++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How to create a skin for PokerTH
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

+++++++++++++++++++++++
1. Game Table Styles
+++++++++++++++++++++++

1.1 Creating a game table
-----------------------------
The best way to start building a custom PokerTH game table is to take a look at the file "defaulttablestyle.xml". 
You can find this file in the source code in the installation path of PokerTH >= 0.6.5 in the subfolder data/gfx/gui/table/default/.
The defaulttablestyle.xml is the control center of your style. The file also contains comments which describe the use of the controls.

Maybe you would like to play around with the default table to see how the controls will work. To do this, you should copy the whole
data/gfx/gui/table/default/ directory to another place. In order to avoid confusing styles, please first change the description
<StyleDescription value="PokerTH default table style" /> to (e.g.) <StyleDescription value="my custom style" />. It is recommended to also
rename the defaulttablestyle.xml to mycustomstyle.xml or something similar, and the directory name "default" to e.g. "mycustomtable".
Now you can start playing around with color values or change/edit graphics files.


1.2 Testing your style
--------------------------------
In order to test your style simply load it in PokerTH using "Settings" -> "Style" -> "Game Table Styles" --> "Add ...".
After you have selected your file the value of "StyleDescription" is shown in the list. Select the corresponding entry and
click "Activate". Closing the Settings dialog will refresh the style of the game table.

If you change your mycustomstyle.xml there is no need to re-add it in the settings or to restart PokerTH. The simplest way is
just to open settings dialog and close it immediately. This will refresh the game table style and show your changes.


1.3 Distributing your style
-------------------------------
TODO: Edit this.

When your style is ready to distribute you should complete the style information StyleDescription, StyleMaintainerEMail and Preview. 
The best way for Preview will be a screenshot of the style running in PokerTH.

If you style is ready to be shipped please pack the whole directory into a zip archive. If you like your style to be added into
skin gallery on http://www.pokerth.net please send a link to the address where you have hosted your archive to webmaster@pokerth.net. We cannot promise that every style will be added, but if everything works fine and the legal issues are also clear there should be no problem. 


+++++++++++++++++++++++++
2. Card Deck Styles
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

2.1 Start building a card deck
--------------------------------
Setting up a card deck is not as complex as the game table. The xml file is only used for StyleDescription, StyleMaintainerEMail and Preview.
In the file data/gfx/cards/default/defaultdeckstyle.xml you will find all required information to set these values.

Maybe you would like to play around with the default card deck. To do this, you should copy the whole data/gfx/cards/default/
directory to another place. In order to avoid confusing "card deck styles" please first change the description
<StyleDescription value="PokerTH default card deck" /> to e.g. <StyleDescription value="my custom card deck" />.
It is also recommended to rename the defaultdeckstyle.xml to e.g. mycustomcardstyle.xml and the directory name "default" to "mycustomdeck"
or something similar. Now you can start changing/editing graphics files.

If you take a look into all files from 0.png to 51.png you will see which card value belongs to which number. 
It is VERY IMPORTANT to leave the filenames untouched. PokerTH will always take 0.png for "diamond 2", 51.png for "club ace" and 
24.png for "heart king" for example. Also a flipside image called "flipside.png" has to be in the card deck directory.

The SIZE for all cards should be 48x76 pixel. If the size of an imgage does not fit into 48x76 pixel, PokerTH will scale it automatically. 
But this picture scaling might cause speed issues for example when drawing animations. 


2.2 Testing your deck
--------------------------------
In order to test your deck simply load it into PokerTH using "Settings" -> "Style" -> "Card Deck Styles" --> "Add ...".
After you have selected your file the value of "StyleDescription" is shown in the list. Select the corresponding entry and
click "Activate". Closing the Settings dialog will refresh the style of the card deck.

If you do changes in your mycustomcardstyle.xml there is no need to re-add it into settings or restart PokerTH. The simplest way is just
to open settings dialog and close it immediately. This will refresh the card deck style and show your changes.


2.3 Distribute your deck
-------------------------------
TODO: Edit this.

When your card deck style is ready to distribute you should complete the style information StyleDescription, StyleMaintainerEMail and Preview. 

Next step is editing the copyright.txt. Here you need to change "Maintainer" to your name and "EMail" to your valid mail address. 
Please read the copyright declaration carefully. If you edited a free licenced gfx file you need to add the source address of the file 
and corresponding licence information.

If you style is ready to be shipped please pack the whole directory into a zip archive and send it to anybody you like. If you like your 
style to be added into skin gallery on http://www.pokerth.net please send the archive to webmaster@pokerth.net. We cannot promise that 
every style will be added, but if everything works fine and the legal issues are also clear there should be no problem. 



2009 by Felix Hammer 
