[Q] Changing all icons to black&white - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi there,
So recently I got Nexus 5 after 4 years of HTC Desire. Quite a huge leap performace wise I might add, and this phone is absolutely a sweetheart. The first thing I did was rooting the phone :laugh:
Anyways, I am thinking to change the color of all icons (including icons of applications) to black and white. I get it that I would need to extract the icons first, and then change the color using some icon or icon editing program or simply a photo editing program etc.
Now what I would need to know is that how can I repack the icons back to the application? or would I need to place it in some directory and fiddle with some xml file?
Cheers!

oombongo said:
Hi there,
So recently I got Nexus 5 after 4 years of HTC Desire. Quite a huge leap performace wise I might add, and this phone is absolutely a sweetheart. The first thing I did was rooting the phone :laugh:
Anyways, I am thinking to change the color of all icons (including icons of applications) to black and white. I get it that I would need to extract the icons first, and then change the color using some icon or icon editing program or simply a photo editing program etc.
Now what I would need to know is that how can I repack the icons back to the application? or would I need to place it in some directory and fiddle with some xml file?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you just use a Launcher that allow you to use custom icons? with Nova and Apex you can do it

oombongo said:
Now what I would need to know is that how can I repack the icons back to the application? or would I need to place it in some directory and fiddle with some xml file?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Icons are icons. The colour of icons does not need xml files. Its all controlled by images.
You can actually repack quit easily, but also takes a lot of effort. You need to look at the villain rom theme engine. It is a flashable zip that unpacks each apk and replaces whatever you have in the zip in the apk. Essentially you would have /system/app_name/res/icon.png (pretending that this is the location of the icon in the apk, each will be different I expect)... but you have to do this for every app.

Related

Editing widgets/.apk files?

Hey guys. Just a quick question. I've successfully edited the images inside a few .apk files to match my theme and then installed them on my phone without any problems.
However, now I'm trying to edit some .apk files that are apps with widgets. Specifically, Advanced Task Manager and N1 Torch. I wanted to edit the widgets' image files so that the "focused" and "pressed" highlights of these apps' respective widgets are no longer Android's hideous orange color. But when I make changes to the widgets and install my modded .apk files, the widgets are broken. They won't load. Any advice? Thanks.
mabe http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=669577
Never mind. Got it all settled. Fixed my widgets. Thanks.

[Q] fission 2.4.3 gingerbread theme lockscreen slider fix

Hello, im trying to use a gingerbread theme for fission 2.4.3. However, for some reason, the insides of the silence sliders are completely transparent and do not have the dark transparent gray of the other sliders.
I've edited the .png files and tried recompiling the theme many times, but when i get to the lockscreen the slider just doesnt move. I just cant seem to get the 9-patch process right.
In other words, i want to use the attached pngs named edit1 and edit2 in place of the original sliders, which are also attached.
any help is appreciated, thanks!
asyntax said:
Hello, im trying to use a gingerbread theme for fission 2.4.3. However, for some reason, the insides of the silence sliders are completely transparent and do not have the dark transparent gray of the other sliders.
I've edited the .png files and tried recompiling the theme many times, but when i get to the lockscreen the slider just doesnt move. I just cant seem to get the 9-patch process right.
In other words, i want to use the attached pngs named edit1 and edit2 in place of the original sliders, which are also attached.
any help is appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How are you trying to edit the sliders? Those are .9.png files, they need to be edited different than normal .png files, as .9.png files are stretchable....
I use apkmanger 4.9 for extracting/signing/compiling etc.... if I'm only editing .png files or replacing(not editing) .9.png files, I use Simple Tasks section...
If I'm going to edit .9.png files, I use the Advanced Task sections, as they have to be Decompiled and Compiled... you will see a difference in the .9.png files when you do a regular extract and decompile, it needs those black borders/dots to make them work right... I don't get all fancy with my editing, so I use either gimp or paint.net to edit the .png/.9.png files...
I attached the sliders that you are wanting to use.. give those a try.. since you're only replacing the .9.png and not doing any editing, you should just be able to extract the .apk, and replace the sliders....
Good luck...

[Q] How to change wifi/data signal and battery icon colors?

Is there a way to change the colors of the wifi/data, phone signal and battery icons in the status bar? I'm currently using weapon 2.4, so I'm rooted and was wondering if it might be a simple file edit to do so. If there is an app that lets you do that, I haven't found it yet but I would love to know how they work so I can potentially assign each icon a different custom color. Thanks in advance for any help.
--UPDATE--
ok so from what i've read so far it looks like i'm going to be editing some lines in the classes.dex which i extracted from the services.jar file in the framework folder. when I open up the classes.dex with baksmali i cannot find the \com\android\server\status\StatusBarIcon.smali file .. not just in that folder but anywhere within the expanded classes.dex archive. Is StatusBarIcon.smali where I'll be able to change the color of the icons in the notification bar or am I completely off track here?
You want to change the color of the icons? They are png files in the SystemUI.apk, so either pull them out and edit them in some photo software, find icons you like and add them, use a theme, or use UOT Kitchen.
do you have the "Theme Chooser" app on your phone?
If so, you might want to check out some themes and install one of those
or use Metamorph or a zip application to make your own
and remember, always backup your rom
Just use NinjaMorph, and edit SystemUI.apk... If you're looking to make them green, check my thread in the Themes section.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

UOT Kitchen and Signal Bars

Hey all, I'm using UOT Kitchen to change my status bar icons and battery icon. The battery worked out fine but the status bar icons are being a little uncooperative. The signal bar icons change sometimes, but often revert back to stock signal bars. The fact that the look keeps changing is annoying. I've read that it's because UOT gives the images the wrong names in the .zip, and I need to change the names for the phone to display the images at the right time. But question is, how do I do this? I assume I'd have to match each image to the corresponding stock image and make them have the same name, then just replace the images in the systemui.apk file, if possible.
JoeyofBladez said:
Hey all, I'm using UOT Kitchen to change my status bar icons and battery icon. The battery worked out fine but the status bar icons are being a little uncooperative. The signal bar icons change sometimes, but often revert back to stock signal bars. The fact that the look keeps changing is annoying. I've read that it's because UOT gives the images the wrong names in the .zip, and I need to change the names for the phone to display the images at the right time. But question is, how do I do this? I assume I'd have to match each image to the corresponding stock image and make them have the same name, then just replace the images in the systemui.apk file, if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep that should do the trick...you can use 7zip to browse the files of an apk
If that doesn't work then you may have to decompile the apk.and do some smali/and or xml edits...I really depends on the icons you choose I think...what you would be doing is changing the references from stock to the uot
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
mg2195 said:
Yep that should do the trick...you can use 7zip to browse the files of an apk
If that doesn't work then you may have to decompile the apk.and do some smali/and or xml edits...I really depends on the icons you choose I think...what you would be doing is changing the references from stock to the uot
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While in 7zip viewing the .png images, I click on them and Windows Photo Viewer comes up... but for some reason, no image loads. How can I view the images in the .apk so I can tell which images match up? I need to view the .png files but it doesn't seem to want to let me see a preview with Windows Photo Viewer.
JoeyofBladez said:
While in 7zip viewing the .png images, I click on them and Windows Photo Viewer comes up... but for some reason, no image loads. How can I view the images in the .apk so I can tell which images match up? I need to view the .png files but it doesn't seem to want to let me see a preview with Windows Photo Viewer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can extract them then view them, edit them, rename them etc...once your done with your edits just delete the old ones from the APK and add your new modified/renamed one...
The only images you can't edit (you can still rename...just make sure you leave the ".9" in front of the ".PNG" ) are .9.pngs -if you want to actually edit a .9.png with you will need to decompile the apk with apktool...and even then they still need to be edited in a special way. In case your wondering a .9.PNG is basically an image with no set dimension...as in it can be minipulated by .xmls to stretch (an example of one is the message box in the SMS app...the longer the text message the bigger the message box...it gets stretched down)
Sent from my SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

How to theme Touchwiz?

Is there a way to theme touchwiz or stock for custom status icons via signal bars, clock colors, notification colors etc? Tried making flashable zips but didnt change the look any, still the same default after editing images and changing xml color codes still no luck
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
Is there a way to theme touchwiz or stock for custom status icons via signal bars, clock colors, notification colors etc? Tried making flashable zips but didnt change the look any, still the same default after editing images and changing xml color codes still no luck
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without the theme creator you might have to copy a theme from system/app and decompile and edit. I haven't had a chance to start on one for my phone yet. I would grab a theme that has made the most changes so the apk is the most complete.
here is a link for some themes you might want to look at http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...e-samsung-stock-s6-themes-collection-t3080847
cmos8088 said:
Without the theme creator you might have to copy a theme from system/app and decompile and edit. I haven't had a chance to start on one for my phone yet. I would grab a theme that has made the most changes so the apk is the most complete.
here is a link for some themes you might want to look at http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...e-samsung-stock-s6-themes-collection-t3080847
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just wanted to make a few system edits via signal bar colors, battery bar icons etc. When you decompile the SytemUI.apk on the stock deodexed rom, the images are in Samsung's QMG format. You can convert the QMG images to png format and edit them but after multiple attempts at trying to create flashable zips and forcing the apk into reboot, no changes were made, the png images are in the apk with the original QMG format deleted but still the same default. I installed the xposed framework and installed the x Theme Engine but it does not support lollipop 5.1.1. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am on a loop as to what to do now to make a fully custom theme for my stock rom
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
I just wanted to make a few system edits via signal bar colors, battery bar icons etc. When you decompile the SytemUI.apk on the stock deodexed rom, the images are in Samsung's QMG format. You can convert the QMG images to png format and edit them but after multiple attempts at trying to create flashable zips and forcing the apk into reboot, no changes were made, the png images are in the apk with the original QMG format deleted but still the same default. I installed the xposed framework and installed the x Theme Engine but it does not support lollipop 5.1.1. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am on a loop as to what to do now to make a fully custom theme for my stock rom
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use xblast tools for xposed
Sent from my SM-N920P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
ebs512 said:
I just wanted to make a few system edits via signal bar colors, battery bar icons etc. When you decompile the SytemUI.apk on the stock deodexed rom, the images are in Samsung's QMG format. You can convert the QMG images to png format and edit them but after multiple attempts at trying to create flashable zips and forcing the apk into reboot, no changes were made, the png images are in the apk with the original QMG format deleted but still the same default. I installed the xposed framework and installed the x Theme Engine but it does not support lollipop 5.1.1. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am on a loop as to what to do now to make a fully custom theme for my stock rom
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The files you are changing might be getting replaced by a theme overlay, even the default theme (lollipop) is an overlay. So you should try replacing the images in whatever theme your using.
cmos8088 said:
The files you are changing might be getting replaced by a theme overlay, even the default theme (lollipop) is an overlay. So you should try replacing the images in whatever theme your using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not finding the default theme and out of a few apks I have decompiled, the system is the only one with the signal icons, this is some folders related to theming but even the touchwiz app doesnt have the signal bars, xblast tools works but if I'd like to include the feature in my own theme, I still have not found a way. I decompiled a theme and the only images in it are related to app icons so that's a dead end there
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
Im not finding the default theme and out of a few apks I have decompiled, the system is the only one with the signal icons, this is some folders related to theming but even the touchwiz app doesnt have the signal bars, xblast tools works but if I'd like to include the feature in my own theme, I still have not found a way. I decompiled a theme and the only images in it are related to app icons so that's a dead end there
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A theme overlay I would think is the only way to do it now. In older versions of Android you could simply replace images and do xml and smali edits. Now it is much more complicated since Samsung hasn't released theme designer/creator to the public...
If you look inside the main apk of a theme in data/app you will see all the rest of the apk's for that theme. Example Material dark is com.cambunch.MaterialDark. If you decompile all the apk's inside the theme's main apk you can make changes there. I haven't tried to change anything that isn't included yet in a theme. But you might be able to add apk's that you create to it that have your changes you have made.
I hope more people jump in here so we can figure this out so people can create personalized themes for themselves and others.
cmos8088 said:
A theme overlay I would think is the only way to do it now. In older versions of Android you could simply replace images and do xml and smali edits. Now it is much more complicated since Samsung hasn't released theme designer/creator to the public...
If you look inside the main apk of a theme in data/app you will see all the rest of the apk's for that theme. Example Material dark is com.cambunch.MaterialDark. If you decompile all the apk's inside the theme's main apk you can make changes there. I haven't tried to change anything that isn't included yet in a theme. But you might be able to add apk's that you create to it that have your changes you have made.
I hope more people jump in here so we can figure this out so people can create personalized themes for themselves and others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The default theme is not in /data/app. I manually pushed a modified systemui.apk with changed images and it force closed the systemui. After a reboot, there was no force close but no status bar either
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
The default theme is not in /data/app. I manually pushed a modified systemui.apk with changed images and it force closed the systemui. After a reboot, there was no force close but no status bar either
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was referring to the MaterialDark theme as an example and how theming is done now with lollipop. I know systemui.apk is in system/priv-app and theming individual apps doesn't work anymore.
cmos8088 said:
I was referring to the MaterialDark theme as an example and how theming is done now with lollipop. I know systemui.apk is in system/priv-app and theming individual apps doesn't work anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Material Dark theme was made using the theme service software? That's the only current way to create a theme now?
Edit: they are all separate apks now for each part of the theme
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
The Material Dark theme was made using the theme service software? That's the only current way to create a theme now?
Edit: they are all separate apks now for each part of the theme
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this is the only way to theme now.
Also all those smaller apk's are all located in the main apk for the theme. Using MaterialDark as en example again com.cambunch.MaterialDark is the main part and has all the smaller apk's inside. Each of the smaller apk's theme one app.
So what I am saying is you have to grab a theme off your phone ( just the main app ) it will have all the smaller apk's in it. Then you have to decompile it and you will have all the smaller apk's then you can decompile and edit those. You should be able to add more images other then what is in those smaller apk's as long as the naming is correct.
cmos8088 said:
Yes this is the only way to theme now.
Also all those smaller apk's are all located in the main apk for the theme. Using MaterialDark as en example again com.cambunch.MaterialDark is the main part and has all the smaller apk's inside. Each of the smaller apk's theme one app.
So what I am saying is you have to grab a theme off your phone ( just the main app ) it will have all the smaller apk's in it. Then you have to decompile it and you will have all the smaller apk's then you can decompile and edit those. You should be able to add more images other then what is in those smaller apk's as long as the naming is correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I talked to a very reputable themer selling themes in the galaxy theme store. After asking her a few questions it appears the ONLY way to theme is with the samsung software which i applied for yesterday. Even decompiling an already made theme, a png is not going to replace a qmg image already set in the application so that's the only downfall. Being short of being capable to fully theme like you used to be able to via cm theme engine is kind of sad aswell. Also, with the samsung theme engine, text colors and status bar icons can no longer be modified with the samsung software
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
I talked to a very reputable themer selling themes in the galaxy theme store. After asking her a few questions it appears the ONLY way to theme is with the samsung software which i applied for yesterday. Even decompiling an already made theme, a png is not going to replace a qmg image already set in the application so that's the only downfall. Being short of being capable to fully theme like you used to be able to via cm theme engine is kind of sad aswell. Also, with the samsung theme engine, text colors and status bar icons can no longer be modified with the samsung software
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am theming my phone without Samsungs software by taking a part other themes seeing what makes them work and making my own. It is very slow going but I have been able to replace qmg files with png. and change text colors. I haven't found the limits yet because I haven't tried to add more then what is in anyone theme yet.
Don't be disappointed if Samsung declines you they have declined a lot of known themers. I was declined but I have never publicly released a theme...
cmos8088 said:
I am theming my phone without Samsungs software by taking a part other themes seeing what makes them work and making my own. It is very slow going but I have been able to replace qmg files with png. and change text colors. I haven't found the limits yet because I haven't tried to add more then what is in anyone theme yet.
Don't be disappointed if Samsung declines you they have declined a lot of known themers. I was declined but I have never publicly released a theme...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What have you found out so far, have you been able to make a modified apk theme?
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
What have you found out so far, have you been able to make a modified apk theme?
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be posting a howto in the next couple of days. I have been able to replace images and change colors. It is pretty involved because you need to make some batch files to batch decompile, recompile, zipalign and sign around 60 apk's (depending on your theme). The only problem I have had is I have to manually move the sjon file so it doesn't show as a trial theme. Once I figure out how to make the sjon file go to the correct place it will be much easier for installs.
cmos8088 said:
I will be posting a howto in the next couple of days. I have been able to replace images and change colors. It is pretty involved because you need to make some batch files to batch decompile, recompile, zipalign and sign around 60 apk's (depending on your theme). The only problem I have had is I have to manually move the sjon file so it doesn't show as a trial theme. Once I figure out how to make the sjon file go to the correct place it will be much easier for installs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the sjon file there if you have purchased a theme? I have purchased a few, would you suggest using a paid theme as a base? According to the pictures of the Samsung Theme Designer software, it looks as easy as selecting overall theme colors in a GUI display so it might be considerably easier if we all just continuously apply until you get approved? From what I have been told, they make verdicts of applicants the 15th of every month...
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
ebs512 said:
Is the sjon file there if you have purchased a theme? I have purchased a few, would you suggest using a paid theme as a base? According to the pictures of the Samsung Theme Designer software, it looks as easy as selecting overall theme colors in a GUI display so it might be considerably easier if we all just continuously apply until you get approved? From what I have been told, they make verdicts of applicants the 15th of every month...
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine was pieced together with several free themes and will show as a trial theme. I haven't figured out what theme manager looks at to tell if a theme is free trial or payed. You are right about similar color but the theme might not be complete.

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