like this.
Actually I just had this idea:

---------------------
Download <-- download link to zip file, is this possible?
Electric Blue by JNABK <-- Skin Title & Author on the same line
13 views
---------------------

instead of this

---------------------
ElectricBlue.jpg
Electric Blue
13 views
JNABK
--------------------

Also I found a setting that allows everyone to view the members list from which you can navigate to all the files unloaded by just that user.

EDIT 2: Also File information is visible by default now. I have just tested unloading/deleting/editing under a test user and its now working great. You just click on the file you want to modify and when logged in you can edit the files you have uploaded with the buttons under the file.
Cool.. sounds great.

[HypERSoniC]

pal has a higher resolution than ntsc

[ps2dragon]

pal has a higher resolution than ntsc
Exactly, maybe I should put together a screen shot comparison so people can see the difference.

If someone can help me by testing my PAL template on a real PAL PS2 & TV, and send me a screen shot of how it lines up against the text, I could make a nice little comparison model.

[spedmetal]

Yes I realize this about the video standards already but I'm surprised it plays that much of a difference with ULE but I do believe you and understand. However I still think that making two mirrored categories for NTSC and PAL might be a good idea as not everyone is going to be creating skins for both formats as we we can already see this to be happening. Also linking the file to a zip under the thumb like you asked is not possible at all as I cant link to a zip to begin with. I'm sure I could edit the PHP to make it look like this

Electric Blue by JNABK

If I looked through the code long enough but there is no setting to do so. I did however remove the file name from the thumb view, make it look more clean, this was a simple setting by the way.

I was able to move the templets to the top with out having to rename it.

[ps2dragon]

Yes I realize this about the video standards already but I'm surprised it plays that much of a difference with ULE but I do believe you and understand.
Well as I said in my post before HyperSonic, text will be slightly off if using a NTSC skin on a PAL system or vice versa (depending on how accurate to a specific display a skin is designed for), which is probably why most people don't design for both or say anything about it.

However I still think that making two mirrored categories for NTSC and PAL might be a good idea as not everyone is going to be creating skins for both formats as we we can already see this to be happening.
Yes, I guess if the program is that limited then that's all you can do.

Also linking the file to a zip under the thumb like you asked is not possible at all as I cant link to a zip to begin with. I'm sure I could edit the PHP to make it look like this

Electric Blue by JNABK

If I looked through the code long enough but there is no setting to do so. I did however remove the file name from the thumb view, make it look more clean, this was a simple setting by the way.
I find that hard to believe, since it's just a simple url, but I guess it's a limited interface. I may try downloading this coppermine interface myself to play around with it. I also design stuff for the web in my spare time and wanted to eventually design my own photo album with PHP and mySQL.

I was able to move the templets to the top with out having to rename it.Cool.. good stuff.

[ps2dragon]

JNABK, I really like your 'Red Dragon' skin, but it's a little hard to read the 'Select' text. I modified mine to be "R:E0 G:E0 B:50", which I think works really nicely against that red background.

EDIT: Actually, "R:FF G:FF B:00" works even better...

[JNABK]

JNABK, I really like your 'Red Dragon' skin, but it's a little hard to read the 'Select' text. I modified mine to be "R:E0 G:E0 B:50", which I think works really nicely against that red background.

EDIT: Actually, "R:FF G:FF B:00" works even better...
Thanx ps2dragon
the yellow looks nice too, but i kinda liked the reddish color. I have an HDTV & a non HDTV. So i had to go between them for best look. I will go with R:E0 G:E0 B:50 as a setting.
thanx for the suggestion.

@ spedmetal
I edited all the discriptions, i "compressed" it so it could be read easily. Since the php formats it to center for each line, i think this way looks better.

[JNABK]

Thanks... not EXACTLY what I wanted but it'll do for now.
Give more info & i can make it whatever you want :)

[broodje]

and another one. jeez this is fun 2 do.

[dsforsaken]

i need help, my skins never show up... I created them with the psd that i found at the beginning of this thread but when ever i select a .jpg off my memory card the ule background still remains white... Ill attach the .jpgs that i wanted to use and see if they work for you guys... I am using ulaunchelf 3.60 Boot.elf (not compressed)

[dlanor]

i need help, my skins never show up... I created them with the psd that i found at the beginning of this thread but when ever i select a .jpg off my memory card the ule background still remains white... Ill attach the .jpgs that i wanted to use and see if they work for you guys... I am using ulaunchelf 3.60 Boot.elf (not compressed)
This is yet another example of unsuitable photoshop headers, not supported by the libjpg implementation that uLaunchELF uses. The normal solution is to either try to setup photoshop to somehow use compatible headers (don't ask me), or to load the image into another program and save it with compatible headers from that. But in some cases such programs preserve original headers, so you may even need to make an intermediate save to BMP format and load that instead before resaving to JPG, just to make sure of getting rid of all remnants of the original JPG header.

@ALL SKIN MAKERS: WARNING!!!
If you distribute skins only in jpg format, then it will be impossible for others to modify those skins without loss of quality, since normal JPG is not a lossless format. Even in a supersimple header conversion, such as the one outlined above, there will ALWAYS be some deterioration of picture quality.

For cooperative work on skins you need to use a lossless format, such as BMP instead. All saving of originals should use that format, so that all stages of the work, even after it has passed to the hands of another, can proceed without any loss of quality from the original. Conversion to JPG should only be made in the final stage, in producing the skin file that will actually be used by uLaunchELF. For an 'opensource' approach to this work you should always include the BMP file too, so that others can continue where you left off (without any quality loss).

NB: The above facts apply not only to uLaunchELF skin work, but to ALL image processing using normal JPG. This format was never intended for image processing of any kind. It was only designed to allow maximum storage efficiency of finished images that were never to be altered again. That is why the designers accepted a lossy packing method.

Best regards: dlanor

[rathunter]

Even in a supersimple header conversion, such as the one outlined above, there will ALWAYS be some deterioration of picture quality.
While this is generally true, is it possible for specialized programs to convert headers, strip headers, or even do more complex editing like cropping or rotation of a jpeg in a completely lossless way, e.g. Graphic Converter for the Mac. They perform these operations directly on the jpeg data and vectors, not by rendering a bitmap. If you see your jpeg displayed, and choose save, chances are you're losing quality.

[zabolyx]

Great job on the uLE Skin gallery.... I'll redo my skins and make some more while I'm away on business... it will give me some time to work on it.... leave a week from now.. and should get several done.. and uploaded as well...

[dlanor]

While this is generally true, is it possible for specialized programs to convert headers, strip headers, or even do more complex editing like cropping or rotation of a jpeg in a completely lossless way, e.g. Graphic Converter for the Mac. They perform these operations directly on the jpeg data and vectors, not by rendering a bitmap.
Very few programs will do that, and those are not what the average user will have on his/her PC.

If you see your jpeg displayed, and choose save, chances are you're losing quality.
Exactly, which was one of the main points of my last post.

The other main point of that post was that if anyone is to be able to continue work on an existing skin, adding details and generally editing the graphics, then JPG simply won't cut it. Each time that is done some of the quality of the original JPG will be lost in the new release. There is NO program available which can avoid that. (Not for the normal lossy JPG format supported by PS2 libjpg.)

The only way to avoid this, so that people can work on improving/modifying skins released by others without quality loss, is if each such release also includes a lossless version of each skin (such as BMP), in addition to the JPG needed for uLaunchELF.

Best regards: dlanor

[hip725]

Can someone make an MC picture JPG or BMP out of this picture: http://www.multivitamin-graphics.de/i/mM/hd.gif because I am workign on a skin right now.

[flamingo24]

edit: np, :)

[hip725]

tnx, but I mean, can you make it black so it looked like an MC, and sorry for not writing things clearly.

[hip725]

I tried makign a skin, but couldn't find the right stuff so this is the best I could do, I am plannign on making other ones so yeah... here it is..http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/152/hipn3jf.jpg

[flamingo24]

looks good, what did you want to add?

[Experiment1106]

Here a little more skins i love to make this:D

[hip725]

looks good, what did you want to add?

I wanted that pic posted to be black, not actually all black, but black so it looks like a MC, so meaning highlighted black, but nvm cus I am workign on other stuff. I was going to add at the top, or near the top 3 pics... An HDD, an MC (which I needed) and a CD w/ a drive so it shoes the 3 options of booting Launchelf, or atleast the 3 most popular.

[hip725]

Here are some new ones... Clouds has the white bars.

[spedmetal]

@Experiment1106

If you removed your branding those would be some very nice skins. Post them in the ule gallery for me would you?

[Experiment1106]

@spedmetal i know that my skins are nice:D

[rathunter]

Very few programs will do that, and those are not what the average user will have on his/her PC.
A lot of technically minded people read these forums so I think there is an interest in having erroneous statements corrected. In terms of the average user not having programs like Graphic Converter, well that program is one of the most popular shareware programs on the Mac platform. It is frequently ranked in top 10 shareware lists, and generates enough interest and userbase for third parties to create and sell 350 page manuals. There are probably free or shareware of equivalent quality on Linux and Windows, or at least I hope so, as I have no first hand experience. The bottom line is that non-professionals are more likely to have this program than Photoshop.

Exactly, which was one of the main points of my last post.
I don't know how interesting it is to other readers when posters agree or disagree on each point, or who gets the last word.

The other main point of that post was that if anyone is to be able to continue work on an existing skin, adding details and generally editing the graphics, then JPG simply won't cut it.
Since you reiterate this purist view, I'll mention 2 more points:
- in reality, identifying the quality loss on a TV caused by re-saving a JPEG compressed at High Quality is extremely hard. The "average user" will not notice.
- people that make skins may like to retain ownership and control of their work, and therefore do not post originals by choice. Those that do post TIFF, PSD or similiar formats are adopting an open source attitude and that is great. I've expressed my appreciation especially for those that post lossless templates. But we need to appreciate that some people may not want to do this (perhaps those that sign their creations), and it better they share their JPEGs than not post at all.

[spedmetal]

@spedmetal i know that my skins are nice:D

ohop ... there might be a few too many mirrors in your house. Nah but really nice work man but the branding takes away some, just my opinion please dont take offence.

[ps2dragon]

Can someone make an MC picture JPG or BMP out of this picture: http://www.multivitamin-graphics.de/i/mM/hd.gif because I am workign on a skin right now.
hey hip725, you may not need it anymore, but if you do, I just put this together if you want it. I think this is what you were looking for... I could of done a better job by creating a MC from scratch, but you wanted to use that picture so that's what I used.

[hip725]

thanks but i cant put it together now because i forgo what i wanted and i forgot where to get the other images from...............arrggggggggggghhhhhh!!

[Experiment1106]

Have anybody the PS2 Font for me????

[hip725]

I think this is the PS2 font:

[Jones23]

Try these. Don't know if that's what you're looking for, but they're the only ones I found. (so far)

regards Jones23

EDIT: hip725 was faster, but it's the font I found as playstation.zip.

[JNABK]

@ spedmetal
If you would like another as an alternative, let me know. (i'll probably make 1 anyway) ;)

Edit: Made another, probably not as good as the first, but its an alternative.
Edit2: download from Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/)

[lee99]

this is what i made for everyone out there ,
hope you like it

[spedmetal]

@JNABK

THANK YOU!! That is sweet! Now I have one with my branding on it hehehe. Thanks once again you are a great artist, keep up the good work!

[ps2dragon]

Try these. Don't know if that's what you're looking for, but they're the only ones I found. (so far)

regards Jones23

EDIT: hip725 was faster, but it's the font I found as playstation.zip.
Yea I have those fonts too, and they are ok, but I find the Zrnic one not very precise. If anyone can find an exact PS2 font (other then the zrnic font), I would really appreciate it.

Check the screen shot for a comparison between the Zrnic and original Sony font, and you'll see what I mean. Side-by-side they look pretty much identical, but when you lay them on top of each other, then you see the full difference. The one part of this zrnic font that really annoys me is how the "2" looks compared to the original sony font.

[spedmetal]

@ps2dragon

Man I would say that the Zrnic font is close enough.

[ps2dragon]

@ps2dragon

Man I would say that the Zrnic font is close enough.
lol.. yea, well I just wish the author would of done a better job, cause when i make something.. I want it to be as close as possible. I can live with it.. but I still end up trying to make it look identical by making my own "2" and chaging the "o".. ;)

[wallacee]

lol.. yea, well I just wish the author would of done a better job, cause when i make something.. I want it to be as close as possible. I can live with it.. but I still end up trying to make it look identical by making my own "2" and chaging the "o".. ;)

Judging by the quality of your skins which are superbly put together i kinda get the idea you take pride in your projects and are a perfectionist lol

Which is all the better for us :D

Just wanted to show my appreciation for your Art, Thanks man

regards
Wa||acE

[KanedA_PL]

why nobody make skins for SMS? :(

n1ce work guys :)

[ps2dragon]

why nobody make skins for SMS? :(

n1ce work guys :)
I don't know, I was reading some info earlier that you can use skins in SMS, maybe I'll try to make one for SMS too.

EDIT: Or maybe skinning in SMS was my imagination, trying to find info on it now...

[KanedA_PL]

oh yes please :D something simmilar to your stylish 'classic1 & 2' skins ^__^

EDIT: or like 'media' freehdloader skin :D, BTW. any chances for customised fonts in uLaunchELF? :)

[ps2dragon]

oh yes please :D something simmilar to your stylish 'classic1 & 2' skins ^__^

EDIT: or like 'media' freehdloader skin :D, BTW. any chances for customised fonts in uLaunchELF? :)
Where is this 'media' skin? Also, uLE font customization has been discussed here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45540). So it doesn't look that is going to ever happen.

[wallacee]

Hey mate if you made a skin for sms that would be great!

the skins sms uses need to be in a format similar to a video frame i think but EEUG made a tool to convert image files to this format, you can grab it here from his page
http://home.casema.nl/eugene_plotnikov/

edit:
here is the skinning section from the manual which explains everything
http://www.daveandzoe.plus.com/sms/HTML/en/usage-skin.html

[Experiment1106]

@ spedmetal
If you would like another as an alternative, let me know. (i'll probably make 1 anyway) ;)

yeah JNABK this idea with the Ps2 Board is great - great thinking:D

[ps2dragon]

Hey mate if you made a skin for sms that would be great!

the skins sms uses need to be in a format similar to a video frame i think but EEUG made a tool to convert image files to this format, you can grab it here from his page
http://home.casema.nl/eugene_plotnikov/

edit:
here is the skinning section from the manual which explains everything
http://www.daveandzoe.plus.com/sms/HTML/en/usage-skin.html
Thanks Wallace, I actually found this info just before you posted. Any idea what KanedA_PL meant about this 'media' skin?

[wallacee]

Thanks Wallace, I actually found this info just before you posted. Any idea what KanedA_PL meant about this 'media' skin?

had a look around there i think hes meaning this skin located here for hdloader

http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=255844&postcount=49

[hip725]

Currently I am using the ULE skin, the one that looks ps2 themed... its sick... and i think dragon made it so thanls, but if I am wrong and its someone else, then thank you whoever you are.

[ps2dragon]

Currently I am using the ULE skin, the one that looks ps2 themed... its sick... and i think dragon made it so thanls, but if I am wrong and its someone else, then thank you whoever you are.
It was me... and your welcome :).

[ps2dragon]

had a look around there i think hes meaning this skin located here for hdloader

http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=255844&postcount=49
Whoa.. thanks a lot Wallace, I had no idea this skin even existed. It looks so much like my uLE skin it's crazy. Guess i'll be using this as my new HD Loader skin, thanks nigecube for making this skin http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif:).

EDIT: Although, I'll have to edit it to use a big game list, or maybe I can track him down and request it instead, since he has the original and I wouldn't want to lose image quality in modifying it.

EDIT2: Nevermind.. I found the big list modification here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=267711&postcount=65). :D Although it's in JPG format.. i'll have to ask for the BMP version.

EDIT3: LOL.. ok, just found the big list in BMP format (it was in the media.zip file). Although, I'll probably do some editing to it so it's exactly what I like, or I may just make a whole new HDL skin from scratch similar to this one.

[dlanor]

@skin makers:
I think some of you have missed two of the improvements in uLaunchELF v3.60, and how it affects the use of colour settings, giving you more freedom for Color1 use. With older versions Color1 would never be used at all while a skin was loaded, although the setting would still affect three screen borders, thus making it necessary to always have this colour set to black, to get consistent border appearance.

With v3.60 both those limitations are removed. The screen borders will now always be black, regardless of the Color1 setting. And that setting can now be used effectively even with a skin active, by setting "Popups Opaque: ON". That will cause all 'popup' menus and dialog boxes to use Color1 for the background of the popup box, to make their text visibility independent of the skin picture.

What I mean to say with this post is that with the opaque mode Color1 can be used to improve the visibility of skins, and shouldn't just be left at black 'from tradition' like most skin makers still do.

Best regards: dlanor

[wallacee]

@dlanor
Thanks i didnt know about the opaque setting, its looking much better now with no colours mixing :)

@ps2dragon
i found this post by rathunter on the sms skin thread
http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=291101&postcount=5
He has uploaded a ntsc template for the sms layout if you wanna take a look,
I think your classic skin for ULE would look great if you could port it over sometime.

Wa||acE

[ps2dragon]

@ps2dragon
i found this post by rathunter on the sms skin thread
http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=291101&postcount=5
He has uploaded a ntsc template for the sms layout if you wanna take a look,
I think your classic skin for ULE would look great if you could port it over sometime.

Wa||acE
Thanks.. i'll work on something for SMS as soon as I get it all worked out.

[omegatron]

i didnt read EVERY page but someone should make a gallery for these images so you dont have to go page by page adn click every link

[JNABK]

UlaunchELF Gallery (http://ule.norcalmods.com/) ;)

[Experiment1106]

@JNABK when you want you can take my Pics adding to your Gallery

[JNABK]

@ Experiment1106
Thanx, but if i did, my SN would show up under each skin. Would be best if you did it. But if you want me to, i will do it for you.
Its spedmetal's gallery, not mine.

[spedmetal]

@ Experiment1106
Thanx, but if i did, my SN would show up under each skin. Would be best if you did it. But if you want me to, i will do it for you.
Its spedmetal's gallery, not mine.

Yeah Experiment1106 you can upload them to the gallery yourself. Just create a account and go to town and this way like JNABK said your name will get the credit for the skin. Also I dont want to take the credit for the gallery... this gallery is for all you skinners that do all the great/hard work! I'm just hosting it, ule is free and the gallery is not mine either.

[hip725]

I tried making a SMS SKIN and here it is.. not the best I guess.

[KanedA_PL]

had a look around there i think hes meaning this skin located here for hdloader

http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=255844&postcount=49


yes, it is this skin :)

@hip725 it's good one for the start :)

[lee99]

here are my fresh home made skins
for SMS, uLaunch, HDloader..
enjoy the show

lee99

[flamingo24]

I tried making a SMS SKIN and here it is.. not the best I guess.

here are my fresh home made skins
for SMS, HDloader..
enjoy the show

Nice Skins ;) but this really isnt the thread you should post your sms skins (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=41491&highlight=sms+skins) or hdloader skins (http://ps2-scene.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104); please only post uLaunchELF related skins! :)

[hip725]

Can someone make a Launchlf Icon for me? My uLaunchElf is in the BOOT/ directory and can someone make another icon? Its for a folder called "ELF-APPS" which is where I keep all my elfs like Geotron, SMS, and SNES_Station.

[Jones23]

Look here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45302&page=7) in posts #96 and #98. (someone already did it ;) )
You can easily make your own icons with "bmp2icon" and "mc icon.sys generator" or "PS2SaveBuilder".

best regards Jones23

[rathunter]

i found this post by rathunter on the sms skin thread
http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showpost.php?p=291101&postcount=5
He has uploaded a ntsc template for the sms layout
I should point out that the template posted back in Nov 2005 was before the GS redesign in SMS (EEUG's Christmas present). Since then the resolution of SMS has effectively doubled. The general areas are still accurate, but if you want to use the template as a precise mask, it probably requires some tweaking. I haven't updated it because the SMS graphics got sharp enough that masks didn't suit my skins anymore.

[hip725]

Look here (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?t=45302&page=7) in posts #96 and #98. (someone already did it ;) )
You can easily make your own icons with "bmp2icon" and "mc icon.sys generator" or "PS2SaveBuilder".

best regards Jones23

I tried that a couple of times and the icon didn't change, it was still "corrupt data".

[JNABK]

@ hip725
make sure the file names for the .icn & the icon.sys are in small letters, its important. Also use the icon.sys made for the .icn file, dont use an icon.sys with a different .icn, as the icon.sys has the name of the .icn in it.
They must be in a main folder, not in a subfolder .

[dlanor]

I tried that a couple of times and the icon didn't change, it was still "corrupt data".
In order to get a save accepted as valid by the PS2 Browser you must install not only an icon file, but a functional icon setup, in that save folder. Such an icon setup must have at least 2 component files (some use more).

1: A file named EXACTLY "icon.sys", created by one of the tools that can handle these things (mainly mcIconSysGen and PS2SaveBuilder).

2: At least one icon file, referred to by the "icon.sys" file mentioned above. The name of this file(s) must also match EXACTLY what is used for the three icon references inside "icon.sys".

A common pitfall is to use a CD to transfer the files to the PS2, and to use a filesystem that only supports capital letters. This will always fail, because the name "ICON.SYS" is not acceptable where the PS2 needs "icon.sys".

Btw: A notable exception from the rules here is the system folder, the one with the region dependent name (BxDATA-SYSTEM/, where 'x' is 'A', 'E', or 'I'). The "icon.sys" file for that folder is automatically created by the PS2, and its icon references are not for any file on the MC, but for a file in the ROM. Simply don't try changing the icons of that folder.

Best regards: dlanor

[hip725]

Wow... I have no idea what that means, lol.

Ok, so I have a folder called "ELF-APPS" and I want an icon for that, so right now I created an icon file for the folder called "icon" and when I created a system file using mcIconSysGen, at the bottum of the screen of mcIconSysGen, there are 3 places filled in with "ICON.ICN" and I changed it to "icon.icn" (lower case).

[dlanor]

Wow... I have no idea what that means, lol.

Ok, so I have a folder called "ELF-APPS" and I want an icon for that, so right now I created an icon file for the folder called "icon" and when I created a system file using mcIconSysGen, at the bottum of the screen of mcIconSysGen, there are 3 places filled in with "ICON.ICN" and I changed it to "icon.icn" (lower case).
That will never work.

You just said that the file is named simply "icon", without any extension.
The name used inside "icon.sys" for the 3 icon references must be identical to the name of the file.
So with the filename you stated, they must refer to "icon" rather than "icon.icn".
But instead of changing that, I suggest that you add the extension to the real file name as well. That is after all the intended usage.

I also suggest you use something more descriptive than just "icon" as file name. You'll probably want to do this sort of thing for other folders too, and descriptive names help keep track of what you've done. For this case I'd suggest something like "ELF-APPS.ICN", so you can easily remember what it's for, even it it's copied somewhere else (like an icon collection). Again, any change you make to the filename must also be reflected in the 3 references of "icon.sys".

Best regards: dlanor

[JNABK]

just make sure that after you have copied it to MC, the 2 files icon.sys & icon.icn are in small letters, not caps.

[JNABK]

Also, how did you create the icon, with a conversion app or just name it icon?

[hip725]

Ok, thanks, Im goign to try it later.

[Jones23]

Make sure the icon is called "icon.icn" and then copy both files to your ELF-APPS folder. That should do it.
You can test your icons with the PS2SaveBuilder:
Make a new save and add your icon-file and the icon.sys. If it doesn't show up, edit the icon.sys and press cancel to force a refresh.
That way you can get a good idea of how to use the background-colors.

[dlanor]

just make sure that after you have copied it to MC, the 2 files icon.sys & icon.icn are in small letters, not caps.
You are only half correct here.

The main file "icon.sys" must always be in exactly that form, using lower case letters, but the names of the icon files it refers to are arbitrary. They may have any form whatever, as long as each reference in "icon.sys" matches a real icon file name. (Normally the same file for all three references, but not always.)

Edit: I missed a few posts there. You probably just meant what you wrote to apply for his particular files, not as a general rule then. Still, the rule I stated here remains true in any case.

Best regards: dlanor

[JNABK]

caps never work for me. i have put ICON.ICO in the icon.sys in all 3 places & then ICON.ICO on MC in caps , still didnt work.

[Jones23]

The first icon is the icon normaly shown in the browser.
The second is shown when the save is copied.
And number 3 is shown if you choose to delete the folder.

[Jones23]

Maybe it's just the extension "ICO" that has to be in lower case?

[dlanor]

caps never work for me. i have put ICON.ICO in the icon.sys in all 3 places & then ICON.ICO on MC in caps , still didnt work.
That's very odd, as I have no problems whatever using upper case names, or even mixed case. Some of the names I successfully use are: "SYS-CONF.ICO", "SMS.icn", "NES_save.icn", "GB_save.icn", "Launch_E.ico", and many others.

Perhaps it is one of the tools you use that messes up the filenames for you...
Did you try inspecting the resulting "icon.sys" in a hex editor before testing it on the MC ?

Best regards: dlanor

[dlanor]

Maybe it's just the extension "ICO" that has to be in lower case?
No. All parts of the icon file names are completely arbitrary.
So it should work just fine even with a name like: "UpSy.DaIsY"
(Just as a silly example.)

Best regards: dlanor

[JNABK]

no, i just found using small letters works, so i really wasnt that interested in finding out why. Maybe it was the app i used, but it was a while back i played with the MC icons. The only thing i was ever interested in was how MrSiir (keylauncher) was able to keep his icon working in the system folder. I dont know a lot about programming, so i gave that up too.
Hmm.......come to think of it, it may have been the badata folder i was trying at the time.

[ps2dragon]

Ok, I'm working on a readme.txt for my skin template, and I need everyone's help in testing Photoshop's "Save for Web..." versus the regular "Save As..." option. The "Save for Web..." always works fine in my Photoshop CS v8.0, but the "Save As..." option never does. Also, any other software that works or doesn't work would also be helpful.

Please post your software (working or non-working) and version number along with the result of each saving method (if Photoshop) if you can... thanks.

[JNABK]

I use Paint Shop Pro version 7.04 (working)
I use "Save" & "save as" .
Converts from .BMP,.GIF, .PNG to JPEG-JFIF Compliant (*.jpg,*.jif, *.jpeg) just fine & works.

I havent tried PhotoShop yet, but i will test it for you & post my results.

[JNABK]

I've edited all my skins color settings for use with the Popup Opaque in the latest versions.
Downloads are available from the Skin Gallery (http://www.norcalmods.com/ule/), under each skin.

I also removed all the ones i posted here in this thread, since they werent correct for the latest versions.So anyone who is using them, you may want to go check out the new settings. ( if you havent adjusted them already)

[JNABK]

PhotoShop CS2 9.0
Using 'Save as" option:
JPEG Options:
****Quality********MAX***HIGH***MED***LOW
Baseline (standard)**[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Baseline Optimised***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Progressive:
---------Scans [3]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
----------------[4]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
----------------[5]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Tested all 20 combinations of those settings ( just to be sure)

Save for Web:
Worked ok

Hope this was useful :)

[ps2dragon]

PhotoShop CS2 9.0
Using 'Save as" option:
JPEG Options:
****Quality********MAX***HIGH***MED***LOW
Baseline (standard)**[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Baseline Optimised***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Progressive:
---------Scans [3]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
----------------[4]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
----------------[5]***[no]***[no]***[no]***[no]
Tested all 20 combinations of those settings ( just to be sure)

Save for Web:
Worked ok

Hope this was useful :)
Thanks JNABK, I'll add this to the readme.txt as confirmed testing along with your Paint Shop Pro v7.04 test. So people know the "Save" and "Save As..." (pretty sure both are the same) definitely don't work in that version. Although, the same is true for my CS 8.0 and probably the same for previous versions too.

[JNABK]

Thanks JNABK, I'll add this to the readme.txt as confirmed testing along with your Paint Shop Pro v7.04 test. So people know the "Save" and "Save As..." (pretty sure both are the same) definitely don't work in that version. Although, the same is true for my CS 8.0 and probably the same for previous versions too.
Sorry i guess i wasnt clear on the PSP 7.04
"Save" & "save as" both DO work
I meant to say the PSP also can convert the other formats to a .jpg & the converted images work too.

[flamingo24]

a couple of finished skins...


Night Stars:
00 9A 8E B2
2B 00 00 FF
7B CD 7A FF
Menu Frame Off
Popups Opaque On

Liquid Void:
00 00 D8 FF
00 5E 00 FF
00 E1 64 FF
Menu Frame Off
Popups Opaque On

[jimd]

Some nice skins here - looked through several pages of this thread but I can't find any tutorials or instructions on how to get the skins to show up with the latest launchelf. I'm sure it's pretty simple - please can someone point me in the right direction. Thx for any help.

[ps2dragon]

Some nice skins here - looked through several pages of this thread but I can't find any tutorials or instructions on how to get the skins to show up with the latest launchelf. I'm sure it's pretty simple - please can someone point me in the right direction. Thx for any help.
I created a readme.txt file for using my Template (http://www.ps2-scene.org/forums/showthread.php?p=317733#post317733). I've attached the template readme to this post, hope it helps?

[jimd]

Thx for that ps2dragon - i really like your skins - hard to pick which one to use. Actually i prefer the classic controller only. Is there any chance of you re- doing a pal one with a more transparent controller please? Ghosting the controller image by about 50-75% would be great. At the moment it looks good but the image is a bit too sharp when reding background text. Thx for your help.

[dlanor]

Thx for that ps2dragon - i really like your skins - hard to pick which one to use. Actually i prefer the classic controller only. Is there any chance of you re- doing a pal one with a more transparent controller please? Ghosting the controller image by about 50-75% would be great. At the moment it looks good but the image is a bit too sharp when reding background text. Thx for your help.
Perhaps you have missed some of the settings in uLaunchELF ?

In the CONFIG submenu 'SCREEN SETTINGS'/'SKIN SETTINGS' you'll find a 'BRIGHTNESS' control, which you can use to alter the effective brightness of a skin without making any modifications to the JPG file. The normal setting is 50, and it can be varied in the range 0 (Nearly Black) to 100 (Nearly White). Settings between 25 and 40 are often useful in improving the readability of white text on a mostly dark skin, and may prevent any brightly colored parts of such a skin from 'masking' the text.

Another thing that may be useful is the 'Popups Opaque' setting, as that can prevent the background completely from interfering with text in all popup menus. (Primarily the browser menu, the 'Pathpad', and the virtual keyboard.)

Best regards: dlanor

[jimd]

Thanks for the help dlanor - yes the Brightness control helps but a fainter image for this particular skin would still be nice if its not too much trouble for ps2dragon - the background colour and brightness look great it is just that the controller image takes over a little.
Btw dlanor since changing to v3.61 ( from 3.51) my timeout setting always reads "halted" - i cannot find the right place setting to change this - please could you point out where i change this ( i have adjusted the timeout to 5 secs and re-saved the config but at the main menu it always reads "halted"). Thx for any help.

[dlanor]

Thanks for the help dlanor - yes the Brightness control helps but a fainter image for this particular skin would still be nice if its not too much trouble for ps2dragon - the background colour and brightness look great it is just that the controller image takes over a little.
Ok then. I suppose that is also a matter of personal preference. Since I don't use that skin much I don't really have any strong opinion on it.

Btw dlanor since changing to v3.61 ( from 3.51) my timeout setting always reads "halted" - i cannot find the right place setting to change this - You are simply misunderstanding this change. I decided that the main menu is not the correct place to display settings. For that we have the CONFIG menu. In the main menu you'll see the dynamic state instead. So when the timeout is running you'll see the current count, but as soon as you halt the timeout that will change to 'Halted' instead, simply because that is the current state then.

please could you point out where i change this ( i have adjusted the timeout to 5 secs and re-saved the config but at the main menu it always reads "halted"). Thx for any help.
To view or modify the setting you simply enter the CONFIG menu, as always, for any settings, just like you already did. But there is no way to display that in the main menu, nor should there be. You will only see the timeout as numbers there while the timeout is actually running.

Best regards: dlanor

[jimd]

Ahhhhhhh - i see what's happened now. I press and hold the circle button to launch boot.elf (launchelf) from mc0 - which then stops the timer as soon a the application launches. With the old v3.51 the circle button launched the config but with 3.61 it stops the timer - Just need to figure a way to change the halt button command now. Thx for the info.

[dlanor]

Ahhhhhhh - i see what's happened now. I press and hold the circle button to launch boot.elf (launchelf) from mc0
I assume you mean that the circle button is used here as a command to your mod-chip, to use Dev1. Right ?

- which then stops the timer as soon a the application launches. With the old v3.51 the circle button launched the config
No. CONFIG has never been launched by 'Circle'. The button for CONFIG has always been 'Select'. Possibly you meant something else...?!?

but with 3.61 it stops the timer - Just need to figure a way to change the halt button command now.
There is no 'halt button command'. Any user interaction at all means that the user wants to do something, so the timeout for starting a default application is ALWAYS halted. Default application should only be started if the user doesn't interact at all, as I see it.

However, I see that this may be a problem when you have to keep a button pressed to make a chip start uLaunchELF at all, as that button then makes a default choice impossible by halting the timeout.

There is a simple way of partly regaining the old 'functionality' in this, without losing the very real improvement (safe and certain halting, which we did NOT have before).

I can make uLaunchELF ignore undefined launch keys when it comes to halting the timeout. So it will then only be halted if the user presses a button that is a defined command, or the D-pad (implicit cursor movement commands). I'll add this into the next version then (whenever ;)).

Best regards: dlanor

[ps2dragon]

Thx for that ps2dragon - i really like your skins - hard to pick which one to use. Actually i prefer the classic controller only. Is there any chance of you re- doing a pal one with a more transparent controller please? Ghosting the controller image by about 50-75% would be great. At the moment it looks good but the image is a bit too sharp when reding background text. Thx for your help.
No problem, let me know how this skin looks, if it's not what you want, let me know what needs to be done, so I can re-edit this post with a proper version.

[jimd]

dlanor - I see now - thx. Yes a defined command for halt in the next launchelf version would be great - thankyou.
ps2dragon - spot on looks great - thx for your trouble.

[dlanor]

dlanor - I see now - thx. Yes a defined command for halt in the next launchelf version would be great - thankyou.
Again you misunderstood me. Was I really that vague ?
If so, I guess I'd better get more explicit...

There will never, ever, be any specific command to halt the timeout.
Touching any button at all, that is defined for any purpose whatever, will always halt the timeout, so no specific command will ever be needed.

The new change I suggested was only that buttons that have not been assigned any function at all would be ignored in this button checking, so that they (only) will not halt the timeout. Thus you can continue to press 'Circle' to start uLaunchELF without stopping its timeout, *provided* of course that you don't define 'Circle' as launch button for anything.

Best regards: dlanor

[jimd]

Ok - thx. I see what you mean. Yes that would be great. At the moment I just do without the timer and press user defined buttons - which gives me time to admire the nice new skin - hehe. Thx for the support.

[Experiment1106]

Hello i make a lot of new Skins i hope you like it.....

[Experiment1106]

more...

Preview

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/9875/collage6sh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[spedmetal]

nice work Experiment1106

The Infinity one and the Crystal one are very cool, the red one is very nice too!

[flamingo24]

PS2 Platform:
00 00 FF 00
00 00 FF D8
00 FF FF FF
Menu Frame Off
Popups Opaque Off

[cmal1492]

Some toxic blue shrooms from deviant art (nicely centered)
- with a greatly readable text :shhh:
GUI_Col_1_ABGR = 00230000
GUI_Col_2_ABGR = 00482121
GUI_Col_3_ABGR = 00FF555B
GUI_Col_4_ABGR = 008CB18F
SKIN_Brightness = 50

[flamingo24]

Scorched
Color [1]----[2]-----[3]-----[4]
R------00----A4-----A4-----D2
G------00----00-----00-----65
B------00----00-----00-----5A
Menu Frame: OFF
Popups Opaque: ON


Biohazard
Color [1]----[2]-----[3]-----[4]
R------00----55-----FF-----88
G------00----55-----FF-----88
B------00----55-----FF-----88
Menu Frame: OFF
Popups Opaque: ON

[sofsof22]

Hi guys,

I wanted my Desktop skin as my uLE skin, so I went and DL ps2dragon template ( Thanks! ) and made a simple one, Then my girlfriend saw it and she wanted me to make one for her, based on HER Desktop skin ( few months ago I made her a skin - exactly like mine only with different colors ), then I found my self making skins, so i decided to make them PAL / NTSC compatible and share them with you:

[Fatman222]

check this out.

use yellow and white textcolors

[spedmetal]

Nice work fatman222, I like the popup window graphic.

[sofsof22]

Here is one more ( PAL / NTSC ):

[timberlandman]

Nice skins guys. You should all upload them to http://www.allps2skins.com/!!

[sofsof22]

Took your advaice timberlandman...

[sofsof22]

Here is one more ( PAL / NTSC ):

Just for completing the skin i recommend to use this "Azure Blue" color for the font:

GUI_Col_3_ABGR = 00FF9F5C

For the rest, just leave the default.