Newbie Questions

[z3cruzin]

OK here goes:
I want to have the same enjoyment as everyone else - I have sat back and read for a long time and applied some new info

1. Is a skin the same as a background? I have ZLauncher and the whole theme, skin and background confuses me.

2. Is an icon the pic for a program?

3. Some of the backgrounds are very busy - can you see the programs that you have if you load a busy background?

4. I have Acidimage and it does not display all of my photos. I have a card reader - do I have to place them in a separate dir on a card via the card reader?

5. I just got a 128/128 card. Can you recommend directories I should create?

Thanks in advance.

[Sideway]

A theme (skin) specifies the overall look of the launcher, i.e. the color of tabs, tool bars, tab icons, what tool icons look like, etc.

A background is a picture that shows behind everything else. Think desktop wallpaper.

Icon is the picture for a program.

And as for busy backgrounds, some people like it that way, and some don't. It's up to you to judge if you like it and can see the icons.

[DanT]

1. No.
2. Yes.
3. May be. Pick a nice light color background like cloudy sky and put your icons there, example (http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=408&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500).
4. Don't know.
5. Depends on what apps you use.
Some apps can be put in /Palm/Launcher,
eBooks can be put in /Palm/Books,
Some apps can store their data in /Palm/Programs

[Sid]

The nice thing about AcidImage is that it will find your images regardless of what directory they are in.

[volcanopele]

Originally posted by z3cruzin
3. Some of the backgrounds are very busy - can you see the programs that you have if you load a busy background?

4. I have Acidimage and it does not display all of my photos. I have a card reader - do I have to place them in a separate dir on a card via the card reader?

5. I just got a 128/128 card. Can you recommend directories I should create?

Thanks in advance. 3. I understand you concern about busy backgrounds. that's why I spent quite a bit of time (~1 hour) looking for a decent bacground that: a, looks nice, and b, enhances the icons rather than distracts from them. The one I chose is called Dune.JPG and is available in ClieSource's YiShow background section (note, YiShow backgrounds can also be used with ZLauncher since both just use standard Jpegs and BMPs to form backgrounds). Here (http://www.cliesource.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=629&papass=&sort=1&thecat=506) is a screen shot with it being used with the Copperdeck II theme.
4. Make sure that the images are in either JPG or BMP formats and see if that helps.
5. I would recommend creating a /temp directory. This is where I store files on the card that I want to install in RAM. This saves on having to do a full hotsync to install programs. Just moves files to that directory using a card reader or MSImport/export then use ZLauncher's file manager to move those files to RAM. Also make sure you have /Palm/Programs/Zlauncher/Themes and /Palm/Programs/Zlauncher/Backgrounds directories so you have a place to store themes and backgrounds respectively. Also, I would recommend creating a /Images directory. I store all my pictures in that directory, categorized by subdirectory.

[DanT]

:cool:
volcanopele that screenshot looks really cool man!  I can't wait to get T series w/ VG.

[jaydoc05]

How does one get a pic formatted correctly to the resolution of interest? Is it really just croping and cutting?

[Moparmike]

Yup. Just load the pic into your favorite photoedit/paint program and hack away. (Just remember the copyright stuff if you plan on posting stuff clipped from others' work).

I use PSP...most full-featured photo proggys (PhotoShop, GIMP, etc) have similar options...
I create a new BG in the res I want and then stretch/shrink the picture as needed to fit the blank "canvas" and then I paste it in ans save as a JPG. I usually use no compression in the JPEG to keep image quality as good as possible without taking up so much space.

Check down in the Skins & Backgrounds forum here for more info on making your own BGs & Themes.