Homebrew [Custom 3DSthemes] Requests, Quality Check, and Advice

jurassicplayer

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- Themes of the Week -
Ayurumina's Animated Miku
j99D9Bx.png

So first in the list is a Miku theme and honestly it's pretty bad in terms of quality. I mean literally everything about the theme is bad quality. From the sound effects to the bgm to the backgrounds to the animation. As you can probably tell from the disgusting amount of aliasing happening on the top screen, it's a huge render that was scaled and slapped on with little care. That should be avoided...always. Aside from the actual bottom background doing an upward shuffle in the middle frame, I don't hate the idea of the dancing Miku. The renders are poor though. To summarize this theme: I liked the idea, but aside from that, this theme is pretty bad.

Route's Chocolate Insomnia
I0tBpS3.png

A Bakemonogatari theme with an animation. The animation itself isn't amazing given it's unedited rips of a couple of frames from the OP. With some work, it could have probably been something rather fantastic (alternating chocolate blocks in the background, making the clouds actually look like they are moving, and maybe drop out the middle falling frame so Hanekawa doesn't look like she is floating). Colorwise, it's mostly seifuku (school uniform) colors though I really don't like the black on pink, or the heavy pink folder colors. Both the folder and icon background images are nothing special. No sfx, a nice top background, and the great Yui Horie song. Not the greatest, but it could be worse.

Bulls' D.Va Theme
getPreview.php

So another tasteful theme from Bulls featuring D.Va. A nice scrolling background with D.Va's logo and even a large version of the logo in the middle to spice things up. There is a shit-ton of pink, which I never liked, but meh, I can't say it doesn't match. The folder is sort of a rehash of the background and the icon border isn't anything special. Comes with Overwatch music and...super smash brothers sound effects.

Ayurumina's Ever Afther High
EcuG5Z3.png

So it's another Ayurumina theme and....it's still pretty shit quality, so I'm only going to mention the reason it's actually even here. That top screen? That is a marvelous idea. It's a frame around anything that shows up on the top screen. Not many people do that (I probably wouldn't since I've always got more pictures that I want up there than I can deal with), but it's not a bad option if you have nothing or use the bottom screen for the main...eyecatch...which would be kind of distracting.

(@Tephie) Metalknuxx's Fire Emblem Fates - Corrin Female
6bzidXH.png

Most of the colors for this theme are good except for the folder stuff which seems to just ditch the blue color theme entirely...for gray colors. Still no special folders, icon borders, or sound effects. The song choice isn't exactly my favorite, but it isn't a poor choice. The main point is the bottom screen which also features an animated background. I like that even though there is the title, it's not overly opaque. The bubbles animation could have been better with some more realistic paths, but overall it's not a bad theme.

@StormThunder's LiEat 3DS Theme
vTf7TLN.png

A theme for a game I would like to try. No folder icon, icon borders, or sound effects. Just your standard backgrounds, music, and colors. The colors are pretty good on this theme. The backgrounds also provide borders for the various UI elements (though the bottom screen isn't close-cut to the buttons for some reason). It's an alright theme.

link15's Metroid
LaP3hAx.png

A dark samus theme with some matching music. There isn't too much to say about this theme. It's not bad, there aren't any particularly offending colors (except for the folder arrow). The bottom screen is a simple logo that surprisingly enough isn't too distracting. No sound effects, and folder icons/icon borders aren't something to write home about.

Volga's Metroid Theme
FqWZpu1.png

Another Metroid theme that is about the same as the previous one. The folder icon is at least discernible though I dislike the straight black. The color choices are somewhat more preferable than the generic black colors though the glaring white sun behind the logo does make this bottom screen a little bit more distracting. And...it might just be me, but the music quality doesn't sound the greatest.

@piplupwater's Pokemon Sun/Moon Rowlet
getPreview.php

A piplupwater theme featuring some icon work from Ryumaru. Both of them are among the better themers so most of it looks pretty decent. It has some fancy fan-made pokecenter music and even has the pokecenter jingle for the openlid sound effect...though no other sound effects. The gap looks like it might be too short between the screens, but I'm only guesstimating.

SuicideMoon's Pokemon WiFi Connection
DRv6kEe.png

A second pokemon theme, this time with a primary focus on the WiFi connection screens. Nothing much to say about the colors, they are black. Folder and icon borders are alright considering there isn't much material to work with. The same pokecenter jingle for the openlid sfx and the wifi connection music. Honestly the default colors of the screens were good already so there isn't much to say about them except for the bottom screen. The bottom screen's characters look like they were scaled and have anti-aliasing around them. Normally that isn't a problem, especially when dealing with renders, but in this case, the images are actually semi-pixel art and so the anti-aliasing actually makes it look fuzzy and less crisp. Sometimes not much can be done about it, but it's something to note.

Stellacate's Stella Glow - Mother Qualia
PMo6kJz.png

This theme has both great and really bad qualities. The folder icon, icon borders, arrow button colors, and the folder background color to some extent....are all kind of bad. The top screen is a throw away image. Almost anything could go there and it wouldn't really change anything. With that said, The bottom screen background (sans blatant logo) and most of the button colors are actually really nice. It has sound effects and some "battle" music.

SorkyEXE's (w/ additions from @Favna) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild
getPreview.php

A Zelda theme for the up and coming game featuring some weird brown color with BRIGHT NEON SKYBLUE. Honestly most of the actual theme is just meh with the only redeeming factors being the background screen thanks to them being more or less open scenery (with a non-looping Link on a mountain that just vanishes at some point). Favna's additions only changed the BGM and added some sound effects, both of which are nice enough (though the sound effects went through a blender). Too bad the original theme just isn't great.

NarutoRenegado's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
cCjqrnC.png

The final Zelda theme I have based on the new game, this one is actually...really good. The folder looks pretty great, the icon border has something going on that isn't TOO busy, and there isn't much I want to harp about the color choices. The top screen is a fantastic scrolling screen and the bottom is a static screen with a matching pattern. There are some clean crisp Zelda sound effects, and probably the only thing I find questionable is the BGM pick (a very slow, quiet piano song). It's a really well done theme and deserves some actual props.

@Ryumaru's Tokyo Ghoul
getPreview.php

So I didn't find Tokyo Ghoul to be something like AOTS, but at least I didn't hate all of the characters...though I do hate that falsetto opening song. The top and bottom screens look fine separately, though they don't really have much else in common besides having Kaneki in the picture. All of the colors are fine, the icon border looks good, and the folder icon is alright (though I still don't get the red spots that are supposedly...eyes). The sound effects are gorey, but great quality.

@Ramzh's Yahari. - Yui Yuigahama
getPreview.php

So I had the option of choosing between showing the Yuigahama theme or the Yukinoshita theme, but Yui is best girl so fuk you. Anyways, I like how the top screen was done. When in doubt of what image you want to use, use more of them, though the art style is different between them. There's a color play between the two themes inverting the colors of the buttons which is a nice idea (I did it myself too), but it's using black and white (which I don't like). The folder icon and icon borders are both lacking and the bottom screen background could do without the speech bubble. No sound effects, but there is Yanagi Nagi's glorious voice to listen to, so it doesn't really matter.
[06/19/16] Ayurumina's Animated Miku
[------^-----] Route's Chocolate Insomnia
[------^-----] Bulls' D.Va Theme
[------^-----] Ayurumina's Ever Afther High
[------^-----] (@Tephie) Metalknuxx's Fire Emblem Fates - Corrin Female
[------^-----] @StormThunder's LiEat 3DS Theme
[------^-----] link15's Metroid
[------^-----] Volga's Metroid Theme
[------^-----] @piplupwater's Pokemon Sun/Moon Rowlet
[------^-----] SuicideMoon's Pokemon WiFi Connection
[------^-----] Stellacate's Stella Glow - Mother Qualia
[------^-----] SorkyEXE's (w/ additions from @Favna) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild
[------^-----] NarutoRenegado's The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's Tokyo Ghoul
[------^-----] @Ramzh's Yahari. - Yui Yuigahama
[06/12/16] @Sakitoshi's Mononobe no Futo
[------^-----] @nh6574's Munna's Dream Mist
[------^-----] Valkion's Chrono Cross
[------^-----] Farukon's Luma3DS
[------^-----] @RandomKid150's GameGrumps Theme
[------^-----] Kazu's RAINBOW DAISUKI
[------^-----] Themanon's 3ds -System Settings Theme
[------^-----] Late's Saratoga
[------^-----] @FlameSpeedster's Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
[------^-----] shmazu's Samurai Champloo: Battlecry
[------^-----] Chrisblue's Mitchiri Neko Theme
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's Re- Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu 2
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's Hatsune Miku Mirai
[------^-----] wil007's Link The Legend of Zelda
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's Shantae and the Pirate's Curse 3DS
[06/05/16] @HenryLeonheart's Zinnia
[------^-----] Yuffie's Triforce and Pearls
[------^-----] @LittleXiao's Reimu Hakurei - Sky High
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's Pokemon Red Special Edition
[------^-----] @PedroKeitawa's Cross Game Theme
[05/29/16] DrkRicardo's Hatsune Miku - Dream Dream
[------^-----] Some Anon - Hatsune Miku - LOL
[------^-----] McGuffin's Fragile Dreams Main Menu
[------^-----] @Ryumaru's The Amazing World of Gumball
[------^-----] @CompC's Wind Waker - The Legendary Hero
[05/22/16] @HoneySPG's Hoshii Miki
[05/15/16] maxieman's Re: Plus - Nighttime
[05/08/16] @SunBurger's Super Danganronpa 2 Title Theme
[05/01/16] @Tyrann's Classic Spiderman theme
[04/24/16] @FlameSpeedster's Kirby Theme.
[04/17/16] @SunBurger's Xenoblade Minimalistic Theme
[04/10/16] @leonmagnus99's Sailor Moon
[04/03/16] RaiTo19's BlackRock Shooter
[03/27/16] @FlameSpeedster's One Punch Man
[03/20/16] LinkedUp's Minimalistic Lucas Theme
[03/13/16] Albireo's Champion Cynthia & Garchomp
[03/06/16] @LilLeafy's Fragile Dreams - Ren V2
[02/28/16] Kirikizan's [ StH ] Blaze the Cat
[02/21/16] @LittleXiao's Warm Flandre
[02/14/16] @Ryumaru's Pokemon Ghost Theme
---

So this thread might possibly be redundant to some people, but those people don't matter to me. As the thread title suggests, this thread is (in theory) a thread where people can post up requests for themes and all of the requests will end up in the first post so finding requests isn't a hunt.

There is also a theme of the week...mostly because I want it there. There wasn't really any reason for it. If anything, maybe it can be used to highlight different themers and their fancier themes. Honestly though, this is going to be biased to all hell since I'm the one picking.

Also, in the hopes of people making more quality themes, you can ask for some opinions about what you currently have (maybe you can't decide on a color, or just want a second opinion, etc.) or give your own opinion about other people's work in progress.

Themers, try not to take each and every comment as someone hating on your theme, and if you feel that others opinions aren't needed, then there is little you can obtain from this thread.
Opinionated bystanders, try not to be reserved in your critiquing, this thread is for improving themes, not pandering to themer ego. Worst case, I might reply and give my own opinions.

Lastly, tying in with the quality themes, you can ask for some ideas or advice. Maybe you aren't good at coming up with good folder icons, icon borders, or something else. Then we can all sit and wiggle around your issues too until you get something you are satisfied with.

tl;dr: A thread for chatting about Work in Progress 3ds themes
 
Last edited by jurassicplayer,

Ryumaru

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@jurassicplayer - After I give an update on that theme because when I did this theme I didn't have the exploit that allows you to extract the sounds of the games.
PS 1: This topic will be extremely useful for anyone who wants to start creating custom themes.
PS 2: And added this section in my favorites.

@Potato hoarder - If possible in Wav I will first finish the 3 theme projects I own then I see it without problem.
 
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jurassicplayer

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- Theme of the Week -
@Ryumaru's Pokemon Ghost Theme (thread post)
pokemon_ghost-png.36629

This theme has wonderful purple color throughout, well picked backgrounds, and a fantastic folder icon. A bass heavy remix of the Pokemon Tower that does a great job of setting up that ghostly hype vibe. Unfortunately no scrolling on either screen, icon borders, or custom sfx.

---

I might add a section that has tips and tricks sort of things. Like range compression and then normalize to try and make those quieter sections of sound effects just a little bit louder or something. Probably the major problem with this thread is that easily finding it would require active discussion throughout the day. I'm also changing the first post as requests come and go (though that sort of thing nobody probably will notice).

Anyways, I decided on the top screen and a variety of the colors now. I would like some opinions on if I should add a top and bottom bar to "split" the buttons from the "screen space" like I did in my other themes. I was considering putting a character animation on the bottom screen, but I don't think I have enough resources for some of the side characters for it to work.
LNnrzf3.png
 
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Arubaro

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I personally like themes with bgm which doesn't have voices (instrumentals, off vocals, karaoke versions) and yes, more than one time I wished to have more resources to choose from.
I have made just a few but I can say I have learned something with each of them and I like that fact.
Cool thread btw.
 

Ryumaru

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@jurassicplayer - It was really cool that theme. Changing the subject would be nice if it had here tutorials how to create folders and edges. This would help many users who are having difficulties in creating folders and custom edges.
 
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jurassicplayer

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- Theme of the Week -
LittleXiao's Warm Flandre
SKLlfEB.png

This theme really doesn't push the envelope at all. Normally I dislike these sorts of themes that just replace the top/bottom screen, pick some colors, and add a song, but this one is quite well picked. The brightened color buttons against the muted background make everything very easy to see and pleasant to look at. The top screen could literally be almost anything and the theme would probably still work. The music is a rather nice piano rendition of U.N. Owen. If there were anything to gripe about, I wish bottom screen has just a little bit of animation or at least scroll since it IS a patterned background, but unfortunately it's a static image (easily fixed).

---

I'd love to help in anything I can :)
That would be great, the more opinions the better.

...tutorials how to create folders and edges. This would help many users who are having difficulties in creating folders and custom edges.
I can make a little tutorial about how I personally make folders and edges (maybe tomorrow) which would offer people at least a method for turning out some sort of folders/edges, but really the main thing would be to describe the limitations of the files and leave the actual artwork to the themer. If anyone else also wants to make any in-depth sort of tutorials (pictures and the like would be great too), they can also post them (whether as a new thread or as a post in this thread) and I'll add them to the list as well.
 

Sumea

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I been working on beatmania IIDX themes personally, these are for myself first, but I try to make them the best I could personally, and I pay a lot of attention to the sound.

Current project is DJ Troopers
8tHDglr.png

Almost half of the theme making for these is spent in audacity and Yata converting to Cwavs and making audio manipulation, and loop points. There is few tricks I did for scrolling backgrounds and that is simple stuff I done. I try to keep quality at best it can be with current tools, personally lamenting we still have not publicly cracked how scroll SFW is flagged or whatever.
t1B2F7b.png

I dunno what tips and tricks I might need, but I come up with few myself such as using audacity to make specific loop points which is rare in custom themes - then again I am specifically using assets made for loops mixed with other stuff but still, audacity can be used to show samples. I am glad new tools can tell maximum CWAV chunk size so you know where to cut corners, because I personally would keep it in minimum.
 

Ryumaru

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@jurassicplayer - I can do some pictures explaining how to configure Audacity to put background music sounds in stereo mode without exceeding 3.3 mbs.

I used this method in my last project that can be seen in the image below, and the music was perfect.

getPreview.php
 
Last edited by Ryumaru,

CeeDee

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@jurassicplayer - I can do some pictures explaining how to configure Audacity to put background music sounds in stereo mode without exceeding 3.3 mbs.

I used this method in my last project that can be seen in the image below, and the music was perfect.

getPreview.php
This theme will look a little off on the 3DS itself - if you make a theme that uses both screens for one image, it's best to make a gap between the two screens. It'll look a bit odd when previewing it on theme tools and screenshots, but it'll look better on your 3DS itself.

If I recall correctly I cut 80px of space to make room for the division between the top and bottom, and it looked great.
 
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Sumea

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@Ryumaru It is bad juju to just continue image as is between the screens, it will look like the character got super stretched between the screens and DS game devs dropped it even and started to emulate screenspace between screens to make it look less jarring. I forgot what was the virtual pixel amount some theme makers back in DS days made - but overall given 3DS theming possibilities two screen photos are bad idea in my opinion.
 
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CeeDee

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@Ryumaru It is bad juju to just continue image as is between the screens, it will look like the character got super stretched between the screens and DS game devs dropped it even and started to emulate screenspace between screens to make it look less jarring. I forgot what was the virtual pixel amount some theme makers back in DS days made - but overall given 3DS theming possibilities two screen photos are bad idea in my opinion.
Yoshi's Island DS used a screen gap too. It usually tends to look odd with it just continuing from the bottom screen.
 

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Yoshi's Island DS used a screen gap too. It usually tends to look odd with it just continuing from the bottom screen.
A lot of games did later, I think even chrono trigger DS uses it (Only the main menu animation) and other stuff like that, most games started to use it in actual games if they were making something that displayed over both screens.
 

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@Ryumaru It is bad juju to just continue image as is between the screens, it will look like the character got super stretched between the screens and DS game devs dropped it even and started to emulate screenspace between screens to make it look less jarring. I forgot what was the virtual pixel amount some theme makers back in DS days made - but overall given 3DS theming possibilities two screen photos are bad idea in my opinion.

I don't know what it is officially, but DeSMuMe, a DS emulator, offers screen gaps of 64 pixels and 90 pixels (vertically, of course), so you can probably adjust your images to those as needed.
 
Last edited by daxtsu, , Reason: Worded that oddly.

Sumea

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Yeah. I think 64 was "the standard" for years as more or less; any gap looks good enough already than no gap at all. I opt to just come up with ideas myself avoiding to choose a vertical image that I would want to cut for both screens. One thing I did do personally was make a top/bottom custom images for my CTRbootmanager, and even then I was being superficial where I only used natural gap that was left into the image after I cut 240 from top and 240 from bottom.
R1QDYja.png
 

Ryumaru

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1456167142238.jpg

@daxtsu, @Sonic_Cee_Dee - It was very strange when I cut the image in exact dimensions, cut much of the breastplate of Luffy all. That's why I chose for this form.
I already did a tutorial explaining the exact dimensions of the 3ds screens so that have images that even applying the right method is very bad.

I did a file that allows you to view the exact length between the two screens, I can provide in this section without problem. This exact height.
 
Last edited by Ryumaru,

Sumea

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@daxtsu, @Sonic_Cee_Dee - It was very strange when I cut the image in exact dimensions, cut much of the breastplate of Luffy all. That's why I chose for this form.
I already did a tutorial explaining the exact dimensions of the 3ds screens so that have images that even applying the right method is very bad.

I did a file that allows you to view the exact length between the two screens, I can provide in this section without problem. This exact height.
According to photohop 83 pixels so the 90 seems to be right on the money (given your photo also ignores few mm for the screen borders)
 

Ryumaru

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@Sumea - The big problem in using a single image to make a theme of 3DS and that depending on the image it can be with a very strange appearance.
 

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