Creating Aim 6.0 Skins: Images and Icons

Posted 1 year, 4 months ago at 1:28 pm. 0 comments
Posted in AIM Skin, AOL, Skinning Aim.

Aim 6.0 skins handles images a little awkwardly. Hopefully this will be changed in the end, but to be on the safe side we will follow its rules of making and using images. For the most part, your images won’t be over 32×32. So you have to think small and you also have one more thing going against you, Transparent PNGs.

Unless you have a good graphics program you probably won’t be able to create transparent PNGs. You don’t really have to use a transparent PNG but you’ll notice that you might get a white background distracting the title bar’s color of black, blue, orange, etc… If you have the skills to do so, please cut out the image your going to be using an icon. Otherwise, use a font and set that on another layer. When you create the actual PNG, make sure you have alpha layer transparency or use a background color similar to the skin. Please make sure this background color has blended with your icon.

Image Locations

Please Refer to Aim Skinning Post for location of the file themeBrushes.box

Lets take a look at "bmp.aim.icon" on GregsBlog’s Aim Themer tool. This is what "Main Icon" is at the top. This icon should be 32×32, preferably put this icon in the center, although putting it on the left side helps out a bit in design. Now where this icon is located is where things get strange.

C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_1_32_1\resources\en-US

This is the current folder for Aim 6.1 GM, this means that whenever Aim 6.1 updates to a new version number you’ll have to keep moving the image to the newest location. Also note that the language will be different depending on your country. When more information rolls in on how to package themes, we can hopefully put this file in another easier to install location.

Please Refer to Aim Skinning Post for location of the file themeBrushes.box

"bmp.aim.icon.small" is naturally the Small Icon on Aim Themer Tool. The funny thing about this icon is that you’ll hardly if ever will see it. Whenever you format your screen name this icon appears. Since I’m a AOL user, I never see this icon at all. The icon’s directory is located below.

C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_1_32_1\resources\en-US

With this you can naturally just insert Official Aim Icons if you please, or you can just make up your own.

Please Refer to Aim Skinning Post for location of the file blGadgets.box

icon="box://imApp/theme/bumpx/images/icon_selector.png"

Now the last image is shown whenever you press the colorwheel on the buddy list. If you scroll down to your theme’s location in the blGadgets.box file, [you can find your theme's location based on the folder name you made for it], you’ll notice, "box://imapp/theme/THEMENAME/images/" in this case you must add the path to whatever image you want to use in the following folder.

C:\Program Files\AIM6\services\imApp\ver6_1_32_1\theme\THEMENAME\images

By Default, you should have images of dark purple circles in there. The icon that is used is called "icon_selector.png", you are free to change the colors if you like, but keep it PNG. You will also notice the module colors that control the four buttons at the bottom of the buddy list. In an upcomming entry I will hand out some freebies of extra colors you can use in your skins.

Learn More About Creating Aim 6.0 Skins
- Download Aim 6.0 Skins -

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