Unified Megatheme - Extended

[AshuraX]

Sorry ashurax I can't make those animated backgrounds, if any have a tutorial would more than happy to learn and trying to do a few.

Klopjero knows how make this! Maybe some others guy's.

[suspendedhatch]

Can't wait until you get to ColecoVision. The painted interpretation of Donkey Kong is interesting but doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the Hyperspin default themes. I've tried some others but they overlapped the game titles like they weren't made correctly.

[Unknown50862]

I've tried some others but they overlapped the game titles like they weren't made correctly.

Those are main menu themes, not system themes. They aren't meant to be used within a system, when selecting which game to play. There are separate themes for that.

[Johnny Mazzic]

Hello guys, I plan to do more themes, remember that none of the art is mine, I just put the parts together following the instructions made by Styphelus, all credits to the original creators of the different art, thank you very much to all involved. Next to "assemble" NEC PC-Engine.

Saludos!

Sorry for the delay, guys, I've been busy with real life these days, I promise to have this theme assembled and some more this weekend.

Saludos!

[Rick74]

Will there/can there ever be a detailed tutorial or video tutorial on how to create these themes correctly? I'd be GREATLY appreciated!!! Especially for those with no experience in flash and limited photoshop skills...

[SIMPLYAUSTIN]

Before I signed the dotted line I dd used to be a Graphic Designer. Although I used Mac back then and its now some years on I can still get to grips with Photoshop, not as good as I was but I can wipe off the rust and make some amazing System themes. However what I do not have is any experience in the way themes are made or how to use flash. But if theres any way I can help out with the art... I would be more than happy to pay back the help I have received from you guys?

[Rick74]

Before I signed the dotted line I dd used to be a Graphic Designer. Although I used Mac back then and its now some years on I can still get to grips with Photoshop, not as good as I was but I can wipe off the rust and make some amazing System themes. However what I do not have is any experience in the way themes are made or how to use flash. But if theres any way I can help out with the art... I would be more than happy to pay back the help I have received from you guys?

We need artists for the HyperSpin Project

http://www.hyperspin-fe.com/forum/showthread.php?28190-The-HyperSpin-Project

Shoot Brolly a PM and let him know your skills and ask him how you can help

[Styphelus]

Will there/can there ever be a detailed tutorial or video tutorial on how to create these themes correctly? I'd be GREATLY appreciated!!! Especially for those with no experience in flash and limited photoshop skills...

Post #51

[Johnny Mazzic]

NEC PC Engine

Themes: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Unified Megatheme Extended/NEC PC Engine/

Bezel: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Hyperlaunch/Media/Bezels/NEC PC Engine/

[dirtybb]

NEC PC Engine

Themes: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Unified Megatheme Extended/NEC PC Engine/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40731[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]40732[/ATTACH]

Bezel: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Hyperlaunch/Media/Bezels/NEC PC Engine/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40733[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]40734[/ATTACH]

Very nice !

[Rick74]

NEC PC Engine

Themes: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Unified Megatheme Extended/NEC PC Engine/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40731[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]40732[/ATTACH]

Bezel: Ftp:/Upload Here/Johnny Mazzic/Hyperlaunch/Media/Bezels/NEC PC Engine/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]40733[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]40734[/ATTACH]

Awesome!

[Rick74]

'edit'

[Rick74]

Will there/can there ever be a detailed tutorial or video tutorial on how to create these themes correctly? I'd be GREATLY appreciated!!! Especially for those with no experience in flash and limited photoshop skills...

Post #51

So, here's how I'm doing it, based on the instructions posted above. Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong or skipping steps.

1. I open the system.psd in Photoshop and select the variants of what I wish to use (i.e. which character, console image, controller, logo etc...)

2. One at a time, I rasterize and merge layers (if need be) on each image making sure no other layers are visible before I click save; (just the one I'm currently working on). Then save each visible layer as a as PSD; (console.psd, logo.psd etc...) (no further adjustments before I click save?)

3. After doing each component of the theme (console, controller, character, logo, background, video) in the above fashion, I re-open each .psd I've just created and go to 'image resize' and resize each theme component to 1024x768 and save each again as a .psd. With the video however, after I resize it, I cut out the frame, remove the black portion and save as video.png

4. Now, I open/import each in Adobe Flash CS3. (Here's where I'm a little lost). I've set up in 'preferences' for lossless. After opening up each part (background, logo, console etc..) I check the resolution (the background.psd is 1024x768; all others are different because they're different sizes) I save and export each as a .swf. Are there other things I'm supposed to do in this step, or am I just converting .psd to .swf?

5. In HyperTheme, I import each .swf, position them where they need to be, and save. Then I have to edit the theme.xml to allow for the video.png

Am I doing this correctly? I was able to see my PC Engine CD theme that I created and it looked pretty good I think; I didn't know if I was compromising the picture quality at any step of the process because I really don't have a handle on exactly what I'm doing?

Also, what is the correct way to insert the video.png into HyperTheme? In my theme I created, I was able to see the system intro video and it was positioned correctly by copying/pasting from another theme.xml, however, my video border doesn't display, but if I view it as a .png, it's there...

Thanks for any and all help!!!

[KlopjerO]

So, here's how I'm doing it, based on the instructions posted above. Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong or skipping steps.

1. I open the system.psd in Photoshop and select the variants of what I wish to use (i.e. which character, console image, controller, logo etc...)

2. One at a time, I rasterize and merge layers (if need be) on each image making sure no other layers are visible before I click save; (just the one I'm currently working on). Then save each visible layer as a as PSD; (console.psd, logo.psd etc...) (no further adjustments before I click save?)

3. After doing each component of the theme (console, controller, character, logo, background, video) in the above fashion, I re-open each .psd I've just created and go to 'image resize' and resize each theme component to 1024x768 and save each again as a .psd. With the video however, after I resize it, I cut out the frame, remove the black portion and save as video.png

4. Now, I open/import each in Adobe Flash CS3. (Here's where I'm a little lost). I've set up in 'preferences' for lossless. After opening up each part (background, logo, console etc..) I check the resolution (the background.psd is 1024x768; all others are different because they're different sizes) I save and export each as a .swf. Are there other things I'm supposed to do in this step, or am I just converting .psd to .swf?

5. In HyperTheme, I import each .swf, position them where they need to be, and save. Then I have to edit the theme.xml to allow for the video.png

Am I doing this correctly? I was able to see my PC Engine CD theme that I created and it looked pretty good I think; I didn't know if I was compromising the picture quality at any step of the process because I really don't have a handle on exactly what I'm doing?

Also, what is the correct way to insert the video.png into HyperTheme? In my theme I created, I was able to see the system intro video and it was positioned correctly by copying/pasting from another theme.xml, however, my video border doesn't display, but if I view it as a .png, it's there...

Thanks for any and all help!!!

Actualy If you resize your art in Photoshop you loose the benefit of flash.

Personally I try to rasterise as little as possible. When i'm happy with my PSD I save it and I fire up Flash and Import the psd to stage. I import the checked layers and Import the bitmap with editable layer styles. compression is lossless, have the boxes "place layers at original position"and "set stage same size as Photoshop canvas"checked converting them to flash layers.

after the layers are imported, Then I goto Modify -> Documents -> and resize the stage down to 1024 x 768 and BEFORE I click Okay I check the Scale Content with stage.

if you were planning on a 4x3 theme then you are now ready to start publishing. however if you were planning on a 16:9 or 16:10 theme, You will have press CTRL+A Selecting everything on the stage and goto Documents -> Transform -> free transform.

Your selection will now have small translucent squares visible along the edges of the bitmap. you find the mid bottemsquare of your background layer and click and hold the square and drag it down to the edge of your stage. congratulations you are now the proud owner of a distorted looking theme. THIS is OK! this is perfect. start publishing your layers.

well then, you didn't flatten your layers so you have to group the layers you want as a single layer and hide the rest, got to publish I assume you have optimal basic settings for your publication. click advanced and make sure that "Include hidden layers" is unchecked. With these settings in place you can now run down through you'r layers publishing each as your desired artwork. don't forget to rename your output file while you're shooting through those layers.

now you have this nice collection of SWFs that you can hang in Hypertheme. the background is easy. and placing the artwork is horrible, horribly easy that is. just open your artwork for the desired layer and click the allign Left allign top buttons and you will have your theme done under 5 minutes.

That's how I do it.. I will be adding more detail in an official post. I just happened to b trolling through old posts and thought I'd commit this to thread

ow before I forget, to keep it "unified" in Hyper theme you use "ease" for all your artwork layers

- the logo is set to Top and a delay of 1

- Console and Mascot Ease from the side that they are situated on and have a delay of 1.3

- the preferred peripheral or joystick eases from the side it's situated on and has a delay of 1.6

- video Grows X

[keltoigael]

Is this still in work? Necro bump

[Rick74]

Bump

[Rick74]

How about a tutorial how to make those infinite scrolling backgrounds in flash?

[KlopjerO]

You need a PSD that consists of a couple of layers, that will be your background.

Usually the background will consist of three layers.

The static background

The, to be animated, pattern.

A gradiant mask or overlay.

You can find nice examples, if you download some of gibbawho's extended PSDs

Be sure you make the pattern layer about twice the size as the rest of the canvas. In my experience this saves me having to duplicate the layer in flash.

Now if your happy with your psd , import it in flash.

Lock the layers that will be static. And position the pattern layer where you want it. This will be the start position

Now then place two rulers on your canvas in a cross so you can easily see where you are in your animation later on. Convert it to a symbol

Make a keyframe for each layer at frame 120

Select the frames of your pattern layer and convert it to a motion tween.

Select the last frame of the tween, hold shift and drag the picture in one direction till it lines up with your ruler. now shift drag it so that it completely overlaps with its start position.

Look at the result because you're basically done.

[Bigodassa]

Amazing work!!!

[Bremus01]

Does anyone have the HD and SD scrolling themes made that they would like to share?

[salyangel]

amazing work I hope this project is not dead. Thx

[Styphelus]

I have created some new themes for the Amiga, Mugen, Wii-Ware and PC-FX but never uploaded them. Maybe I should.

The problem is there are 2 versions of these themes. One is very high res with black and silver borders for every system and scrooling backgrounds. Some people claim it looks better on their TV. Than there's my version which is 1920x1080. That one looks better on my TV and I did it primarily for myself. It also only has static backgrounds because I can't be bothered with flash.

I was waiting for Hyperspin to support widescreen before releasing any new themes but I guess I can just drop them on the FTP along with the PSD files if anyone wants them. Also, I couldn't find any decent M.U.G.E.N logos so I used the logo from the Mugen Fighter's Guild Website. I'm sure some people won't like that.

I'll drop them on my FTP this weekend if anyone wants them.

[dragon57]

Yes, please, I would love those.

[gigapig]

Yes Styphelus, I would really like to check out the Amiga theme. Thanks.

[damageinc86]

I know i'm ten pages too late, but damn, i love the clean look of these.