[edit: More information can be found on the community wiki]

1. download http://www.ratelis.com/skin.zip (or use this package which contains some of the new features available; see more on the wiki here, courtesy of Luxen)
2. unzip into vendetta directory
3. edit config.ini file by adding skin=skin/ in [Vendetta] section

The skin.zip file unzips into the folder called skin.
You can actually use whatever directory name you want, but the skin= setting in the config.ini file needs to point to that directory and make sure the / is at the end.

You can edit the images all you want, but they should keep their same dimensions. A lot of the images stretch. Most only stretch their middle areas. A few of the images are white because they are tinted in-game. Some of the HUD images and the progress bar image are a couple examples.
[edit-RR] Once you've edited a file with a program that doesn't retain the pre-multiplied alpha (symptoms being white blocks or borders), you'll need to convert the file by dropping it into Ray's droppngconvert program. They can be found here (Mac) and here (Windows). [/edit]

Eventually, you'll be able to change the stretch parameters and locations of controls when the lua code is opened up to modding.

Edit: Skins can have their own config.ini file to define text colors. Read more here: https://www.vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/16/36028

*sigh*

I hope that was a good sigh.

One more thing that I forgot. A lot of the images have alpha channels and some don't. Make sure you take that into account when making skins.

Heheh, you deleted his thread =D

Heh. I didn't delete the thread, just the messages in it! ;)

First Skin!

http://home.arcor.de/famscheffler/ven/redblood.zip

I know it sucks, especially the hud.
The effect in the hud looks kind of cool but it's unintended that's also why you have to be careful with the image sizes.

Would it be a big deal to make the color of the white hud elements configurable? IIRC it was just an attribute of the affected widgets.

Good job, spuck.

and, ray, good point..

what did u use to edit? Also, what kind of picture files will work? Ie) Does it have to be PNG?

Just want to let you all know, don't forget the / at the end of "skin=whatever/" Without it VO crashes.

EDIT: I think Spuck used Gimp from the file sufexes but I'm not sure.

You mean INSIDE the Vendetta application? I can't move it directly into there...

Person, if you are running Mac OS, right click (ctrl click) and click "show package contents"

alright, thanks ray. I am on it. :)

M. Duncan

Suicidal Lemming, I know how to do that, thanks. I'm running 10.2.8 and it won't let me drop it into that folder once I open it.

I got it in there using Unix though, but thanks anyway.

-Calder

Yeah, I use The Gimp. There are xcf's (Gimps native file format) of some of the graphics in the package. I worked in a way that changing the color and stuff should be relatively easy. But got lazy so there aren't xcf's for every widget.

AFAIK the engine can handle png, jpeg and tga. But it seems to check the type by extension and right now the file names are hardcoded. So you'll have to stick with png.
It's the best choice for this kind of stuff anyway.

I have a question regarding transparency. If something isn't transparent in the original, and we make it transparent in our skin.... will this work?

This is sooooooo cool! Thanks ray!1

Answered my own question.

Yes, you can turn non-transparent objects into transparent objects.

So are we able to copy and paste graphics for crosshairs and such or do we have to edit the original? The attempts I've made at adding different crosshairs (even png files) have ended up with me getting a blank white square for a crosshair.

Basically you are editing the original. You design a file that is the same pixel dimensions as the original, then save it over the original (using the original name).

/me needs to get something other than "Paint" then.