Web Magic Graphics
Presents Creating Theme's

Making your own desktop themes really isn't that hard. The main step in creating them is making sure you know your theme before starting and getting everything together for it. I find working around the wallpaper the easiest. It will have the main colors. I will try to walk you through making a Christmas theme but you can make whatever theme you would like, the directions are the same basically. The hardest part of making themes is deciding the subject. I have listed the main steps below on creating themes. 

If you have IE you may want to save this page, just hit file, save as and locate the folder you want this tutorial in for offline work. I'm not sure how to do it in netscape. By saying this I am NOT giving you permission to place this tutorial
on your website.


Step 1 - Choosing the Theme

Step 2 - Wallpaper - you will be looking at this the most

Step 3 - Color Scheme

Step 4 - Icons - I download mine, this takes away from psp LOL

Step 5 - Cursors - I rather use the ones I have downloaded from all over the net.

Step 6 - Sounds - Touchy, make sure they are not copyrighted

Step 7 - Putting everything into correct folders

Step 8 - Startup-Shutdown Screens - I usually skip this to save space


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Step 1 - Choosing your theme 
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You can pick a subject and go to search engines to do searches on it. Just remember, it any is not your work, contact original artist and ask for permission.
I find creating them from scratch to be the most satisfying. Just remember when putting this together to have contrasting yet complimenting colors so icons and fonts will show up on your desktop. ( Just don't use wild colors or you will find your theme will drive you nuts, match them somewhat )Usually Microsoft Plus will have color themes that will go well with your new creations.

For the best resolution, (most use 800x600) I find the following the best to follow and use your own resolution for your computer:

Step 1 - right click on your desktop in an area with no icons and go to properties.

Step 2 - Hit the settings tab - should be last one on right

Step 3 - Check your screen area, mine happens to be 800x600 pixels

Step 4 - Write this size down, this will be the size of the wallpaper you will be creating. Hit cancel to get out of this window. and that is all there is to figuring out the size of your wallpaper.

Step 5 - The Wallpaper 
The most important part of any desktop theme is the wallpaper. Look or create  high resolution images for the highest quality.. It is better to reduce the size  than to stretch the image to fit. 

Step 6 - There are at least 4 icons to make; My Computer, Network Neighborhood, Recycle Bin - (Empty, and Full.) 


Step 7 - Cursors
I won't get into these, I download them. Must easier. Just do a search for cursors and there are many websites which have them for download.

Step 6 - Sounds
Same as cursors, just make sure you ask for permission on copyrighted material
Tucows has many programs you can download if you would like to make your own cursors and sounds. If you decide on creating sounds keep in mind not to use them for opening and shutting down programs. Some programs will default and not open at all.

Step 7 - Putting everything together - If you have Plus then all you have to do is create a folder in plus and name it by the theme name.
Example:

c:/Program Files/Plus!/Themes/Christmas

Christmas will be the directory all files will be placed into for those working along with me. Everyone else, pick a name for your theme and create a folder. If I forget to mention this later, when making your theme items, when saving, name them by the theme name so you will know which theme it belongs to, once started you will find yourself like me, making many LOL
Name files like this:

Christmas Wallpaper.jpg or bmp, Christmas Windows Start.wav, Christmas Windows Exit.wav, Christmas My Computer.ico, Christmas Arrow.cur and so on.

Step 8 - Startup and Shutdown Screens

These you make 640x480 and convert to 256 colors, then resize to 320x400, but when saving make sure you DON'T check the maintain aspect ratio box or the picture will distort. The startup screen is saved as logo.sys in bmp format and the shutdown screen name logos.sys and also in bmp format. The startup logo goes into your root directory C:\ and the shutdown into your C:\windows directory. If you make a wait screen name it logow.sys and it also goes into the windows directory.
( Make sure you save the original files first into another folder )

If you plan on uploading these for download, zip them first to keep the size down and remember to make sure permission is granted first before uploading
any copyright material or graphics..