An Introduction to Iconres-Skinning

[InsecureSpike]

NOT TO BE REPOSTED, WITHOUT PERMISSION


An Introduction to Iconres-Skinning

Skinning for the V8, Z6 & U9 is very different to skinning a standard Moto,
and with some hard work some really impressive Skins can be made,

when a skin folder is opened you will see there are 2 types of files & a jpeg image,



iconres.ezx;
The iconres.ezx is more like the dat files of a P2K skin and the CG15 (DRM),
all those images are stored in the iconres.ezx, there could be 1976 - over 2000 icons and images,
in an iconres.ezx,
this certainly looks daunting, as all of the icons & images are in one file,
although this is so much easier, in the long run
so with every skin you can have a matching DRM, cool!!

not all iconres.ezx files contain DRM icons,
the Stock Alkali skin contains skin & drm icons & images,
but the Stock Indium skin has just the skin images,

if you just want to make a skin and use the stock DRM, just leave out the the DRM files,
you also could just make a DRM, by leaving out the skin images,
the only problem is that, the missing icons will be replased by images from the default iconres.ezx,
which is found in the CG52, usually the Stock iconres.ezx is the Alkali skin.
In the end any icon or image left out of the iconres will be replace by the icon in the default iconres.ezx


The Tools

there are 2 new skinning tools for the opening of the iconres,
as skinner4moto will not open these files,

kview;-
isn't very good as it will open the file but will not repack it properly!
there are a few bugs including calender and calculator errors.
(i use this tool to edit an iconres, add single, multiple or all of the icons, so doubles don't get created)
Remember:
this tool cannot open a iconres that has been compiled with the MotoLinux Iconres Composer!!



MotoLinux Iconres Composer;-
this is the tool that i use to compile a test iconres or a finished one,
there are no repacking bugs,
but i do stress to be careful when replacing icons with this tool, as doubles can be created!!




Both tools will open the iconres, and with both you can extract the icons,
in the stock iconres files there are 2 types of files BMP and GIF files,
in kview you can have the choice of extracting BMP or PNG,
but it messes up the PNG icons, as it doesn't work transparencies very well,
this is where i use the iconres composer, to unpack the icons/images as BMP,
then i use a Batch Converter to convert ALL the BMP's to PNG
(i personally change all of the BMP files to PNG files just easier for me to edit)

once you have unpacked an iconres, and looked in the icons folder,
you'll see that all the icons inside have short names, and are not numbered,
which makes it easier to find out what the icons are and what they do,
as their name states what they do,


Now here is how i go about making a iconres.ezx,



Part 1

Open a stock iconres using the Iconres Composer,



then split it,



this will make a folder in the same folder as the opened iconres,



next make a new folder and call it New-Icons, then move All of the Gif icons to the new folder,



so that in the old folder there is only the BMP icons & images,

Next batch convert ALL of the BMP files to PNG,
so that all the backgrounds are now transpartent,
and then all of the converted PNG's go into the New-Icons Folder,
(and throw all the left over BMP icons and images in the trash as we dont need these)



Now back this folder up, as a RAR or Zip,
Just in case one of the stock files is need again, or for when a new skin is started,

Now the editing can start, choose an image editor of your choice,

The skinning much easier if i tackle the DRM icons at a seperate time to the skin images,
As it's very easy to get lost sometimes, (especially if your new to this type of skinning)



Part 2



Once all the editing is done, start k-view,



click on settings & uncheck the Use iconres.dat box then click ok,



Open up any Stock iconres.ezx using k-view.





Now once k-view has opened and split the iconres.ezx you'll find:
2 new folders, an icons folder and a raw folder, also
theres 2 new files a iconres.hdr and a iconres.dat,



Open the icon folder and select ALL the icons, then throw them all in the trash!

Now move all the icons and images in the New-Icons folder over into the empty icons folder, that kview made
Next make the iconres by saving to EZX.



Ok this iconres is ok to use but has bugs, (but needs to be kept for re-editing)
So start the MotoLinux Iconres Composer, and open the New iconres that's just been made,



first i make another folder, and name it Iconres'd as this is where the New iconres will be saved,

Next press save, and navigate to the iconres'd folder and save in there,



ok this new iconres can now be tried on yer V8, Z6 or U9.


Now a you have a custom iconres.ezx


Part 3

usually some more editing is necessary,
now the iconres.ezx made with the MotoLinux Iconres Composer, cannot be opened with k-view,
this is why i always keep both iconres.ezx's,
if i need to change something, i open the folder with the split Stock iconres
and i pull out the icons folder that has the new icons in, and re-name it,
then delete everything, (raw folder, iconres.dat, iconres.hdr and the iconres'd folder)
except the iconres made with k-view,

then edit the icons and or images needed, and repeat part 2

simple as that!!!

Tools And Stock Skins

MotoLinux-Iconres-Composer Version 1.1.1

Kview 0.52

MotoLinux Skins are here

Special Thanks

Rasputin007 & FLdodger for beleving in me!!!!!

MotoLinux Iconres Composer - Meiner Einer and Big Granu [MENTION=141824]faq[/MENTION]4mobiles

K-view - who ever made it

i cannot for get All the guys who've beta tested for me;

Rasputin007, FLdodger, WildCard26, O.M.G, Psycomorpher, Protector, SuperJoker, TomDunne21 & Vijushimpi.

and the girls;

Bikki, Stephuhnator & Toots

Regards Spike

NOT TO BE REPOSTED, WITHOUT PERMISSION

[Erickson3]

Hi Spike, i´m looking for the stock alkali skin from the z6, just to get a little help with a project, can you post it please? thanks.

[Semseddin]

Great guide m8. Thanks.

[SuperJoker]

A+ stuff man. Stickied.

[vijushimpi]

What if I need 32-bit .bmp images from iconres.ezx directly ?

[InsecureSpike]

Erickson3 All 4 Stock Skins are here, mate. (V8 stock skins)

vijushimpi, well thats the tricky part mate you can only use the MotoLinux Iconres Composer, and you can't un pack it as above, as all of the transparencies mess up,
that why i suggest to use gifs and pngs

the only iconres that has got to be over half bmp is the default iconres in the CG52,
but you don't need to make a new one of those,
thanks guys,

i hope you guy find it useful and we see more amazing skins coming,

spike

[jaydawg]

Awesome guide spike great work, as always

[InsecureSpike]

jaydawg,

thanks mate

paulie 123,

no problem buddy

[SuperJoker]

Now move all the icons and images in the New-Icons folder over into the empty icons folder, that kview made
Next make the iconres by saving to EZX.

How do I make the iconres ? When I select save to EZX it opens a "open" dialog and I'm not able to save the file. It shows this "open" dialog in your screeny also.

[InsecureSpike]

ok select the iconres.dat then save,
then another window opens then save again

[SuperJoker]

Ohh, I'm such a n00b. Thanks again mate.

[Russoeternal]

nice guide spike!!!

[khalilZ666]

where do i download these programs?

my OS is windows vista home premium 32 bits

thanks!!!!

[InsecureSpike]

you'll find them here

i on purpose, didn't link anything as i can't edit the 1st post with update liinks

[SuperJoker]

you'll find them here

i on purpose, didn't link anything as i can't edit the 1st post with update liinks

You should be able to edit your post always mate.