Android Phone 7 Theme

[paulmz]

...CONTINUED




Finally: I have had a few people tell me they would gladly pay for these icons. I really have no means nor desire to charge for them. The majority of the original images are solely from the internet, so I can't charge money for another person's products. It did take quite a while (several days) to find the correct pixel dimensions for the widgets, search and compile the images, adjust them to the correct size, label them and upload them for use. So... consider me a "starving artist".

If you like what I have done and feel compelled to show your gratitude monetarily:

 

[brocja01]

No lag here. What exactly are you running on (phone, launcher, etc.). Are you using the icon files provided or making your own? Where are you saving the icon files to on the device?

They were icons I made myself and I saved them on my sd card. I've since downloaded some other ones and the lag has gone.

 

[fullhouse131]

In a word... AWESOME!!!!!!!!

 

[omgitsspooky]

I'm trying to resize some of my own pictures using Photoshop. However, when I click on Image>Image Size, I enter the the pixel dimensions as 470x125. This comes out all stretched out horizontally. Is this the method on how you do it paulmz?

 

[omgitsspooky]

thanks, no problem

 

[paulmz]

I'm trying to resize some of my own pictures using Photoshop. However, when I click on Image>Image Size, I enter the the pixel dimensions as 470x125. This comes out all stretched out horizontally. Is this the method on how you do it paulmz?

I'm trying to resize some of my own pictures using Photoshop. However, when I click on Image>Image Size, I enter the the pixel dimensions as 470x125. This comes out all stretched out horizontally. Is this the method on how you do it paulmz?

No, if you use Image>Image Size it will only resize the image. If you resize it to a proportion other than the original, it will distort the image.

I simply used the Crop tool:

1. Select the "Crop" tool.
2. In the Options Bar, enter the dimensions for the image in exact pixels and adjust the PPI to 72.



3. Drag a crop box across the image, resizing or moving as necessary.



So long as the dimensions are accurate, the crop box will retain it's correct proportion no matter what size it is, and it will automatically resize it to the correct resolution by entering the PPI.

Another option is to use LauncherPro Plus and resize the widget after placing it. (Press and hold the widget after placing, let go, when the box appears drag the bottom-right triangle down to resize. It will force a 4x2 widget size.



For the image sizing on this, you have to take the height of the Desktop Visualizer widget you're going to use, multiply it by how many "rows" you're going to drag and enlarge it, and add 10 extra pixels per row to compensate for the spacing between rows. For example: 125 x 2 + 10 = 260

Here's the resized image as a .png:


Hope this helps.

 

[omgitsspooky]

Thanks paulmz I'll try this when I get home!

 

[omgitsspooky]

now that i can crop it properly, can someone please tell me how to add that banner on the bottom with the text in it? thanks much!

 

[paulmz]

now that i can crop it properly, can someone please tell me how to add that banner on the bottom with the text in it? thanks much!

Still in Photoshop:

1. Draw a black rectangle where you want the text to go (This will create a new layer just for the shape). Go to the "Layers" palette and adjust the "Opacity" to less than 100% (I used 60%).
2. Click the "T" text tool, click in the gray box, and enter the text that you need. Adjust the color to white (or something else visible on the gray). I also added a standard drop-shadow to help the text stand out a little more (click the "fx" option in the bottom of the Layers palette and select "Drop Shadow"-mess around with the options if you want, but the preset is okay).

NOTE: After you get one completed, leave that PSD file open and just drag the gray box and the text onto any new icons. This way it will guarantee the same settings and sizes (you may have to stretch or shrink the box horizontally depending on the width of your icon-click the "Show Transform Controls" check box at the top to show the transform handles and just drag the box to the size you need, then click the checkmark or press enter to confirm change).

Also, don't forget to "Save As" a .png file after you're done with each one.

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

 

[fullhouse131]

Can you do Folder Shortcuts with the Desktop Visualizer Widgets?

 

[paulmz]

Can you do Folder Shortcuts with the Desktop Visualizer Widgets?

Of course! When you press "Select Action", select "Other" on the pop-up menu. That's the Shortcuts option.

Plus, if you select the "Activities" LauncherPro option, you can select shortcuts to specific parts of certain applications (ie., go direct to the Alarm Clock and bypass going through the Clock App first).

 

[fullhouse131]

Oh I'm very familiar with that feature of Launcher Pro. What I am trying to do is I have all my games dropped into a Folder. When I select Other from"Select Action" my Games Folder is not an option.

 

[paulmz]

Oh I'm very familiar with that feature of Launcher Pro. What I am trying to do is I have all my games dropped into a Folder. When I select Other from"Select Action" my Games Folder is not an option.

You're right, I don't see an option to select a shortcut to a folder.

But there is an easier and (I think) nicer way:
I use App Categories or Smart Shortcuts, which lets you categorize to your heart's content. These apps also arrange app icons alphabetically or by use or rating, and have a nicer and faster pop-up box than the folders option.

These have shortcuts under the "Other" option.

Hope this helps.

 

[crboone]

You're right, I don't see an option to select a shortcut to a folder.

But there is an easier and (I think) nicer way:
I use App Categories or Smart Shortcuts, which lets you categorize to your heart's content. These apps also arrange app icons alphabetically or by use or rating, and have a nicer and faster pop-up box than the folders option.

These have shortcuts under the "Other" option.

Hope this helps.

@paulmz, is there another app that will allow me to utilize your icon pics than Desktop Visualizer? I've had to uninstall the setup because I couldn't connect the phone to my PC via USB mass storage mode due to the link between DV and the pics on the SD card. I believe this was the problem because: 1) When booting the phone, it took a long time for the pic icons to load. And 2) I've completely uninstalled DV (and LP) and my phone connects fine every time now. (I've used LP before and it wasn't a problem). I think the phone was unable to release the SD card and hand it over to the PC properly, so it would lock up and reboot the phone every time.

I could have a faulty SD card ... so I'm just wondering if there's an alternative that might work better. DV couldn't link the pics from a local folder because it uses either the Gallery or the stock File Mgr, and both of those access the SD card only.

 

[paulmz]

@paulmz, is there another app that will allow me to utilize your icon pics than Desktop Visualizer? I've had to uninstall the setup because I couldn't connect the phone to my PC via USB mass storage mode due to the link between DV and the pics on the SD card. I believe this was the problem because: 1) When booting the phone, it took a long time for the pic icons to load. And 2) I've completely uninstalled DV (and LP) and my phone connects fine every time now. (I've used LP before and it wasn't a problem). I think the phone was unable to release the SD card and hand it over to the PC properly, so it would lock up and reboot the phone every time.

I could have a faulty SD card ... so I'm just wondering if there's an alternative that might work better. DV couldn't link the pics from a local folder because it uses either the Gallery or the stock File Mgr, and both of those access the SD card only.

crboone:

Unfortunately, I don't know of any other app as versatile as Desktop Visualizer. I tried BetterCut, which lets you assign different icons to apps, but it doesn't let you assign images or resize the widgets (at least I didn't see these options for the brief time I tried it).

I was having problems with the PC Connection, too. It was happening pretty much after I did this setup, but I also went through my apps and tried to minimize their use, thinking it would speed things up after adding so many image widgets on the screens. But I would have to reboot everytime I needed to connect to the computer, and after rebooting I was killing tons of apps that first load on a fresh boot. I found that I accidently kept killing "Obex" and "Sync Service"- one of which I think controls the PC Connection. Ever since I stopped doing that, it's been working fine.

I also have all of my Widget Images on my phone memory, and not the SD Card. Gallery finds them fine when you go to "All Images". I know that none of the other Android phones have the mass amount of onboard memory like the Incredible, though.

Sorry this isn't working well for you. I wish I had a DroidX so we could troubleshoot it. If anyone else has any ideas, please, feel free to post your input!

If I come up with anything else, I'll let you know.

 

[crboone]

crboone:

Unfortunately, I don't know of any other app as versatile as Desktop Visualizer. I tried BetterCut, which lets you assign different icons to apps, but it doesn't let you assign images or resize the widgets (at least I didn't see these options for the brief time I tried it).

I was having problems with the PC Connection, too. It was happening pretty much after I did this setup, but I also went through my apps and tried to minimize their use, thinking it would speed things up after adding so many image widgets on the screens. But I would have to reboot everytime I needed to connect to the computer, and after rebooting I was killing tons of apps that first load on a fresh boot. I found that I accidently kept killing "Obex" and "Sync Service"- one of which I think controls the PC Connection. Ever since I stopped doing that, it's been working fine.

I also have all of my Widget Images on my phone memory, and not the SD Card. Gallery finds them fine when you go to "All Images". I know that none of the other Android phones have the mass amount of onboard memory like the Incredible, though.

Sorry this isn't working well for you. I wish I had a DroidX so we could troubleshoot it. If anyone else has any ideas, please, feel free to post your input!

If I come up with anything else, I'll let you know.

From all I can see, this just isn't possible. I'm rooted and moved the pics to the /data/local dir (and tried other locations) -- but Gallery doesn't find them because it's not expecting the user to be rooted, so it only "looks" on the SD card. I really don't see a good solution, unfortunately, other than finding another app that handles the pics more efficiently. I tried shrinking the .pngs down to jpegs but it made no difference. I believe I've done all I can do with this and it just won't work on my phone without detriment to the USB connection.


~

 

[paulmz]

With the help of The Saucier, I have created some additional icons for this "theme".

Icons for 480x800 resolution (DROID Incredible, Samsung Fascinate, etc.):







Icons for 480x854 resolution (DroidX, etc.) in progress of being created and will be uploaded at a later date.

With other members input, there should be more icons created in the future.

 

[paulmz]

From all I can see, this just isn't possible. I'm rooted and moved the pics to the /data/local dir (and tried other locations) -- but Gallery doesn't find them because it's not expecting the user to be rooted, so it only "looks" on the SD card. I really don't see a good solution, unfortunately, other than finding another app that handles the pics more efficiently. I tried shrinking the .pngs down to jpegs but it made no difference. I believe I've done all I can do with this and it just won't work on my phone without detriment to the USB connection.


~

Do you have a "DCIM" folder in /emmc on the phone memory? This is the default area where is camera stores images. That's where I have my images saved.

I'm not familiar with the software process difference between rooted and unrooted, so I can't offer any suggestions beyond what is working on my device.

I would hate for this not to function properly with all of the work we put into it. Hopefully we'll figure something out.

 

[alinver]

These are excellent, I've changed my whole phones appearance because of this thread.

Nice work! really beautiful pictures used in such a unique way, the tutorial was very easy to follow even with my limited knowledge. I wish I could find a use for the hilarious "fruit ninja" picture

Cheers Al

PS If I could be really cheeky any chance you could do a 1x1 stock/shares picture? I don't have the skills to do it myself

 

[d12unk13astard]

You're right, I don't see an option to select a shortcut to a folder.

But there is an easier and (I think) nicer way:
I use App Categories or Smart Shortcuts, which lets you categorize to your heart's content. These apps also arrange app icons alphabetically or by use or rating, and have a nicer and faster pop-up box than the folders option.

These have shortcuts under the "Other" option.

Hope this helps.

Or Folder organizer (paid or lite version) For select action choose "other" then scroll down to FolderOrganizer Folder link" And that will let you choose shortcuts for your games,apps etc.

 

[Vaseline Smith]

These are excellent, I've changed my whole phones appearance because of this thread.

Nice work! really beautiful pictures used in such a unique way, the tutorial was very easy to follow even with my limited knowledge. I wish I could find a use for the hilarious "fruit ninja" picture

Cheers Al

PS If I could be really cheeky any chance you could do a 1x1 stock/shares picture? I don't have the skills to do it myself

Download the fruit ninja game...

 

[paulmz]

These are excellent, I've changed my whole phones appearance because of this thread.

Nice work! really beautiful pictures used in such a unique way, the tutorial was very easy to follow even with my limited knowledge. I wish I could find a use for the hilarious "fruit ninja" picture

Cheers Al

PS If I could be really cheeky any chance you could do a 1x1 stock/shares picture? I don't have the skills to do it myself

alinver:

Now, I'm not really familiar with the stock market or what would be a good image for it. Hopefully, one of these would work:

 

[alinver]

Thanks very much, they all look great, nice job. I really like the first one

Cheers Al

 

[quebert]

I've read there's a way to edit the size of the pixel spacing between icons in LPP if you decompile it. I pulled it apart but I don't know what I'm looking for. The spacing between the icons is killing me, I cannot find any info other than "it's possible" anyone know what I'd need to edit to accomplish this?

 

[Excedio]

Here are my icons. Hope you like them. Let me know if any of them are confusing or you might be unsure what they might do.

Click here to see how they look on my phone.
Click here to download all of my icons at once.

Font is the official Ubuntu Font.

2x1 Icons:

3x1 Icons:

2x2 (Middle) Icons:

1x3 Icons:

1x2 Icons:

4x1 Icons: