What you need to have:

* a computer that runs Windows
* a digital image editing program
* the “PSP Theme Toolbox”
* a little bit of time

First thing you need to do is download the “PSP Theme Toolbox” zipped file. You can unzip it anywhere, but if you’ll be doing a lot of Themes or want to use the pre-made default while going through this walkthrough, you’ll have to extract it directly to your C:\ drive (C:\PSP Theme Toolbox\).



In the “Toolbox”, you’ll find:

* Icons and Wallpaper templates
* “PSP Custom Theme Converter” program
* Default Project saved as a “.txt” file
* “How To” Basics and Advanced Walkthroughs
* Layered PhotoShop template of icons
* Unlike for PS3 Themes, there is an actual program so you won’t have to be worrying about XML code or funky compiler programs.
* Open the program (PSPCustomThemeConverter.exe) and we’ll go though it, tab-by-tab.

NOTE: If you’d like to see a working example of each item, go to “File\Open” and select “PSPTheme_default.txt”. This will only work if you’ve extracted the Toolbox to your C:\ drive because of the way the project file links to the associated images.

The first tab is the “Information” Tab.

* Put the name of your Theme or its description in the “Title” space.
* The “Product ID” is where you assign what the Theme is associated to, e.g. Game, Anime, Movie, etc.
* The “Version” is helpful if you want to do keep track of multiple versions of a Theme, but isn’t necessary either.

The second tab is the “Wallpaper” Tab.

* Wallpapers have to be:
* 480 x 272 pixels
* 24-bit Color Image
* BMP files Click on the “Folder” button to browse and select any image that matches the required size and format.
* * If the image you select is not useable, an “Error” window will pop-up letting you know what needs to change.
* You can click the “Preview” button to preview your wallpaper once you’ve selected one that is workable.

Next tab is called “Category Icons”, and is for the main XMB Icons.

* These icons need to be:
* either 64 x 48 pixels or 48 x 48 pixels
* 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
* TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The “First Level Icons” Tab is for the icons that appear within a category on the XMB.

* These are the sub-icons that appear below the category XMB icons.
* Double click on the icon line or click the “Edit” button.
* You’ll see a request for two files: the “Icon Body” and the “Icon Focus”. The “Body” is the actual icon.
* The “Focus” is the glow that pulses around the icon when you highlight that icon. If you’d like to keep things simple, or not worry about having a pulsing glow around your selection, you can either use the default focus image or leave that space blank.
* The icons need to be:
* 32 x 32 pixels (Body)
* 48 x 48 pixels (Focus)
* 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
* TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The “Second Level Icons” tab is for the “Settings” Icon. That’s right; the “Settings” wrench gets its very own tab!

* Just like the First Level Icons, these need to be:
* 32 x 32 pixels
* 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
* TGA, PNG, or GIM image files Its focus needs to be:
*
* 48 x 48 pixels
* 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
* TGA, PNG, or GIM image files

The last tab is “Others”.

* The “Preview Icon” is the tiny thumbnail that appears when you choose your Theme, and needs to be:
* 16 x 16 pixels
* 8-bit Index (32-bit Color)
* TGA, PNG, or GIM image files The “Preview Image” is the preview for the Theme, and needs to be:
*
* 300 x 170
* 24-bit Color Image
* BMP The final option is “Theme Color”. Here, you can assign a particular highlight colour to your Theme, or have it change monthly automatically.
*

_____________________

Once you’ve assigned all of the Icons to your images, go to “FILE” and select “EXPORT”.

* Name your file, click “SAVE”, and the program will create your PSP Theme File (.PTF).
* With your PSP connected to your computer in USB Mode or with a compatible Memory Stick connected, place the file into the proper “Theme” folder ( \PSP\THEME ).
* Disconnect your PSP or insert the Memory Stick in to your PSP.
* Under “Settings”, select “Theme Settings”, and then “Theme”.

Your new Theme should appear in the selectable list.
_____________________

Good luck and have fun making your own PSP Themes!