Custom Splash Screens

**tonylondon** · 12 July 2013, 01:32 PM

Thanks, Rik; I feared that's what you'd say. Neatly executed, I must say.

**Gare** · 12 July 2013, 06:01 PM

This is not quite "there", but it's an earnest, honest attempt to convey the capabilities of the program, while doing something other than "3D" for everything:

Click image for larger version.

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My Best,

Gary

**angelize** · 12 July 2013, 06:19 PM

Thanks Rik and Gary.

Gary, I like where that is going!

**Gare** · 12 July 2013, 06:23 PM

I haven't tried, andf perhaps it isn't possible to get Xara 9 to load a portrait-oriented splash screen, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make graphically. I just wanted to encourage everyone to entertain the possibility; think outside of the box, use the alpha channel manufacturers use for transparency. Creature House Expressions loads a portrait screen, and it's quite startling and a diversion.

-g

**angelize** · 12 July 2013, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Gare

use the alpha channel manufacturers use for transparency.

-g

How?

**Gare** · 12 July 2013, 10:16 PM

My bad, Frances.

Gary meant to say, "Even though you can't do exactly what you want with Xara's splash screen, don't let this reality dampen your imagination. Software companies do all sorts of weird and wonderful things with splash screens, including making them 32-bit which results in a splash screen that can have areas missing."

You can't do this with Xara...or can you? I'll try to make a 32-bit image and save it as a bmp and see if my machine blows up or not, okay? BMPs CAN have transparency. It's just that VERY few programs know how to write a BMP w/ and alpha.

-g

**angelize** · 12 July 2013, 10:25 PM

I can save you some time Gary I already tried Xara's BMP export and Alpha is not supported for BMP. But if we could find a program that can I suppose it might be possible to export from Xara as a png and use another program to export it as a bmp with transparency

**angelize** · 12 July 2013, 06:38 PM

I never thought about trying a portrait oriented splashscreen. It probably would have to maintain the same width as the landscape screen though as the program adds (overlays) some information in the bottom right. In the template I provided I left the space for this info.

**Rik** · 12 July 2013, 07:03 PM

Just to try it, I thought I would give it a go.

So I just created a rectangle of 323 width and 506 height. Called it 'splashscreen.bmp'
And it loads as the splashscreen in XDP9.

So, Gary's portrait splashscreen should work.

EDIT: I thought I would try Gary's splashscreen. I hope he doesn't mind.
As you can see by the attached image, it works.
So, if you leave enough space for the usual details bottom right, then it should all be fine.

**Gare** · 12 July 2013, 07:20 PM

Edit: No, I don't mind, Rik.

Ask first, post last, okay!?

You can see that the coded overlay for user details is in a place where I didn't intend, so you'd want to edit backwards to make it work if you so choose.

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I didn't attach the file, but here it is in case anyone wants to use and probably improve upon it.

Fool disclosure: three of the icons are tracings from a free Pixeden flat fonts pack, so it's my skill by not my graphic. But the graphic is free and PD by these folks.

Other thing is I used several weights of Bernhard Gothic, which you can get for free if you look in the right places online (it ain't a brand new typeface!), or use something similar.

My Best,

Gary