uLaunchELF Skins Thread (v3.52+)

flamingo24 · #1 03-28-2006, 01:21 PM

Thanks to Polo35 it is now possible to skin uLaunchELF

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 - A variety of skins for uLaunchELF can also be found here.

- Fonts & Font Creation - As of v4.02 the uLaunchELF font type can be altered. Thanks Polo35.

- uLaunchELF Skinning Tutorial - Guide for the more sophisticated skinning methods offered in newer ULE releases (v4.12b-v4.21+). Thanks JNABK.

Experiment1106 · #2 03-28-2006, 07:06 PM

So here are my favourite Skins at the Moment

zabolyx · #3 03-28-2006, 07:51 PM

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 · #4 03-28-2006, 08:33 PM

Thanks zabolyx!

ps2dragon · #5 03-29-2006, 03:36 AM

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. 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. You can also find it in my signature.

2006-04-16 Update:

Skins have been moved over to spedmetal's uLE gallery here. 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 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 · #6 03-29-2006, 08:03 AM

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

edit slightly modified skin-uule4.jpg.

darkangel84 · #7 03-29-2006, 09:23 AM

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

SJCarl · #8 03-29-2006, 10:45 AM

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 · #9 03-29-2006, 06:10 PM

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 · #10 03-31-2006, 03:49 AM

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

zabolyx · #11 03-31-2006, 09:25 AM

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 · #12 03-31-2006, 12:00 PM

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 · #13 03-31-2006, 11:53 PM

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:

Code:

   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 · #14 04-01-2006, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fnu Lnu

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.)

Quote:

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 · #15 04-01-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlanor

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlanor

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 · #16 04-01-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fnu Lnu

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.

Quote:

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 · #17 04-02-2006, 12:03 AM

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 · #18 04-02-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hussross

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 · #19 04-02-2006, 12:47 AM

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 · #20 04-02-2006, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hussross

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 · #21 04-02-2006, 09:01 AM

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

HypERSoniC · #22 04-02-2006, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zabolyx

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 · #23 04-03-2006, 01:39 AM

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 · #24 04-03-2006, 07:54 AM

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 · #25 04-03-2006, 08:15 AM

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