New Zune Software Backgrounds

[krhainos]

I don't know about everyone else; but I didn't really like any of the default Zune backgrounds provided in the new software.

Fortunately, they're rather easy to change.  All you need is a copy of Resource Hacker and a program that can output PNGs to your liking.  You'll find all of the files mentioned here where Zune gets installed (C:\Program Files\Zune -- not sure if the install process lets you choose a different folder.)

Zune's UI stores its PNGs in 1007x756 at 24bit.  You can make one of your own; or rip out one the existing ones :

Open up ZuneShellResources.dll in Resource Hacker, navigate down RCData and find Framebackground##.PNG -- these are the raw PNG data stored.  Highlight any of the 1033 branches under one of these PNGs, and simply go Action -> Save Resource as Binary file.  Name it, zuneback1.png or something.  As long as it's a .png file you should be good.

To replace the image, choose Action -> Replace other Resource.  Choose your new PNG image with Open File with New Resource...
Resource Type = RCData
Resrouce Name = FRAMEBACKGROUND##.PNG  -- it's important that you do not make up a new number, and to simply replace one of the existing ones (00-05)
Resource Language = 1033

Once done, save it out and enjoy,

Bonus points if you want to rename your new image.  These are found in the ZuneResources.dll.mui files in your locale (en-us for me).  Go to String Table -> 2275 and 2276.  Change the name according to the file you replaced (00 = Phyta = FRAMEBACKGROUND00.PNG, etc). Compile Script and save.

The rest of the Zune UI is in this file too, so you can change a whole ton of other things, including your Zune device images (scorpius, keel and draco).  Remember to backup.  Resource Hacker does this for you, but good to keep a virgin copy somewhere.  Here's my current setup.

click for larger.

Remember, you make it you.  I totally did

[CoolRraccoon]

cool, nice find

now to re-colour all those pink backgrounds...

[jonmsanti]

sik dude, soon they'll make an app for it and bundle backgrounds, zune icons, etc.

[schimmi]

whatever, i'm content with them at the moment

[Riprat]

Now this is a great find.  One of my biggest peeves was that the backgrounds were to light.  Now its a little easier on the eyes.  Thanks!

[Sunar]

Thanks for this info. Changing all of mine now.

~Sun

[Aden]

Here is a nice simple version:
http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=24938.0

Its a patch which adds NEW wallpapers to your Zune Software.

New Patches are being released again  to night and hopefully daily from now.

[krhainos]

Here is a nice simple version:
http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=24938.0

Its a patch which adds NEW wallpapers to your Zune Software.

New Patches are being released again  to night and hopefully daily from now.

That's pretty neat.  Does it let you use your own images or are you restricted to images provided/tailored by darkzune developers?

Also, if you could theme the entire UI, text color and fonts included -- that'd be pretty trick.  That'd be closer to a complete them than a simple wallpaper swap.

[lawls]

Here is a nice simple version:
http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=24938.0

Its a patch which adds NEW wallpapers to your Zune Software.

New Patches are being released again  to night and hopefully daily from now.

That's pretty neat.  Does it let you use your own images or are you restricted to images provided/tailored by darkzune developers?

Also, if you could theme the entire UI, text color and fonts included -- that'd be pretty trick.  That'd be closer to a complete them than a simple wallpaper swap.

The size and format of the wallpaper doesn't matter. I just replaced the resource with a pic of the companion cube at 1680x1050 in jpg format and it worked fine. Also in the RCDATA\STYLES.UIX\1033 controlls all the fonts and colors and formating and all that. A little before half way down the STYLES is where you can add wallpapers to the list without replacing them; I discovered this after installing the zThemePack. Instead of choosing to replace a resource, add a new one but just use the next number up for the Resource Name, which should be 06. After you make the new resource add this line to STYLES where the other background code is located, which is just under half-way down:

<zune:BackgroundOption Description="Cube" Value="res://ZuneShellResources!FrameBackground13.png" Color="{new iris:WindowColor(239,239,239)}"/>

The Description is whatever you want to show up under Display in settings and make sure you change the FrameBackground##.PNG to the new resource you created.

[Riprat]

 

[krhainos]

Here is a nice simple version:
http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=24938.0

Its a patch which adds NEW wallpapers to your Zune Software.

New Patches are being released again  to night and hopefully daily from now.

That's pretty neat.  Does it let you use your own images or are you restricted to images provided/tailored by darkzune developers?

Also, if you could theme the entire UI, text color and fonts included -- that'd be pretty trick.  That'd be closer to a complete them than a simple wallpaper swap.

The size and format of the wallpaper doesn't matter. I just replaced the resource with a pic of the companion cube at 1680x1050 in jpg format and it worked fine. Also in the RCDATA\STYLES.UIX\1033 controlls all the fonts and colors and formating and all that. A little before half way down the STYLES is where you can add wallpapers to the list without replacing them; I discovered this after installing the zThemePack. Instead of choosing to replace a resource, add a new one but just use the next number up for the Resource Name, which should be 06. After you make the new resource add this line to STYLES where the other background code is located, which is just under half-way down:

<zune:BackgroundOption Description="Cube" Value="res://ZuneShellResources!FrameBackground13.png" Color="{new iris:WindowColor(239,239,239)}"/>

The Description is whatever you want to show up under Display in settings and make sure you change the FrameBackground##.PNG to the new resource you created.

Even better   I didn't think it would be that difficult -- since I hated the built-in images to begin with, this was my kneejerk reaction.  So I just replaced the existing one so I didn't waste that much time on it.  My only issue is that you can't use dark backgrounds because of the dark text.  Hopefully this nut will be be cracked really soon.

If you keep poking a round all the files in a resource editor, you're bound to discover something.  A font file replacement/color scheme replacement seems like the next obvious step.  The files are just sitting there.

[Aden]

Here is a nice simple version:
http://www.zunescene.mobi/forums/index.php?topic=24938.0

Its a patch which adds NEW wallpapers to your Zune Software.

New Patches are being released again  to night and hopefully daily from now.

That's pretty neat.  Does it let you use your own images or are you restricted to images provided/tailored by darkzune developers?

Also, if you could theme the entire UI, text color and fonts included -- that'd be pretty trick.  That'd be closer to a complete them than a simple wallpaper swap.

Currently you are limited to the images provided, although we take requests for images and ideas. And yes, the ENTIRE software (scrollbars, buttons, icons, animations) can be altered and patched.

[lawls]

Yeah, adding your own colors is easy. Just copy and past the 'Color' coding and replace the values with what ever colors you want to have displayed.

I've been going through changing the colors one at a time to see what all changed. I was just going through changing each color to blue one at a time to see what colors went with what in the player. I got most figured out, but what I couldn't find was the code to change the color of the library. Its just going to take lots of patience to do. It would be much easier if half the colors weren't some shade of Gray

[lawls]

pffft, what we is love, and what better way to be loved than by being givin a companion cube

[dustin_grey]

Some cool riot pictures or graffiti or something would be super rad.

Graffiti like:
www.banksy.co.uk
(?)

[Яichard]

lol. I love your name; lawls.

[Riprat]

they are still working on the font colors.  as soon as it is figured out someone will post it.

[FEDS-91]

Nice mod. If I can find the time to try it out, I definitely will. I'm not fond in the slightest of any of the new backgrounds.