SageTV 7 Menu Transparency?

[HelenWeathers]

Is there a way to make the menu overlays less transparent in SageTV 7?

The background shows through a bit too much on my TV when I'm viewing the Program Guide etc.

[sportera]

Just goes to show how we all have different perspectives. I really like the transparencies in v7. And I'm on the other end, wishing I could make the guide just a little bit "more" transparent.

To each his own I guess. Maybe that should be on the list of SageMC functionalities that should be copied to v7.

[wado1971]

Originally Posted by HelenWeathers

Is there a way to make the menu overlays less transparent in SageTV 7?
The background shows through a bit too much on my TV when I'm viewing the Program Guide etc.

I agree - I had to increase the font size to compensate. My eyes must be getting old - but in my defense my screen in only 34".

Originally Posted by sportera

....Maybe that should be on the list of SageMC functionalities that should be copied to v7.

It's actually a standard Studio functionality which is quite easy to change. I expect it will be incorporated into the dynamic menu system (I have faith it's on it's way). If we don't see it soon I just may need to pop the hood so to speak.

Can anyone confirm DM is in progress? And if so, will transparency be a functionality?

[wado1971]

Well I opened the hood - Ctrl.Shift.F12

Changing the "Diffuse Color" to a dark black did the trick. I don't know how this will effect other items so tinker at your own risk. See the attached jpg for the changed items & result.

[HelenWeathers]

Originally Posted by wado1971

Well I opened the hood - Ctrl.Shift.F12.

Not being quite so adventurous as you, I went to Google Images and found a 16x9 image I liked with darker colors, renamed it to TVBackground.jpg and copied it to SageTV\SageTV\STVs\SageTV7\Themes\Standard SDTV. I also found a new background for SearchBackground.jpg.

I looked for images in the 250KB to 1MB range for good resolution.

I stopped SageTV service before copying in those files - restarted after.

[GKusnick]

You don't need to resort to Studio to fix this. It's all doable within the Theme system. To make your own theme, just create a directory under STVs\SageTV7\Themes called MyTheme (or whatever) and put in there whatever image files you like, using the same filenames as the images from the Standard theme that you want to replace. (You don't need to copy over the ones you want to keep.)

So for instance that semi-transparent panel background is called CenterBGWithBorder.png. If you put a different (presumably more opaque) image with that name in your theme directory, Sage will use that instead when you select your theme in the UI.

But if that's too confusing, I've uploaded a sample theme called Opaque Panel Theme that does exactly that. You'll find it under the Themes category in the V7 plugin manager; install it, then go into Detailed Setup > Advanced > Select the User Interface Theme to enable it.

[valnar]

Originally Posted by HelenWeathers

Is there a way to make the menu overlays less transparent in SageTV 7?

The background shows through a bit too much on my TV when I'm viewing the Program Guide etc.

I agree. That is the first thing I noticed and searched how to turn off. I don't need eye candy if I can't read the TV guide.

So short of replacing the theme, there is no way to make the background bitmap go away completely when viewing the guides & menus?

[bialio]

Originally Posted by valnar

I agree. That is the first thing I noticed and searched how to turn off. I don't need eye candy if I can't read the TV guide.

So short of replacing the theme, there is no way to make the background bitmap go away completely when viewing the guides & menus?

You can dig out Studio if you want to do that outside of the theme. No settings in UI or properties will get you this for free.

btl.

[valnar]

The Opaque Panel Theme was perfect. That worked well. Thank you GKusnick!

[Olias]

+1 for the Opaque Panel Theme.

The guide was just too washed out for me and the wife with the regular theme.
WAF just shot up a few notches and that's always a good thing!