Looking at making a new theme for Vitashell but need a little help

[atreyu187]

So I'm thinking of making a theme for Vitashell and not just any theme but one aimed at PSX-Place. I was hoping to use some HQ images around the site. So I am putting a call out to @STLcardsWS @Tranced and @Grimm or who ever did the art for the site. I would like the highest-quality I could get of the images to make it look as good as possible like the banner and the logo and such. I was hoping one of you guys could send me the artwork.

Now to the devs, staff and users like @Berion I was looking for some pointers about what software I needed as well as what plugins and so forth. I only have GIMP and Ifranview ATM but I'm sure I could grab Photoshop as well if needed. Just a few pointers to move me in the right direction.

And also is there somewhere that shows what the exact dimensions should be when creating the themes? This is all somewhat new to me but that's part of the fun as it's a new challenge so any info you guys could pass along would be greatly appreciated and I have course will share my work I'm not expecting it to when the contest the developer is having but that does not mean I cannot make one of my own accord.

Also any suggestions or ideas are more than welcome and if anyone has any Insider tips like changing the font and so forth would be amazing.

@kozarovv what all was needed to compile this app yourself? I am pretty sure one needed more then PSDK3v3 even with the latest up date I just can't recall what as was needed.

Thanks in advance guys for any information or content that will help me do this I have noticed the developer has been pushing updates already so if I can I will be adding new features and trying to make my own modification of it adding new things and so forth basically a shell mod not only aesthetically but the way it performs as well.

 

[Berion]

I'm using Photoshop, but it's ok also if You use Gimp (it's the best free alternative software).

Also I recommending additional apps like optipng - for reducing size by making changes in pallete index and compression level). In Vita case, also is very handy pngquant - for reduction from 24/32bit to 8bit with 32bit clut.

Take theme.xml as base from Rebugification because it's ordered, commented and complete. I have spend (waste...) additional hours testing and researching...

background: 960x544, 8bit (idiot who decided that should be dropped into volcano...) Can be semi-transparent if You want see waves (look carefully on Rebugification, I used in it such effect)

app icons: 24bit but use whole shape or only 126x126 circle (if You use 128x128 bleeding artifacts will appear); no transparent supported (will glitch if You use it)

orb: also 8bit and must fit into specified ray or PSV will deform it (WTH? ); and misleading is that not whole ray spectrum is used... PSV will cut a little external part of orb.

other graphics are 32bit and with resolution which I used in Rebugification.

For spare some time, use template on desired filename and theme name. Install it and just change bitmaps via FTP (XML and background must be reloaded so go to Settings, change to other theme and change again back to Your test because uninstalling and installing via theme manager would ba painful waste of time).

Font cannot be changed (as I know) from theme level. We need edit system files. I didn't bother about it until we will have real recovery solution in case of brick (should be doable by reinstalling fw from "recovery" but who knows, it's Sony... ).

Audio must be in Atrac-9 format. Unfortunately, only licensed tools can convert it from wave (44,1KHz). Maybe there is also some size limitation.


In total: theming system in Vita is pure shit. They bad design it in the first place, pnglib is crippled and they force on creator to idiotic limitation to spare MBs...

 

[Tranced]

So I'm thinking of making a theme for Vitashell and not just any theme but one aimed at PSX-Place. I was hoping to use some HQ images around the site. So I am putting a call out to @STLcardsWS @Tranced and @Grimm or who ever did the art for the site. I would like the highest-quality I could get of the images to make it look as good as possible like the banner and the logo and such. I was hoping one of you guys could send me the artwork.

Only Grimm has access to those.

 

[Berion]

I have attached template for designing LiveArea startup image. Could be handy, especially when You will want logo in the middle between edge and button.

Red frame showing You proper image size and how much Sony frame + start button will cover it. Dark frame showing the rest part of Sony frame.

Red frame showing whole bubble. Dark red safe area avoiding bleeding.