Skinning Tutorial - Resource Hacking
So you understand what skinning is (well sort of) now you need to replace the various images of a skin using a resource editor.
This is the lesson when you will learn how to use the program provided.
I prefer Resource Hacker as it works well and is nowhere near buggy plus it is free.
I hope you downloaded the skinning resources and took a peak inside to see how many and what images you can skin, as you will get a shock.
Now let's learn you how to change MSN Messenger for real.
So open Resource Hacker and go to File > Open > then go to your MSN Messenger directory and open msnmsgr.exe. You will then see on the left a list of resources like this:
The ones in the red boxes are the main ones skinners edit and mess around with. When you view the PNGS all you will get is the raw coding. However if you want to see the PNGS as an image, view the skinning resources referring to the right number. (Yes, I do refer to the resources a lot but you will need them)
So our next important step is to actually replace a resource and I will show you using the most common image in skinning, the PNG. First, find in the skinning resources a PNG you would like to edit. Then edit it in your preferred image editing program and export the new image in PNG format. (Try to keep the number the same so you can remember it easily.) Then follow the next steps to replacing that resource:
1.) Close MSN Messenger via the system tray. It should not be running what-so-ever.
2.) In Resource Hacker, go to the resource section you want (PNG in this case) and select the PNG number you wish to edit and expand that tree. Then just click on the 1033 resource underneath that folder.
3.) Then right click and select "Replace Resource"
4.) A window should come up. Follow what I say carefully. Browse to the new image that you have created, as this will overwrite the current one. In "Resource Type", put PNG, (however, this changes for certain resources e.g., you can put GIF or JPG when editing those). For "Resource Name" put the resource name, in this case it is 1090. In "Resource, Language" always put 1033. The press the replace button.
5.) Hurray it has been replaced. However, do not think it is over yet, you must do some more things. First go to File > Save. Then wait about 10 seconds (if you do not wait you can corrupt the program and lose your work). After that, open MSN Messenger and you can see your new Messenger for yourself.
You can experiment with replacing Icons, Bitmaps etc, they are a bit different, but Resource Hacker sorts it all out for you. Basically, you now know what skinners used to do to skin MSN Messenger but over time things have changed and more and more stuff became possible. Please practice this first for a few days until you get the full hang on it and then you can move one to the next lesson.
Note: Keep regular backups of msnmsgr.exe as sometimes the file can become corrupt. If it does become corrupt, replace the file with a backup and your back on track. If you do not do this, you could lose your entire skin!
So open Resource Hacker and go to File > Open > then go to your MSN Messenger directory and open msnmsgr.exe. You will then see on the left a list of resources like this:
The ones in the red boxes are the main ones skinners edit and mess around with. When you view the PNGS all you will get is the raw coding. However if you want to see the PNGS as an image, view the skinning resources referring to the right number. (Yes, I do refer to the resources a lot but you will need them)
So our next important step is to actually replace a resource and I will show you using the most common image in skinning, the PNG. First, find in the skinning resources a PNG you would like to edit. Then edit it in your preferred image editing program and export the new image in PNG format. (Try to keep the number the same so you can remember it easily.) Then follow the next steps to replacing that resource:
1.) Close MSN Messenger via the system tray. It should not be running what-so-ever.
2.) In Resource Hacker, go to the resource section you want (PNG in this case) and select the PNG number you wish to edit and expand that tree. Then just click on the 1033 resource underneath that folder.
3.) Then right click and select "Replace Resource"
4.) A window should come up. Follow what I say carefully. Browse to the new image that you have created, as this will overwrite the current one. In "Resource Type", put PNG, (however, this changes for certain resources e.g., you can put GIF or JPG when editing those). For "Resource Name" put the resource name, in this case it is 1090. In "Resource, Language" always put 1033. The press the replace button.
5.) Hurray it has been replaced. However, do not think it is over yet, you must do some more things. First go to File > Save. Then wait about 10 seconds (if you do not wait you can corrupt the program and lose your work). After that, open MSN Messenger and you can see your new Messenger for yourself.
You can experiment with replacing Icons, Bitmaps etc, they are a bit different, but Resource Hacker sorts it all out for you. Basically, you now know what skinners used to do to skin MSN Messenger but over time things have changed and more and more stuff became possible. Please practice this first for a few days until you get the full hang on it and then you can move one to the next lesson.
Note: Keep regular backups of msnmsgr.exe as sometimes the file can become corrupt. If it does become corrupt, replace the file with a backup and your back on track. If you do not do this, you could lose your entire skin!