Help with BootSkin

from WinCustomize Forums
I need a bit of help with BootSkins...
When I make them in photoshop, they work, but the clor is all messed up. Its all white and everything. I can't figure out how too get the color right. I've changed the file type(.bmp file types like 16colors and 24bit) But I can't find one that works. Otherwise they work fine... Its starting too annoy me >.>...
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4,751 views 13 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, well being friday night I suppose all the Bootskin authors are out!..::laughs:: I can only offer what I have learned about bootscreens..

They have to be BMP format
16 color 4bit
and I believe they cant be more than 640x480

You can try that and see if it helps. although I do not gaurantee I have all of those dimensions correct..

Hope it helps,
Zero.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
myea that color messing up is anoying me also.... can't figure it out
but i heard it just the version or sumthin they are workin on 254 color bootskin
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
most likely 256.. but ive heard that theyve supposedly be working on a 'hi-res' bootskin for aloooong time..
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"When All Else Fails... Read the Instructions!"

From the menu in Bootskin, you can click on "How to create Bootskins", or simply click on this link https://www.joeuser.com/articles.asp?c=1&aid=1886
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the instructions. I've been doing that, but I think Photoshop just didn't like putting things in 16 color format. Bleh. But when I used SkinStudio, the color isn't hideous. Whoo. Is there a way too fix photoshop from screwing up the color's? Thanks again.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, I almost have the same problem. I have a pic with 900KB in size. I want make it 150KB but it is impossible to do that without changing the resolution or its color. Photoshop can't do that. Any trick what software could resize an image without changing the color or resolution plus without converting it?
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a pic with 900KB in size. I want make it 150KB


The 900kb is the amount of info that makes up the picture, if I understand correctly you want to keep size, 1280x768,
or whatever it is but have smaller file size, 150kb, this can be done by resizing to 100x whatever works out to, save, then resize saved image back to 1280x768. It will be a very blurry ugly picture as there is not enough info now for orig. size. Will not be 150kb but will be smaller.
Top end software can add to an image when making larger, but when you take info away it is gone.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Best to work with palletes of 16bit by using paintshop pro. it runs a pallete format just fine plus the resize will be fine. for those who are having color trouble. make sure both bmp files are using the SAME 16 bit color pallete. the slightest difference in palletes will mess up the color format. the trick is to make one with a single pallete and save the pallete then make the other picture (the bar) and load the pallete from the last picture then save. it should solve the issues.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

OK...to resize an image and not lose detail use high colour images.....resize in full colour...then reduce to 4 bit once you are in 640 x 480

Again again again .... progress and background images must have the same palette...

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
if I understand correctly you want to keep size, 1280x768,
or whatever it is but have smaller file size, 150kb


It can also be done by resaving but at a slightly lower quality. Irfanview does a pretty good job of it and it's free. Just resave at 50-75 % a couple of times - depends on the original quality how many times before seeing any badly visible difference,.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Again again again .... progress and background images must have the same palette...


As in, once you create the background screen, create the progress bar and then in Paint open the background and resize to 22x9, and then open another instance of Paint, and open the progress bar, do Ctrl-C, and then switch to the resized background, hit Ctrl-V on your keyboard, then File>Save As... and then make sure the other Paint window with the original progress bar is closed, then make sure the color selection is 16 colors and then type in the filename you want, click sae, and then direct the bootskin.ini file to the new progress bar image.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
most likely 256.. but ive heard that theyve supposedly be working on a 'hi-res' bootskin for aloooong time..


They have a hig-res version but they did not release it because it is not compatiable with many systems.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok here goes a little crash tutorial to create the BootSkin images with PhotoShop.

1) Create your background image in whatever resolution you like ( 640x480 would be best since you wont have to resize it) or open any image you want to use as background ( 640x480 or higher )
2) To resize the image (if the image is higher than 640x480) clcik on Image/Image Size from the toolbar menu.
3) Type in 640 in the Width box and 480 in the Height box.
4) Click OK. Now you have the correct size image for a background.
5) To convert the image to 16 colors click on Image/Mode/Indexed Color
6) Select Local(Selective) from the Palette box drop-menu (this will turn the image into 16 colors)
7) Select Black and White from the Forced box drop-menu and click OK.
8) To save the image click on File/Save As or Shft+Ctrl+S
9) Choose a folder to save the image. Name the image and from the Format box drop-menu select .BMP Click Save.
10) Select 4 Bit on the BMP Options and click OK
11) Create the Process bar (22x9 in size) and use the same instructions to convert it into 16 colors. Only this time from the Palette box drop-menu select Previous. (This will place the exact same colors from the background image to the process bar image)

Now you have a background and process image to create your boot screen.
I hope this helps.