Customising the background image

Making a different background image

Welcome to the fun part of this site! Here I will discuss step-by-step how to change the background image of various Apex players.

Many thanks to both DevL and KeepSAF for helping me prepare this page.

The process of changing the background image is a little bit involved. But thanks to Richard Collett, patching your converted picture into the firmware has just got a lot easier. Richard has released a FREEWARE program called ApexLogo which takes the hard work out of patching your picture into the firmware BIN file! You can now throw away the need to use a hex editor. *AND* it works with both single and dual image files! More on Apex Logo further down this page.

Firstly, you have to make (or steal!) the background image you would like your player to have. You MUST resize it to 704x480 and save it as a windows BMP file. TIP: Video Monitors and TV's do not like black at level 0 and/or white at level 255, therefore it is advisable to run your image through photoshop (or equivalent) and do a "adjust>levels" -- make sure the black is at 19 or 20, and the white is at 239 or 240. This will make your tv much more comfy.

For this example I will call the image filename "backgr.bmp"

The next step is to use a program called MKLOGO which converts the BMP file to an MPEG2 still frame.

At a DOS prompt type the following:

mklogo backgr.bmp

This will generate a file named e2logo.c

The next step is to use a program called C2BIN will convert the e2logo.c file to a binary file which is needed for the EPROM.

At a DOS prompt type the following:

c2bin e2logo.c backgr.bin

This will generate a file called backgr.bin

Here is a list of the known byte sizes for some of the firmwares:
Note this is an "Up To" size and can be less than this, but not more.

AD-500 firmware 500DE-1AM is 18000 bytes
AD-500W firmware APE-500W-(2, 3 or 4) is 24009 bytes
AD-500WM firmware is 19175 bytes
AD-600A firmware A6 to A11 is 24009 bytes
AD-600A firmware N2 to N6 is 24009 bytes
AD-600A firmware N1-2 to N1-4 is 24009 bytes
AD-600A firmware GK600 is 18000 bytes
AD-600A firmware GK600/ADV7176 is 18000 bytes
AD-600A firmware GK600A is 18000 bytes
AD-600A firmware GK600B is 18000 bytes
AD-600A firmware GK600B/ADV7176 is 18000 bytes
AD-660 firmware 9MM with 1.5x Zoom is 17970 bytes
BI-600E firmware BI600EAM is 18000 bytes
BI-660E firmware BI660EAM is 19175 bytes
AD-700A firmware is 18000 bytes
AD-1000 firmware is 19175 bytes
GK-1000 firmware is 19175 bytes
AD-1500 firmware is 19175 bytes

OTHER PLAYERS:
CONIA M-100 firmware is 19967 bytes.
MAGNAVOX MDVD-100 firmware is 28,302 bytes
XWAVE LB900 firmware is 23623 bytes.

It may also be possible to modify the background of other players not listed in this table but the image file size may vary and is UNTESTED, so experiment AT YOUR OWN RISK!.

If your firmware is NOT listed above, or you wish to verify the above sizes are correct, there is a small DOS based program written by David Mott which can tell you the size of your background image. You can download it HERE. To use it, at a DOS prompt type in BGIMAGE_SIZE <your firmware filename> and it will tell you if the file is good, image size and location. David has also included the source file (written in PERL) so if people wish to experiment with it feel free.

WHAT IF THE WANTED IMAGE IS TOO BIG?

To make the image smaller you may need to use the compression switch in MKLOGO as described above but if that is not enough you may also need to make your original BMP image (backgr.bmp) more MPEG-compressible by blurring it or adding solid color borders (for example a black border around the edges of the image).

A tip from Darren S. regarding a compression switch in MKLOGO:

"Hi, I just wanted to let you know that the program MKLOGO.EXE which is used to insert your own graphic into the Apex firmware actually has 32 different compression levels, not just 1 to 9 like you state on your webpage. The real range is from 1 to 31, where 1 is being the least compression and 31 being the most.

This is especially handy when inserting a logo into the Apex AD700 firmware which only has a mere 18000 bytes of space for the logo. I had to use: "MKLOGO BKIMAGE.BIN 20" to achieve a size around 18000 bytes for the image I made. Hope this helps those people needing to make their image file smaller!"

Thanks for that, Darren :)

Another EXCELLENT description and some further tips on making your own background image can be read HERE. Many thank to "Cato" in Australia for taking the time to do this research. Much appreciated.

Click HERE to get MKLOGO, and click HERE to get C2BIN.

The next step is the easy bit which used to be the hard part thanks to a program called Apex Logo. You can get Apex Logo (V1.1b) HERE.

Apex Logo has been written to make the job of patching in the firmware with your new image easy. The process is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

NOTE: ApexLogo requires Mocrosoft Visial Basic Runtime files to work properly. If ApexLogo does not work then download the latest MS VB files from HERE

When Apex Logo is first loaded, it has a main window split into three areas: ROM file input, Image file input and ROM file output.

How to change the background image with ApexLogo

I will describe how to load one image file and change it's background image. The procedure is similar if you are doing two firmwares (for dual boot).

Step 1: Load the firmware .bin file. Click on "SELECT" and another window opens allowing you to select the firmware you wish to load.

When the firmware is loaded information on it's build date, size and image location will be shown in the "First Half" box.

Step 2: Click on "Copy To First Half" and the firmware will be copied into the "Whole ROM" box. Make sure the "Type" is set to "Single" if you are only doing one firmware (not dual-boot).

Step 3: Load the background .bin file. Click on "SELECT" and another window opens allowing you to select the firmware you wish to load.

When the background image is loaded the "Size" information will appear (in HEX format) and if the image is less than 24009 bytes the "Overwrite First Image" button will not be ghosted.

Step 4: Click on "Overwrite First Image" and the new background image will be copied into the firmware. The "Image" information line in the "Whole Rom" area will change to the name of the new background.

Step 5: Now click on "Save" and pick a filename for your new firmware. BEWARE! It is possible to accidentally over-write your original firmware if you pick the same file name!

And that is it! Easy!

Note: Apex Logo requires two Visual Basic 6 files to work properly: MSVBVM60.DLL and COMDLG32.OCX. If you run Apex Logo and it does not work or you get an error message then you will need these files.

Now all you have to do is go and burn your new firmware into an EPROM and see if your new background image appears on your TV screen.

BACKGROUND IMAGES

These images are in zip archive format. Most include both the BMP image in the correct size (704x480) and the .BIN file ready for loading into Apexlogo for merging with your player's firmware file.

BEWARE! The .BIN files that are included in some of the zip files IS NOT the .BIN file ready for burning to a CDR or loading on a chip to upgrade your player. You MUST merge the picture .BIN file with your correct firmware as explained above with ApexLogo.

I will include a selected number of pictures anyone else wants to send to me, and you will be credited with your name up in lights. Please send me the BMP image in the correct size (704x480). The .BIN file is also appreciated but not necessary. I *WILL NOT* include any offensive pictures, but "tasteful art" is accepted! Click HERE to email me.

Please click on the picture to download the file.

Apex Black. Thanks KeepSAF

Apex Blue from a 703 player. Thanks KeepSAF

Apex White. Thanks KeepSAF

GK600. Thanks KeepSAF

AD-1500 original logo. Thanks Jared.

"Tickets". Thanks KeepSAF

Angie Harmon. Thanks KeepSAF

Helen Hunt. Thanks KeepSAF

Jennifer Lopez. Thanks KeepSAF

Cool Apex Image! Thanks JDS

Black&White flowers. Thanks James

Nice DVD image. Thanks Bob

Clever! Region Free version. Thanks Colin

And the Region 1 version. Thanks Colin

The Matrix. Region Free version. Thanks Colin

The Matrix. Region 1 version. Thanks Colin

The Matrix. Region Free. Modified for Apex 1000/1500

Up In Lights. Thanks Jared.

Multicoloured Speckle. Thanks Jared.

"NewWild". Excellent! Thanks Jared.

Pamela Anderson. Anonymous donation.

NOTE: download version has full nudity. Use at your own risk!!!!!

Terminator 2. Thanks Cyb@-Kill@

Jason. Thanks Cyb@-Kill@

ID4. Thanks Cyb@-Kill@

Mummy 2. Thanks Cyb@-Kill@

DTS Sound. Thanks Cyb@-Kill@

Freedom. Thanks Kirin.

AD-600A. Thanks Dennis.

Voyager with "Region Free" text. Thanks Trekstertroy

Voyager with no text. Thanks Trekstertroy

Metallic Flower for AD-500. Thanks "then64fan/link"

"Alien Legacy". Thanks Michael.

Dolphins. Thanks Kevin.

3D Pyramid. Thanks BgThang.

September 11, 2001 Tribute. Thanks Rick.

Flagstaff Snowboarder for Apex 660. Thanks Catalyst.

US Flag with date 09/11/01. Thanks BgThang.

Texas Flag. Thanks BgThang.

"Take One" for Apex 500W. Thanks Guillermo.

Iron Maiden featuring Eddie. Thanks Cyberrocker.

M&M and Pooh. Thanks Schauf.

Quicksilver (Surfing brandname). Thanks Redhummer.

Kermit. Thanks Randy.

Another Kermit. Thanks Randy.

The Simpsons. Thanks Randy.

Buffy. Thanks Randy.

Another Buffy. Thanks Randy.

Godzilla. Thanks Randy.

"Chrome DVD" Thanks T-Bone.

Background by The Grateful Leecher.

"Apex DVD" Inspired by The Matrix. Thx ZeroCool

"Twin Pex"

"Akira" movie for Apex 500WM. Thanks ETB.

"Bubblegum Crissis 2040" for 500WM. Thanks ETB.

"Apex Fringe". Thanks ETB.

"Apex Korn". Thanks ETB.

"Apex NIN" Thanks ETB.

"Kite" for 500WM. Based on Kite movie. Thanks ETB

Fighter Jet. Thanks Dan D.

Dark Angel for "Hiteker" players. Thanks Justin.

Popcorn Theme! Thanks NoCorvair.

Jolly Roger. Thanks Llyen.

Superman Movie. Thanks Gabe.

Batman & Robin. Thanks Gabe.

Sampo. Thanks ZeroCool.

Apex. Thanks James.

Halle Berry. Thanks Surfinfrog.

Citizen Pain from the comic book Violent Messiahs

Stitch Final. Thanks Jweb

Color Bars. Readme file has technical info. Thanks Jeff

Dino. Thanks Shane.

Nice picture with lots of detail. Thanks Never Oddoreven

Rei Ayanami from Evangelion. Thanks Nem

"DVD One". Thanks Michael for your first creation!

Cyber hand and lightning. Thanks Lucas

Joey Heatherton. Thanks LK

Jolene Blackick. Thanks LK

Resident Evil. Thanks Kent

Kenny from Southpark. Thanks Derek

"Worldview". Thanks David

Gun Smith Cats. Thanks Civil

Vash the Stampede from Trigun. Thanks T-Kamen

Spiderman.

Lord Of The Rings.

"Moonbees". Thanks Dave S.

This group of images has been made by Karyudo, and I will let him tell the story: "I've created the background logo screens attached. My three criteria were: (1) I wanted something close to the original Apex screen, but with not quite such a garish electric blue. I liked the look of the backgrounds of the GK600 logo, and the JDS customized one. (2) I also wanted to include (discreetly but legibly) the ROM flavour that was loaded. (3) I also wanted to make sure it'd all fit in 24009 bytes!"

As you can see they look quite nice. The firmware version and region number is just under the "X" in the APEX logo in dark blue. Please note: There is only Regions 0,1,2 and 4 in each archive. The exception is A8 which has only one image because it is a loophole menu firmware and has the letters "A8LH". The BIN files are included.

A8. One picture for all regions!

A10. Regions 0,1,2 and 4.

A11. Regions 0,1,2 and 4.

N5. Regions 0,1,2 and 4.

GK600. Regions 0,1,2 and 4.

This group of pictures comes courtesy of someone who wishes to remain anonymous. Like the pictures above there are slightly different versions of each picture showing the region number. Unfortunately there is only Regions 1 to 5 and a Region Free version of each picture. The designer realised this after making them and apologises to anyone offended!

Both the BMP and BIN versions are included in each archive.

Earth Rise. Regions 1 to 5 and Region Free.