Need help creating a bootskin

from WinCustomize Forums
I have tried repeatedly to create bootskin files. My first attempt loads however the screen has a pink color to it and the progress bar seems to clear out part of it and work normally however everything still has a pink tint to it. My second attempt didn't even display a bootscreen instead it stayed on a black screen while windows was loading then showing the desktop. I have done these in accordance with guides posted both here and on other internet sites but I always run into this problem. My images are all .bmp 16 color 72dpi 640x480 for the background and the progress bar is also 16 color and it's 22x9 for both bootscreens I have created, any help anyone can give would be GREATLY appreciated.
beginners
4,414 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The screen image and the progress bar must use the same colour palette.
When you have screen image ready, 16 colour, save the palette, when start new image for progress bar, load palette from screen image, pick colours from palette to create bar.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Take a look at Bootskin Buddy by rabidrobot. It rocks. http://desktopgadgets.com/ViewGadget.aspx?GadgetID=52

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sir Zubaz, thanks again for another great link.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A few questions on the palette. Do I have to have the same colors in the same positions (i.e. all 16 colors from the image in the palette in the same place they used them in the image) because if I do, then I need to be able to reorganize the original images palette because my progress bar only has 6 colors in it, and the image has greatly varying colors (white blues orange black brown green etc), worse if I organize the palette in the same way it doesn't look at all right. -note- I tried taking just colors from the palette of the bg image to use for the progress bar but organized them in the way that allowed the progress bar to have the look I needed, however what came out on this one instead of everything having a pink tint to it, everything now has a blue tint. Again, I appreciate the info and any help I can get on it. Thanks
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do I have to have the same colors in the same positions

Yes, must be the exact same palette. Just save the screen image palette then apply it to new image for progress bar, the order of the palette does not matter, just pick and use the 6 colours from it you want for progress bar. The only reason to reorder palette is to change first colour as it is the colour that will be displayed, when used, after the progress bar moves across screen. As long as you are just reordering the 16 colours of palette, not changing any, reorder palette, will mess image up, save edited palette, close image do not save changes, open image and apply edited palette, image will not change.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
As long as you are just reordering the 16 colours of palette, not changing any, reorder palette, will mess image up, save edited palette, close image do not save changes, open image and apply edited palette, image will not change.

I don't really know how to do that... I'm using the GIMP do you know how to do that in there, the only way I have found to do a palette is manually coding using rgb or html coding from editing the colors... so I don't really understand what you're telling me to do
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, had to fire up gimp and try to remember, it is more complicated than it needs to be.
When you have 16 color image go to Dialogs on menu bar, then palettes, or Ctrl p. Right click on window, select import, select Image on import dialog, in import options make sure is set for 16 colors, import palette. By default it should be titled with title of image it is from. When start new 22x9 for progress bar go to Image on menu bar, then Mode, select indexed, on indexed dialog select Use custom palette, select palette you have just imported by clicking palette icon. Make sure Remove unsed colors from final palette is not checked, click ok.
On bottom half of main toolbar click the arrow on the right, select add tab, add colormap and palette. Select colormap, you can now pick and use colors from it to create progress bar with same palette as screen image.