Way to change tile color to all one color?

geeve420

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I have my background set on the start screen and have the accent color set to all grey. I was wondering if anyone has found a way to change the tile color to all one color, like grey, to match my background. Right now I have this really nice pic and it is over run with what looks like a unicorn came by and farted all over my start screen. I want a nice uniform look......not a peaceful background with a bag of skittles poured on it....



Thanks,

Geeve
 

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As far as I understand it, short of using Oblitile (free and rather awesome) to change tiles (some tiles aren't able to be changed via Oblitile) The color coding for icons is embedded in the icon. Since win 8 Microsoft has allowed developers to do the following:


  • Custom, full-bleed images
  • A specified background color
  • The option to show or hide the app name on the tile
  • Specified light or dark text color if you choose to show the app name

In the .xml files


VisualElements BackgroundColor="#FF0000" ShowNameOnSquare150x150Logo="on"
ForegroundText="light" Square150x150Logo="Assets\150x150Logo.png"



So in short, you would have to manipulate the code. This would seem a long and tiring process.

As you can see by this sneak peak at my start screen, via Photoshop I have created personalized tiles for my start screen and used Oblitile to do the rest.

OBLI.png
 

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Thanks Ants! I will look at oblitile and fire the ol' Gimp up and see what I can do..

Geeve
 

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So you know, with oblitile, you dont have to create your own tiles, it will search your computer (I assume for .xml info) and list the apps and installed software to the right of the app. You select an app or installed software start icon, direct Oblitile to do one of the following:

Use a custom icon (like what I did)
Or use the default icon then allow you to change aspects of it, like "the tile background colour" like what it is you were looking for

OBLI.png
 

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Thanks again! I was just playing with it. it is still going to be really time consuming vs just telling windows I want a specific color. but good find none the less, it gives me something to do at work today. Finding icons for some of the apps is going to be a challenge, but at least it gives me option to change them....

Geeve
 

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I cant argue, time consuming. (lol at work comment :) )

But, icons, I usually just:

google
term:
icon Gimp metro png
or
term:
logo Gimp metro png etc
 

My Computer

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I have been able to change most of my tiles to a single color using OlbyTile, however I don't really understand how to change the Microsoft Store Tiles. As you can see on the attached images, most tiles are cobalt blue except Windows Store, Application Calculator, Games, Netflix and some Weather tiles. Can I use the .xml procedure along with Gimp to make these match the others? OlbyTile won't let me change them. Appreciate any info you can give me re this. MS could have made it so much easier for the users, but they seem to choose not to. Thanks.

Update: Because of your post, antspants, I was able to figure out what to do to get all tiles to one color. Thanks for your post. Additional screenshot now showing all blue tiles.
 
Last edited:

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Hi Guys

Where is the .xml file at?

Jerry
 

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Jerry, I didn't use the xml file - just OblyTle and Paint.net (or Gimp) to make and replace the tile for each tile you want to change. Takes time but works well. OlbyTile evidently uses the xmi files but uses scripts to change them - much easier than trying to do it yourself manually. I am not technical enough to do xml....lol.
 
Last edited:

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Hi Guys

Where is the .xml file at?

Jerry

xml is the code style (mark up language) they use to write information into the icon file which is possibly a vbs file. I'm trying to learn more about it but being an idiot I am finding it hard, sorry Jerry if I confused you.

@ JohnBurns that looks great mate
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Dual Boot: Back to W7 and Ubuntu 12.04
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Dimension E521
    CPU
    AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 dual-core
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 9800 GT 1GB
    Sound Card
    M-Audio Mobile Pre USB External
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 1916W
    Screen Resolution
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    Hard Drives
    250 GB internal main, 500 GB internal backup, 1TB External
    PSU
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    Dell Stock
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    Antivirus
    MSE/Defender or whatever it's called now
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Thanks Guys will look in to both ways.

Jerry
 

My Computer

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    Sound Card
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    Screen Resolution
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    Hard Drives
    (1) M4 256 GB SSD (2) 500 GB 7200 RPM
    Keyboard
    Backlit
    Other Info
    System Manufacturer: Custom-built.
    OS: Win 7 Home Premium x64.
    Case: Rosewill R5.
    CPU: Intel I5 4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz.
    CPU Cooler: Cool Master Hyper 212 EVO.
    Motherboard: Asus Z87-A.
    Memory: Kingston Hyper 2x4 GB.
    Graphics Card: Intel HD Graphics 4600.
    Power Supply: Corsair TX750.
    Hard Drives: (1) Samsung 840 120 GB (2) Western Digital blue 500 GB 7200 RPM.
Thanks Guys will look in to both ways.

Jerry

Thats great, any suggestions as you learn would be appreciated Jerry, thanks!
 

My Computer

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    Motherboard
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    Memory
    Corsair 32GB (4x8GB) DDR3 CMY32GX3M4A1866C9 1866MH
    Graphics Card(s)
    2 x Crappy GeForce GT 640 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    I haz lollies ..
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x LG / 2 x Samsung 21 Inch
    Screen Resolution
    Crispy
    Hard Drives
    2 x Samsung 250GB SSD 840 EVO (OS / Other)
    1 x Kingston 120G HyperX SSD (Swap)
    3 x Seagate SATA III 2TB Barracuda (Data Drives)
    1 x Seagate SATA III 1TB Barracuda (Media to XBox)
    1 x W/Digital SATA II 300G VelociRaptor (Image)
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500w
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 White Full Tower
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D14
    Keyboard
    Logitech G19
    Mouse
    Logitech G700 / Logitech T650 Touchpad Thingy
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 2+ (Australian version ... lol)
    Browser
    All of them
    Antivirus
    Nortons IS
    Other Info
    This one time at band camp ...
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