Skin Tester

[ste123]

CycloDS Evolution Skin Tester 1.7

Info:
With this program you can test CycloDS Evolution skins - without to copy them on your DS.
Copy the "SkinTester.exe" directly into the skin-folder with the skin.xml-file and start it.
You can run it also from any directory without a "skin.xml". Go into the "Tools" menu and click "Load Skin" to select one. If you use older versions of Skin Tester, you will be asked for the skin, when the program starts.

Skin Database
You need an open internet connection to browse the skin database.
Open the database in Tools-Menu. On the left side, you can select the category. Then the skins should list on the right side (20 skins per page). Double click them and they will load into skintester. There you can save it (Tools-menu -> Save Skin As).
Make sure, that you have some free space on your hard disk - the data will be stored in program folder.

How to use Plugins:
Plugins are simple *.dll files. Copy them to the program directory.
The plugin filenames should start with "pi_". One plugin can also
start with "pia_". This will be auto-loaded on program-start. You
can switch the active plugin in Tools-Menu > "Skin-Module".
I will add later example code how to write plugins.

Additional Features:
- skin.xml Editor
- "Alpha-transparency" mainmenu icon creator
- create a zip-archive from loaded skin
- 1 included skin
- included skinning helper graphic
- create screenshots
- plugin support

Some screenshots:




Changelog:
1.0 (27. 06. 2007):
- unofficial version
1.1 (02. 07. 2007):
- unofficial
- improvements in xml-loading
- toggle buttons
- no transparency in settings-selector
1.2 (03. 07. 2007):
- XML-Editor
- Enable Cheats View
1.3 (03. 07. 2007):
- (Alpha-)Transparency Mainmenu Icon Tool
- Current loaded skin can be packed to zip-archive
- my first skin included in exe
- helper graphic for placing mainmenu icons included in exe
1.4 (05. 07. 2007):
- automatic redrawn preview in xml-editor
- create screenshots
- bugfix: add file extension when save transparent mainmenu icons
- bugfix: title from saving skin helper graphic
- bugfix: black selection colors are not displayed
1.5 (06. 07. 2007):
- skintester can work from any place
- create new skins (it writes dummy graphics and xml into a folder)
- load (another) skin
- simulate 16-bit colors like on the nds
- small changes in tools menu
- bugfix: selections now goes to full screen-width
1.6 (19. 07. 2007):
- screenshot mode can be disabled
- plugin support to add skin testers for other os
- warning if bitmap is no 24 bit bitmap
- convert them to 24 bit
- bugfix: cheat view text have now window text color
1.7 (31. 07. 2007):
- warning, if image not exists
- new color window (with dynamic set of color while you select it)
- screen pipette
- small change in combined screenshot
- load combined transparent png image into transparent main menu icon tool
- extensions in plugin api
- skin database (beta)
- small other bugfixes and changes

System Requirements:
- Windows-PC (tested only with german WinXP)
- DirectX >= 7
- Skin Database: Internet Connection

Download (800 kb; zip; 1.7)

I hope it works without (critical) bugs, but use it at your own risk

Edit: New version and changelog added

[rWootL]

Wow! Good job man, this is really a big help for me, I have no CycloDS, and I'm giving a shot at skinning.
Nicely done, with everything you need ! everything or almost is previewable, that's really wonderful,
Not only a skin tester, you can even modify the XML file on the run with a color browser, good work!
Thanks alot.
Edit: nevermind, was only my problem
Definitively, worth a sticky

[v3n0mE]

awsome, now i can actually make some skins eventhough my evo doesnt work yet,

many thanks

[p_hantom22]

exciting. so this will composite alpha channel pngs for the main-icons?? That's probably the best feature yet! I'm going to try this out. Thanks for the hard work.

[ste123]

hi

first, big thx for positive feedback

@p_hantom22
yes, it draws the alpha-pngs onto the correct positions on the background, then it cuts them out, and combine it to export as a normal menuicon bitmap! I hope you know what I mean - with my poor english-skills it is difficult to explain ;(


edit: and thx again, to set it sticky

[V1P3R]

wow, this is realy good, nice work

[ste123]

new version added - see first post

1.4
- automatic redrawn preview in xml-editor
- create screenshots
- bugfix: add file extension when save transparent mainmenu icons
- bugfix: title from saving skin helper graphic

[V1P3R]

The combine all screenshots thing is amazing! really nice work

[ste123]

small bug found: selections with black color (000000) will not be displayed

I have already fixed, and uploaded it (version number remains at 1.4).
If you don't want to download it again, simply set the selection-color to 010101 - you will see no difference.

[aiko]

nice work