Here's a quick and dirty guide to using NinjaMorph (by Stericson) to change apk's
NOTE: You are attempting to change the drawables files (or other system APKs) that your system needs to execute to work properly. It is entirely possible (especially if you get adventuresome after you realize how easy this is) you may enter a bootloop after applying a change. Make a NANDROID immediately before you start playing with this, as you will likely need it!!
The .png that governs the notification background is handled differently for AOSP and sense based ROMs.
For Sense based ROMs, the file name is status_bar_background.png and it is located in system>framework>framework-res.apk>res>drawable-hdpi (may have other text like -v4). This background will be repeated if it doesn't completely fill the space, so simple repeating patterns can give cool effects. Below is an example .png and a screenshot of it in use.
The .png
The effect
For AOSP ROMs, the file name is shade_bg.png and it is located in system>app>SystemUI.apk>res>drawable-hdpi (may have other text like -v4). This background will be stretched to fit the space, regardless of the original shape and size. Below is an example .png (modified from a ssethv splashscreen) and a screenshot of it in use.
The .png
The effect
The process itself is fairly simple. Download NinjaMorph (Free or Pro, either works), and after, you make a NANDROID, open it (it sometimes crashes the first startup - I try it again, and it works fine).
-Press, "New Project" and find the apk (follow the path to the bold .apk above) and select the it will unpack the apk to the "workspace" folder under "AndroidThemes" on the sd card
-Select the .png that you want to replace (follow the path after the bold .png above) and select it.
-NinjaMorph will ask you what image you want to replace it with. Choose the image that you have downloaded/made (and confirm that you really do want to do it).
-NinjaMorph will ask you if you want to change anything else. (You probably don't this first time, so just hit the back arrow).
-Press the "Finish Project" button on the home screen, and select the apk that you modified.
-After asking you a few times if you really want to do it, it will ask you if you want to delete/cleanup the project. I usually don't that way I can get back to it using the "Existing Projects" button or easily reapply it if I frequently flash updated ROMs...
-Then, you are done. If you changed the framework-res.apk, it should automatically reboot. If you changed the SystemUI.apk, you'll start getting force closes. This is entirely normal, and all you need to do is reboot. I usually hold down the power button until the power off menu appears behind the force close menu and do a quick double tab, though a battery pull would probably work, too.
Final Note: for CM7 (or likely, any ROM that uses themes), this will change the default theme, not any other themes. You can use metamorph to replace many theme elements into the default theme pretty easily to get a nearly themed appearance (I have the workspace folders for a mostly honeybread theme by haxzamatic with the fauxcomb battery indicator from the Carbonite theme that I could post a link to if anyone was interested). I wasn't able to change a t-mobile themed .apk, but if you have any thoughts, feel free to post them!
Then, it'll boot (it might take awhile) and when it loads, you have a bright new shiny background.
NOTE: You are attempting to change the drawables files (or other system APKs) that your system needs to execute to work properly. It is entirely possible (especially if you get adventuresome after you realize how easy this is) you may enter a bootloop after applying a change. Make a NANDROID immediately before you start playing with this, as you will likely need it!!
The .png that governs the notification background is handled differently for AOSP and sense based ROMs.
For Sense based ROMs, the file name is status_bar_background.png and it is located in system>framework>framework-res.apk>res>drawable-hdpi (may have other text like -v4). This background will be repeated if it doesn't completely fill the space, so simple repeating patterns can give cool effects. Below is an example .png and a screenshot of it in use.
The .png
The effect
For AOSP ROMs, the file name is shade_bg.png and it is located in system>app>SystemUI.apk>res>drawable-hdpi (may have other text like -v4). This background will be stretched to fit the space, regardless of the original shape and size. Below is an example .png (modified from a ssethv splashscreen) and a screenshot of it in use.
The .png
The effect
The process itself is fairly simple. Download NinjaMorph (Free or Pro, either works), and after, you make a NANDROID, open it (it sometimes crashes the first startup - I try it again, and it works fine).
-Press, "New Project" and find the apk (follow the path to the bold .apk above) and select the it will unpack the apk to the "workspace" folder under "AndroidThemes" on the sd card
-Select the .png that you want to replace (follow the path after the bold .png above) and select it.
-NinjaMorph will ask you what image you want to replace it with. Choose the image that you have downloaded/made (and confirm that you really do want to do it).
-NinjaMorph will ask you if you want to change anything else. (You probably don't this first time, so just hit the back arrow).
-Press the "Finish Project" button on the home screen, and select the apk that you modified.
-After asking you a few times if you really want to do it, it will ask you if you want to delete/cleanup the project. I usually don't that way I can get back to it using the "Existing Projects" button or easily reapply it if I frequently flash updated ROMs...
-Then, you are done. If you changed the framework-res.apk, it should automatically reboot. If you changed the SystemUI.apk, you'll start getting force closes. This is entirely normal, and all you need to do is reboot. I usually hold down the power button until the power off menu appears behind the force close menu and do a quick double tab, though a battery pull would probably work, too.
Final Note: for CM7 (or likely, any ROM that uses themes), this will change the default theme, not any other themes. You can use metamorph to replace many theme elements into the default theme pretty easily to get a nearly themed appearance (I have the workspace folders for a mostly honeybread theme by haxzamatic with the fauxcomb battery indicator from the Carbonite theme that I could post a link to if anyone was interested). I wasn't able to change a t-mobile themed .apk, but if you have any thoughts, feel free to post them!
Then, it'll boot (it might take awhile) and when it loads, you have a bright new shiny background.
Last edited:
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