Official theme creator released

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 28th 2007 at 11:00PM }

Sony has released a tiny application that allows you to create your own themes. Although the instructions provided on the page are in Japanese, the program actually runs in English. It's not a very intuitive GUI, but it'll allow theme artists-to-be the tools they need to get started. Granted, it's a lot of work -- there are a surprising number of buttons on an XMB menu.

Get to work on your theme -- we'll love to see your creations. Who knows? Maybe we'll give away a prize for the best one ...

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

[Update: A great tutorial has been made by reader Jay Lee. Check it out!]

Tags: theme

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

g_t17 @ Sep 28th 2007 11:13PM

i just put up the link for the english version it in the lastest demo commets

g_t17 @ Sep 28th 2007 11:19PM

Doesnt matter Everytime i insert a wallpaper in the program it doesnt want 2 respond anymore idw and if i put a larger image i have 2 resize and convert 2 BMP

g_t17 @ Sep 28th 2007 11:37PM

Hey Great News no i didnt make 1 yet but i translated the page :) here the link in Plain English

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr

g_t17 @ Sep 28th 2007 11:38PM

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pagecontent?lp=ja_en&trurl=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jp.playstation.com%2fpsp%2fdl%2ftool%2fpsp_customtheme_tool_eula.html

Chimera @ Sep 29th 2007 12:18AM

heh, hope they make a Mac version so I can try it... but i doubt that'll happen. :(

spike021 @ Sep 29th 2007 12:33AM

Yeah, they really need to make a bond between those pc and mac programs because I don't know what I am going to do besides use "other" people's themes.

spike021 @ Sep 29th 2007 12:34AM

They HAVE to make it for macs because thats all that I got.

junior008 @ Sep 29th 2007 12:58AM

hers my killzone theme (i know that it sucks i have never used a photo editing program before)http://www.sendspace.com/file/blrim8

g_t17 @ Sep 29th 2007 2:32AM

i wasted alll my time..tryin 2 make 1 but then i realize i was useing photoshop with was pretty useless but it actully works way better on Ms Paint

Brice @ Sep 29th 2007 4:02AM

to junior 008,

I'm not so crazy about weapons and killing... but you did a good job... at least we know now that it's possible!!! thanks ^_^

Alien @ Sep 29th 2007 5:48AM

Nice , Im allready using it :D It slow , but it worths it :)

Brandon @ Sep 29th 2007 7:22AM

WDFFFF sum1 plz tell me how to use it :/

Jus keep cumin up with a message when i try to add icon pics

Paul @ Sep 29th 2007 10:17AM

Can someone explain how to add icons? I have many icons (.png format) and I resized some to the "required" 64X48, but an error message pops up everytime I try and put one in. Please help, I want to make a MacOSX and a Windows Vista theme!

Madara @ Sep 29th 2007 10:17AM

hey junior008, please explain how you made that theme, I still don't get it

thank you

NoBullet @ Sep 29th 2007 11:01AM

@g_t17

How are you making icons in MSpaint? It keeps giving me an error. It's the right size and file type. Does it have something to do with the 8bit index? No idea what that is.

Kurt Zenisek @ Sep 29th 2007 11:55AM

Doesn't Sony know that graphic designers own Macs? lol
But from what is in the comments the program is aimed at the non-graphic designer... .bmp, really?

Cowboy of Death @ Sep 29th 2007 12:20PM

I made a COMPLETE THEME!!

OMG I feel so very good. :]

http://cowboyofdeath.googlepages.com/1337PXL_ALPHA2.ptf

Check it out, comments are appreciated...
I can probably help you if you like. :P

Madara @ Sep 29th 2007 12:27PM

hey cowboy, what did you use for image editing and whatnot

please help the poor n00b

g_t17 @ Sep 29th 2007 12:37PM

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/12/14/511135/testing.ptf

Man i suck maybe i was in a rush but i did mine also it not a big deal is only 4 icons and 1 wallpaper am gonna have a perfect one once i master it

Cowboy of Death @ Sep 29th 2007 12:45PM

@ 18 (Madara)

I used MS Paint (Start->All Programs->Accessories->Paint) to do all the icons.

For some reason the Theme program whines if you use anything other than Paint. >.<

Photoshop may work...But I don't have that program.

Madara @ Sep 29th 2007 12:48PM

thanks cowboy, did you have to add the weird alpha channel thing, it still is unclear to me

Cowboy of Death @ Sep 29th 2007 1:29PM

No, but you need to add an icon focus where necessary, or it won't work.

junior008 @ Sep 29th 2007 1:34PM

this should help u all http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=psp&thread.id=3174799
and i would reccomend using GIMP to edit the icon sizes cause its much easier than photoshop and hers my Kz theme 1.10 finally changes my memeorystick iconhttp://www.sendspace.com/file/q3zbj9

junior008 @ Sep 29th 2007 1:40PM

g_t17 @ Sep 29th 2007 2:56PM

for some of u guys i got photoshop off ares the P2P program

Lee @ Sep 29th 2007 3:39PM

Hey guys, I'm starting my own review for Official Theme and PSP Wallpaper sharing and tutorials. I just made it so mind that fact. If the link doesn't work just email me strangeseraphATgmailDOTcom and I'll give you the link.

http://pspower.freeforums.org/index.php

Lee @ Sep 29th 2007 4:02PM

don't know what it wrong with me today. REVIEW should be FORUM! Thanks. -.-

Lee @ Sep 29th 2007 4:02PM

don't know what it wrong with me today. REVIEW should be FORUM! Thanks. -.-

NoBullet @ Sep 29th 2007 6:26PM

Ok why is MSpaint working for everyone else? I'm saving it as a png, its the correct size and it still gives me an error. For such a simple program this thing is frustrating.

shooky @ Sep 29th 2007 7:25PM

okay, for the psp theme creator, i got the icons all in but when i try putting on the preview image it freezes and say its not responding. sum 1 plz help!!

zainilmomin @ Sep 29th 2007 8:53PM

ya that happenes to me as well. when i try to load an image it stops responding

someone @ Sep 29th 2007 9:18PM

you got to make the size for the preview image 300x170 and save it as a 24bit direct colour image not png.

vanilla_coke @ Sep 30th 2007 5:54AM

Here's my Theme:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/vvncxm

THEME Name: Loco Roco
File size: 214kb
Other: Every icon possible has been changed.

adcruz @ Sep 30th 2007 6:56AM

how do u make tat icon focus thing?? i don relii get it

Lee @ Sep 30th 2007 7:17AM

I'm working on a tutorial step by step for making icons for themes in Gimp. I'll let you know when its finished. (since my previous post was deleted, I guess I won't be posting it at my forum. -.-)

DAVID @ Sep 30th 2007 12:48PM

HEY EVERONE I MADE A FINAL FANTASY THEME KINDA CRAPY BUT IM GETTING BETTER HERES THE LINK [url]http://www.sendspace.com/file/r0hayi[/url]

Cowboy of Death @ Sep 30th 2007 5:32PM

I made a MAC OSX Tiger theme. I replaced every icon.

http://cowboyofdeath.googlepages.com/Mac_OSX_Tiger_0.90b.ptf

The icons are a bit pixellated on some though...

andrew @ Sep 30th 2007 9:51PM

Can someone explain how to add icons? I have many icons (.png format) and I resized some to the "required" 64X48, but an error message pops up everytime I try and put one in. Please help

andrew @ Sep 30th 2007 10:11PM

Your comments: Can someone explain how to add icons? I have many icons
(.png format)
and I resized some to the "required" 64X48, but an error message pops
up everytime I try and put one in. Please help

Lee @ Oct 1st 2007 5:56AM

andrew, you have to start the icons from scratch so that the PNG is set up with the right settings. You can find my tutorial and follow it here http://strangeseraph.isunlimited.net/game/tutorial/intro.htm and it will help you.

The error messages should tell you why your icon was rejected and what you need to change to make your icon right. Read the error messages guys.