Ok so I decided to create a small tutorial on how to create multiMAN themes.
am not great at creating tutorials, but I'm excellent at making themes...lol...j/k, or am I?
ok so lets do this:
- download the multiMAN original theme or any other, but for this tutorial I'll use one of mine.
open it and copy the images to your work-space
and here's the installable PKG: creativity.pkg
Also the multiMAN directory is BLES80608, remember it as it makes it easier for testing your images as you build your theme is you ftp them into the directory and watch the results in your TV.
I'm not gonna teach anyone on how to use Photoshop, 3DSmax or any other app, sorry.
Grab those images and tweak them to your liking, now that multiMAN takes care of overscan, there's no worries about placement, so go nuts and be creative.
- THEME CONTENTS
BLU.JPG= DISC Icon [96x96]
CFC.JPG= CFC Flash media Icon [96x96]
SDC.JPG= SDC Flash media Icon [96x96]
USB.JPG= USB storage Icon [96x96]
HDD.JPG= Hard Drive Icon [96x96]
MSC.JPG= Memory Stick Icon [96x96]
NET.JPG= Networking Icon, IP address [96x96]
OFF.JPG= Off button in File manager [96x96]
MP_HR.PNG= multiMAN's cursor, 1080 mode (no true transparency) [30x42]
MP_LR.PNG= multiMAN's cursor, 720 and lower mode (no true transparency) [15x21]
GLC.PNG= game cover overlay (Game setting sub-menu) [260x300]
GLC2.PNG= game cover overlay (4x2 Display mode) [260x300]
GLC3.PNG= game cover overlay (8x4 Display mode) [130x150]
GLO.PNG= Boot screen overlay [1920x1080]
GBOX.PNG= game cover overlay (PIC1 underlay in Circular mode, obselete) [717x473]
GBOX2.PNG= game cover overlay (PIC1 overlay in Circular mode, current) [717x473]
CBOX4.PNG= game cover underlay (8x4 Display mode) [349x356]
CBOX2.PNG= game cover underlay (Circular mode) [459x356]
SBOX.PNG= game cover overlay (8x4 Display mode) [432x366]
LEGEND.PNG= Buttons functions overlay (old, not used anymore) [1665x96]
LEGEND2.PNG= Buttons functions overlay(new, uses true transparency) [1665x96]
DOX.PNG= System and Game menu buttons overlay [256x256]
XMB.PNG= XMMB used main Icons [1920x1080]
XMB0.PNG= PS3's xmb second overlay Image [1000x560]
XMB2.PNG= addition to XMMB used main Icons [128x3072]
XMB64.PNG= XMMB used sub-Icons [64x2048]
PICPA.PNG=Slider mode background image [1920x1080]
PIC1.PNG= PS3's xmb full-screen overlay Image [1920x1080]
FMS.PNG= File manager mode, upper and lower docks[1920x48]
PICBG.JPG= Display mode#1 background [1920x1080]
AVCHD.JPG= Display mode#1 background's overlay [1920x1080]
BOOT.PNG= multiMAN boot image [1920x1080]
XMBBG.PNG= XMMB mode's background image [1920x1080]
NOID.JPG= Missing cover(s) replacement [260x300]
AUR5.JPG= Display mode#8 background (8x4 mode) [1920x1080]
AUR4.JPG= Display mode#7 background (Circular mode) [1920x1080]
AUR3.JPG= Display mode#2 background (can be locked to just this one, or randomized) [1920x1080]
AUR2.JPG= Display mode#2 background (can be locked to just this one, or randomized) [1920x1080]
AUR1.JPG= Display mode#2 background (can be locked to just this one, or randomized) [1920x1080]
AUR0.JPG= Display mode#2 background (can be locked to just this one, or randomized) [1920x1080]
PS2.JPG= Default cover for PS2 games [320x176]
DVD.JPG= Default cover for DVD movies [320x176]
NAV.JPG= Old Help-screen created by me, (outdated) [1920x1080]
SOUND.BIN= Theme background music (can be turned off, or not used)
SND0.AT3= PS3's xmb sound-clip on multiMAN's selection
THEME-NAME.mmt= Theme's executable (add your theme's name)
- IMAGES
CBOX, GBOX, XMB, GLC, FMS, DOX, and MP_HR are all PNG images with true transparency, so use that to your advantage. MP_LR.PNG is for lower resolution TVs 720 and lower.
BOOT.PNG, andXMBBG.PNG are also PNGs but transparancy is not needed cause you'll be using them as full screen images.
PRB.PNG is the loading bar. similar to that of windows, so pull inspiration from that.
PIC1.PNG is the PS3's over-imposed image when you hover over the multiMAN icon
PICPA.PNG is the screen for slider modem make sure that boththe beggining and end of the image match to make it into one fluid image, easily replicated by cutting an image in half and clicking on EDIT, Tranform, and Flip Horizontal in photoshop... or be creative and hand-draw to make something spectacular. one example is my old Sonic Theme, hand-drawn clouds and water made for a fluid animation.
ICON0.PNG, is of course the Icon for multiMAN, please use transparency on this one, cause a rectangle icon is not pleasent to look at. lol
now let's move to the most complicated images
AVCHD.JPG
A horrible image for noobs if they're not used to it.
Mostly used to show the games list in Display mode#4, and also as full background in Display mode#1, problem is it goes over PICBG.JPG, my advise is to pick my image keep it in your PICBG.JPG psd and when you're done working on it select AVCHD.JPG with a resize tool or wand, and select all layers, merge them and select inverse to delete the area around AVCHD.JPG, then resize the selected image to the canvas size, and TADA! you have made an aligned AVCHD.JPG. just dont save the psd...lol, revert to before all those steps and save.
OFF.JPG
The second most comlicated image to work with.
Simply cause it it's drawn over FMS.PNG, and being a JPEG thus not having transparency, makes you have to be creative and meticulous with it's sizing and design, if not it'll look odd.
My advise is, finish making FMS.PNG then copy it over the FMS.PNG psd and move around until you hit the right spot and work from there. Also use one PSD for OFF.JPG and for all the File Manage Icons, they're the same size and will save you time and space.
An image not included in my theme, sorry...forgot
NOID.JPGfor when a game cover is missing, also a nice image to make your own, and supplement the theme.
- SCREENSHOTS
1. by pressing selesct + R1, creates a .RAW image which should be saved to the [root /] of whatever external device you have attached to the PS3, if none then it'll save to root of PS3's HDD, [/dev_hdd0]
these images now have a watermark on them with a multiMAN logo.
2. by pressing the PS button and scrolling left to PHOTO, and clicking on the Save Screenshot option. This saves it to your photo gallery with no watermark and you can copy them to a compatible thumb-drive.
- COLOR.INI
Also keep in mind that multiMAN allows for up to 5 user fonts (select-able with SELECT+R3)
- Code: Select all
#COLOR FORMAT 0xAABBGGRR
#
#AA - ALPHA TRANSPARENCY (00-Fully transparent, FF fully opaque)
#BB - BLUE
#GG - GREEN
#RR - RED
PS3DISC=0xfff0e000
PS3DISCSEL=0xff0000f0
SEL=0xff0000f0
PS3=0xfff0e000
PS2=0xff06b02e
DVD=0xffdcc503
BDMV=0xff0050ff
AVCHD=0xff30ffff
LEGEND=0xccffffff
FMFILE=0xfff0e000
FMDIR=0xfff0e000
FMJPG=0xcc00aaff
FMMP3=0xc000f02d
FMEXE=0xc000aaff
HEXVIEW=0xccffffff
#END OF COLOR DEFINITIONS
SPLIT=0xc00080ff
####################################################################
#
# END OF COLOR DEFINITIONS
#
####################################################################
#
# DISPLAY ELEMENTS
#
####################################################################
# show or hide the device list/ip address (1 or 0)
device_list=1
# show or hide device list separator line (1 or 0)
device_separator=0
# device list and separator Y offset (0 - 1079)
device_separator_y=1079
device_separator_x=0
# show or hide legend image or change vertical position (1 or 0), y (0-1079)
legend=1
legend_y=853
# show or remove the drive icon in the lower right corner (1 or 0)
# (0-1919) (to horizontally move the drive icon)
# (0-1079) (to vertically move the drive icon)
drive_icon=0
drive_icon_x=1600
drive_icon_y=1010
# Option: user_font
# Valid Parameter: 0 - 9
#user_font=0
# Option: game_bg_overlay
# Valid Parameter: 0 - do not overlay game PIC1.PNG over user background picture
# Valid Parameter: 1 - overlay (default)
#game_bg_overlay=1
XMB_SPARK_SIZE=10
#SPARK/STARS COLOR USES RRGGBBAA format
XMB_SPARK_COLOR=0xfff0e000
#
# END OF DISPLAY ELEMENTS
#
- COLOR.INI also has theme options like the removal of Legend line, and positioning of storage icon
- SOUND.BIN
- AT3 sound
save as wav atrac3 as SND0.AT3, one program example is (Goldwave and ATRAC3 plugin)
The rest of the images are self-explanatory, and I will update this as time allows... but in the mean time just edit them and keep an eye on their layouts.
- PKGs
here use this one:
creativity.mmt
ohh, btw...open it with a text editor
Also, I will not make a tutorial on how to package a theme, there are app that came out not long ago that will do it for you, also I don't use them, I use my own method through PSL1GHT, and a tutorial on that would be too complicated, so use those Windows apps, I hear they work fine.
To unpack themes already packed you can use programs like: MagicPKG
To Pack Themes:
make_pkg, just drag Theme folder to make_pkg.exe
simple enough I guess.
Here's another one, not tested by me but I hear it works fine.
multiMAN Theme Packer, created by ozayturay
- Code: Select all
Usage: multiMAN_ThemePacker ThemeFolderName
Example: multiMAN_ThemePacker "multiMAN Sample Theme"
PS: You can also drag the theme folder to the batch file. ;)
Steps: not verified by me.
also remember signed packages for 3.55+ and unsigned for lower CFW's.
there are other packers, but they need their own environments, and I'm trying to make this simple for you guys.
To find my old-outdated themes, check www.condorstrike.com...I have no plan to update them, but maybe you can use them for reference.
I will continue to add to this Tutorial, but for now use it as is, and enjoy making themes for the great multiMAN, and alway remember to thank Dean for his awesome creation.
Link for French translation, thanks arachetous.
CAW!
