[HOW TO] Theme Building-By SGBZ

[sprintgirl]

This is a tutorial for how to build an EVO theme! Before you begin you will need the following tools...

-7zip http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

-Android SDK (setup) http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

-Winsign General ROM FAQ

-Photoshop (Gimp is free photo editing software) http://www.gimp.org/


All of these tools can be found through google search.




take your editable apk's out of the rom by copying and pasting them from the open rom to your folder you are going to use them out of. the example we will use is the phone apk and the phone default icon. this is the picture you see when you call someone without a photo in your contacts.



right click the phone apk and select 7zip open archive.



copy the res from 7zip to the folder you are working in then open the res folder



in this example the editable files are in the drawable hdpi folder.



there is our cute little phone default icon, now click and drag the little guy into photoshop.




if you see a little lock next to the layer, right click and duplicate the layer then delete the locked layer. if the layer says index next to it click image, mode, rgb.



erase the original image. anything you make will have to fit in the original canvas size so we will build off of the original file. you will want to see the checkerboard pattern to indicate that your image does not have a background.



click and drag the image you want to use onto our original phone_default canvas and resize the image to fit the canvas or simply center the image. to make sure that the proportions are correct during resizing hold the shift key.

[sprintgirl]

when you save the file you made make sure your are in the same folder you got it from, save as png, to make sure the file doesn't duplicate click the name of the file up top (saves time) that way you don't accidentally end up with phone_default[1] or phone_default.psd


after you click save make sure when this box pops up it says none and click ok


make sure your file was overwritten in its original location, then back out until you reach your res folder


put the res folder back where you got it from in 7zip, click yes to the box that pops up


sign your phone apk


create a system folder and move all your edited signed apk's into that folder


inside system create a framework folder and an app folder (others may be required depending on the type of file being edited but all apk's will either be app or framework) then move your apk's into the correct folders. phone default will go in app as would clock widget and rosie...others may go in framework (com.htc.resources) depending on where you got it from.


then put in your meta file next to your system folder (For your convenience) META-INF.zip


select both folders (make sure before doing this that all of your apk's have been signed) right click, 7zip add to (name).zip


sign your zip

then...copy zip to sd card and flash...take screen shots and post!

[sprintgirl]

This is meant only to get you started! Explore apk's and folders! Have fun with it! I would tell you all the files that I edit specifically and which apk's they come from but it is my opinion that I would only limit your creativity! Plus...why would I give away my secrets Enjoy guys! I know you have all been waiting for this!

[sprintgirl]

Reserved for linkys to YOUR theme threads! PM me a linky to your thread...when you get there-no hurry and I will put a link to your EVO theme right HERE!

SGBZ EVO THEMES

[nate.spangler]

Would opening the image in gimp and colorizing it harm anything?

[sprintgirl]

Originally Posted by nate.spangler

Would opening the image in gimp and colorizing it harm anything?

no just make sure that you save the file correctly and put the theme back together...signing is a very important step. you can edit your images however you would like...sometimes i just change hue and saturation and sometimes i replace the image all together...go crazy! do you!

[sprintgirl]

My images are down... don't know why but I will work on it tonite.

[Alksion]

I am definitely going to try this .. I like your creativity and heart that you put into your themes but I feel you are missing class and organization for the sake of a goofy colorful theme.. but this all said in total respect .. thank you by the way

[sprintgirl]

pix fixed! thanks for your patience!

what are you talking about class and organization???

[rainfreak]

Nice work sprintgirl, thanks for taking the time to make this tutorial and sharing it with all of the members here.