Tutorial in How to Create Bootsplash Screens

How to Create Bootsplash Screens

Since learning the basics about how bootsplash screens are created, I wanted to pass along this information so that others might have the joy in creating them as well.

Please note, anyone that has additional or more complete information, please send to me, and I'll be glad to add to this tutorial. I have posted only from what I have learned from my experiences so far.

For those that are unfamiliar with the term, 'bootsplash', it's the screen that appears after the initial logo screen of a distribution you are using. There is a lot of information and systems that are being loaded in the background, and the screen kind of makes for a way to not have to see this information. It can be created with graphics, text, logos, etc., but it has two important features, or at least as far as the one in Granular goes: it has a loader screen, that displays a text message to let you know that systems are being loaded, as well as a progress bar, which displays how long you have to wait before the OS is loaded.

NOTE: If you want to watch the underlying systems being loaded, press the ESC on your keyboard, and watch all of the information unfold itself for you. I won't pretend to understand what all of the information means, however, it is there, and it's what makes your Granular Linux OS work.

Starting Out

There are a couple of key things that must be done in order to make one actually work. Let's assume you have an idea and graphic design, and it's completed:

Note: It's best to be logged in as root in order to make changes.

1. Open the Granular Control Center and locate the section called 'Boot'.

2. After it opens, click the 'Select a graphical theme to display during boot'

3. After it loads, select, 'Create new theme'. You'll now be presented with the DrakSplash program. Note: additional information about DrakSplash to be added later. RWN

4. At the bottom of the interface, look for the command, 'select picture'. Once you have your picture selected, it appears in the box application. Give it a name in the 'Theme name' text box, and then set up where on the screen your loader information will appear, as well as the progress bar. Detailed information regarding the functions to be added a later date. RWN

5. After all adjustments are made, save the file.

6. Now open a terminal session, and insure you are the root user.

The key to making the bootsplash work is to typing in the correct coding and the way all the elements are set up.

You will use the 'switch-themes' command to see if the bootsplash files are already listed on your system.

7. Type switch-themes SPACE, then type in a lower case L, so it will look like this:

[roger@localhost ~]$ su
Password:
[root@localhost roger]# switch-themes -l (l as in little 'L' for all listed bootsplash files)
Available themes are :
3DGran
Esto-Granular
rwn-gran

When you want to switch themes, use the following command:

[root@localhost roger]# switch-themes -c (c stands for Current file)

When you want to update a theme, use the following command:

[root@localhost roger]# switch-themes -u (u stands for Update current file)

Creating the Bootsplash

You have your file. You've typed in the steps for the file you want to create the bootsplash.

Here's the complete command you should type to make it functional.

The current theme displayed shows that rwn-gran is the file I want to process.

[root@localhost roger]# switch-themes rwn-gran make-boot-splash 800x600

One note to this is that you can choose a different resolution, such as 1024x768, 1280x1024, and so on, as each display setting will get a configuration file generated. Note: more information will be added later. RWN

The 'make-boot-splash' command, SPACE '800x600' (display resolution) is extremely important and must be typed this way in that manner to have a working bootsplash.

Next, simply hit the RETURN KEY.

If the file was set up correctly, your bootsplash would now be created. All text disappears and goes back to [roger@localhost ~], providing that you have all of the correct parameters set up prior to creating a bootsplash.

All configuration files are put into their appropriate place note: additional information to be added later. RWN.

All graphic files are put into their appropriate place note: additional information to be added later. RWN.

If your file doesn't work, try adjusting where the loader screen tool and progress screen tools are located in DrakSplash prior to creating the bootsplash screen.