Skins

There are already a number of skins available for the GP2X, which allow you to change the look of your machine's screens.

For firmware 3.0.0

From firmware 3.0.0, GPH has change some links in the menu like Utility has been replaced by help link. skins for firmware 2.* are not compatible with this firmware.

You can use Skinmaker to do the skin but after this you have to edit the "skin.ini" file.

For firmware 2.1.0 and 2.1.1

From firmware 2.1.0, GPH has changed the format of the skins and integrated the skin selector directly in the menu (see right for screenshot). To make the skin(s) available in the menu, you have to put the ".gps" files in the "skin" directory situated in the Nand (you will have to create it if none is present).

Creating a skin for firmware 2.1.0

• You have to use the Skinmaker from GPH and extract it to your computer. In windows, open up the exe file, or run it under wine in Linux.
• Edit the images found in GP2XSkinMaker\skin\GP2X and its subdirectories. You can also modify credits.ini for the skin creator; skin.ini for the text colours and system.ini to name the different options on the screen, allowing you to translate the skin to different languages.
• Open up the skinmaker program again and check how your skin works.
• To create the ".gps" file, press F8 whilst in the skinmaker. The file will be generated in the GP2XSkinMaker\skin directory on your PC.
• Install the skin as above by putting it into the skins directory on your NAND

Skinmaker controls:

• GP2x: PC
• L: Page UP
• R: Page Down
• START: F10, Backspace, Home
• X: ESC
• Y: Z
• B: Space
• A: Enter

Create animated icons

You can animate the icons in your skin by editing the files.

Edit the buttons.png from the directory imgmain in your skin directory to modify the first menu icons. You have to add as many images as you want for your animation. Then you have to edit skin.ini file -- the sections [main] and [setting] just like this:

     icondelay=200
     icon01frame=1
     icon01loop=0
     icon02frame=1
     icon02loop=0
     icon03frame=
     etc

Descriptions:

• icondelay: specifies the speed of the animation.
• icon01frame: specifies how many images are in your animation.
• icon01loops: indicates if the animation is to loop or not. "0" to indicate loop for ever, "1" to indicate the animation is done one time, "2" to indicate the animation is done two times, et cetera.

For Firmwares before 2.1.0

Finding a skin

View the archive, which will show you a typical screen. If you're using Windows, once you've downloaded a skin, you can view the skin in detail before installing on your GP2X using the GP2X skin viewer.

Installing a skin

This is very straightforward - download your preferred skin, and unpack it if necessary. You should now have a directory containing an installer utility (imgall.gpu) and a number of directories with image files. Copy this structure over to your GP2X.

A sample skin ready for loading

Use the Utility launcher to navigate to the new directory, and execute the new installer. The screen will go blank for 5-10 seconds as the files are copied over to the NAND memory, then your new skin should spring to life.

You can have as many skins available on your GP2X as you wish, as long as each has its files and installer kept separately.

Alternatively, you can try Yoyo+'s Skin2x - which allows you to switch between skins easily - see the GP32X board for more information.

Restoring the default skin

In order to restore the default skin, you'll need to get the skin files, available from the archive,download it and install as above.