[FM15 Guide] How To Increase Transparency of Screens

[michaeltmurrayuk]

Football Manager 2015 Guide - How To Increase the Transparency of Screens

NOTE: THIS GUIDE APPLIES TO 2015 FULL MODE SKINS NOT FMC SKINS.

This is a simple guide to tell you how to increase the transparency of various screens in Football Manager 2015, to make it easier to see your background images or to see the pitch on the match screens better with various widgets open.

Before you start you will need a couple of things;

- If you are using the Default skins, then first download the Base Skins as any changes you make will need to be applied to them rather than the default skins, if you are using a downloaded skin then you should be able to edit that skin directly.

- You will need an image editing program that can handle transparent png files, a free option is paint.net, which I'll be using in this guide.

- You will need to have downloaded the Resource Archiver for Football Manager, this is obtained from the Library -> Tools menu in Steam. You will need to have used this tool to extract the contents of the skins.fmf file located in the data folder of where you installed Football Manager 2015. If you do not know how to extract files then read this: [FM2015 Guide] How to Extract Default Files & Understanding File Structure

- Have a copy of the Background image you are using in FM, if you are using changing background images pick an image.

1. First we need to copy various files that you extracted from the skins.fmf file to the graphics folder of the Base Skin (or the skin you are using). Which files you need to copy over depends on what parts of the skin you want more transparent:

The General Skin Background Overlay is located in this folder: \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\custom\background\

The Match Screen Background Overlay is located here: \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\custom\match\background\

The Match Widgets are Located here: \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\custom\match\widgets\

The Match Feed Dropdown is located here: \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\popup\match\

The Match Between Highlights Panel is located here: \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\custom\match\between highlights\

You now need to copy the files from each (or the files that you want to edit) of those folders to the same location in the Base Skin (If you are using a custom skin that already has these files present you don't need to both copying them over).

For example to edit the General Skin Background Overlay you would copy the contents of the \skins\fm-widgets\graphics\boxes\custom\background\ folder into the following location:

\skins\base_dark2015\graphics\boxes\custom\background\

You will need to create any folders or sub-folders that don't already exist within the Base Skins folders, when done the graphics folder of your Base Skin should look something like this:

2. Next you need to determine the level of Opacity/Transparency you want the images to have, if you already know you can skip to the next step, if you are not sure the best method is to open a copy of your choosen Background image in Paint.net.

Then from the Layer Menu select Add New Layer. With the new layer selected in the layers panel select the fill tool and fill the new layer (you can adjust the RGB of this new layer to match the default in game overlay colour which is red="56" green="62" blue="82").

Now from the Layers -> Layer Properties Option adjust the Opacity of the new layer until it is at a level you are happy with. Make a note of this value.

3. With the level of Opacity now known, you can edit the actual files. If not already open, open the folder that contains the images you have copied over for example open the \skins\base_dark2015\graphics\boxes\custom\background\ folder and inside you should see a couple of files:

The file we care about inside here is the paper.png file (if you are planning on releasing the finished files, or use the zoom in modes you'll also want to edit the paper@2x.png file as this is the image used when zoomed in). The red/blue colour of these images doesn't matter as they are now recoloured by the game so you don't need to mess around with the colour of the images.

Now open this file in paint.net and from the Layers -> Layer Properties Option adjust the Opacity level to your desired setting, once happy save the file. BUT DO NOT EXIT PAINT.NET OR CLOSE THE IMAGE FILE you need to keep the file open so you can adjust the opacity level further if need be.

4. With the first file saved load up Football Manager 2015, and if the skin cache is on turn it off and reload your skin (if you have been using the Default Skins before this then make sure you have switched to the Base Skin). Now check that the transparency on the screens you have edited is what you want, if it is move onto the next step.

If the Opacity level isn't correct go back to paint.net and adjust the opacity again and resave the file (if you closed the file from paint.net you will need to get the orginal file you extracted as the opacity level won't be directly editable if you reopen the edited file). When done, from Football Manager go into the Preferences menu and reload your skin and check the screen again, repeat until you are happy.

5. Now with the Opacity level set up how you want it is just a case of repeating the above steps for the rest of the images you need to adjust, However to save time you can just copy some of the edited images to another folder rather than having to edit all the images, for example you'll not that the background and match background images are just red squares, so for these you just need to edit one image and copy it to the over folder if you want both images to have the same opacity.

Once you have edited all the files you want and checked them in game you are done. What I would advise is to have a save game saved just before a match as some of the match screens can only be checked during a live match. You can also apply the guide to various other panels and files in the game if you wish.

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[minigod]

Thanks MMUK!

This has made stadium backgrounds on matchday actually usable

[Chicha_14]

Thanks MMUK!

This has made stadium backgrounds on matchday actually usable

Have you managed to get them working on just one screen like the split view?

michael tried to help me with it the other day but after I tried what he suggested the transparency happened to every single screen.

[minigod]

Seems not, tried these but cannot seem to get it to work as in previous versions.

[Chicha_14]

Seems not, tried these but cannot seem to get it to work as in previous versions.

I don't get why it can't be done because before the last Beta update they were showing.

[stevemc]

Seems not, tried these but cannot seem to get it to work as in previous versions.

I don't get why it can't be done because before the last Beta update they were showing.

This is something I'd be interested to know...

[stevemc]

Is there anyway to get the stadium background to show through on this split screen? Like in FM14.

Cheers

[michaeltmurrayuk]

in the middle box my 'customise' button at the bottom keeps changing size. In your screen its a big rectangle, sometimes in my game its a small button. How can I sort this Michael?

Not sure what is causing it, haven't touched the match stats file and looking at the coding it's the same as FM14 so it just seems to be a bug with the game, looks like the button is set to autosize all in the match stats floating.xml file, though it has the settings of height="30" auto_size="horizontal" in the match stats.xml file.

It's possible changing the button code in the floating file to match the button code from the other file may fix it.

[michaeltmurrayuk]

Is there anyway to get the stadium background to show through on this split screen? Like in FM14.

Cheers

Altering the match background files as per the opening post should work.

[stevemc]

Altering the match background files as per the opening post should work.

Wouldn't that just show through the background that is currently there though? (Think its just the standard FM background pic).

[michaeltmurrayuk]

If stadium backgrounds aren't displaying even with a correctly installed backgrounds pack then you are best raising the issue in the bugs forum as it isn't a setting that can be modified by skinning if the backgrounds are working elsewhere.

[stevemc]

If stadium backgrounds aren't displaying even with a correctly installed backgrounds pack then you are best raising the issue in the bugs forum as it isn't a setting that can be modified by skinning if the backgrounds are working elsewhere.

I think that's the problem, the backgrounds show as normal everywhere, just not on this page.

[wkdsoul]

I think that's the problem, the backgrounds show as normal everywhere, just not on this page.

If thats the post match overview, the 3D pitch is supposed to show at the end of the game, it wont have a background pic..

[stevemc]

If thats the post match overview, the 3D pitch is supposed to show at the end of the game, it wont have a background pic..

Yes it is.

In FM14, it used to show the stadium background on the stadium you were playing at. Has that been removed for FM15 and replaced with the 3D pitch?

EDIT:

^ That's how it worked in FM14.

[wkdsoul]

Yeah i think so, usually shows the stadium rotation view post match, I'll check later.

[stevemc]

That sucks if its been removed; what would be the point of that?

[wkdsoul]

That sucks if its been removed; what would be the point of that?

I'll check if its only on post match that you've just watched and not gone back to later.. view highlights of the game and see if you get hte stadium at the back..

[stevemc]

I've set my own thread up anyway, so hopefully someone can help:

http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php/409386-Background-not-showing-on-Match-Screen

[stevemc]

It looks like as soon as you get to the match screen, the default FM background appears...

I want to replace that with my own background ideally.

[Butschi]

I tried it, but it doesn't work. I took both paper files from the boxes/custom/background folder (Tried it with Andromeda and Scorpio Skin) and loaded them in Photoshop, reduced the opacity to 30% and saved them.

Anything wrong?

[michaeltmurrayuk]

Depends on the skin, in custom skins the skinner may have changed things if you have a look in the client object browser.xml file near the top should be a line that looks like this:

<!-- background box - covers entire screen -->

<widget class="bordered_box" appearance="boxes/custom/background/paper" />

If that appearance location is different then you will need to edit the actual location listed within the file.

Some skins also include a background and opacity selecter accessed ingame if so the files will be controlled elsewhere but you should be able to change the opacity in game.

If none of that applies make sure you have reloaded the skin after changing the graphics and also make sure you are saving them correctly in photoshop so the opacity level is retained (use the save for web option).

[Butschi]

What if I only want to decrease the opacity of the box on the player profile page (the one behind the player picture)? Where can I fond this one? Any idea?

[michaeltmurrayuk]

It depends on which profile screen you mean, for the Overview -> Attributes one it is controled by the contents of the boxes\bordered\standard folder, whilst the Overview -> Profile screen is controlled by the contents of the boxes\subsection\standard folder by default.

However both of these files also control the appearance of the other boxes that look like them.

Though you should be able to assign them to custom graphics by first copying the contents of the bordered or subsection folders depending on which screen you want to edit and then give the copied folders a custom name (i.e. profile) - note you only want to rename the copied bordered or subsection folder, the subfolders need to keep their orignal names, though the only graphic files you need to edit should be found in the standard subfolder.

Then for the Attribute screen you need to locate this line in the player profile xml file:

<!-- Personal Details -->

<container class="bordered_box" id="pdet" file="player profile personal details" />

And change the bold bordered text to match your renamed folder name (i.e. change bordered_box to read profile_box)

If its the Overview screen you need to locate this line in player personal details panel xml file:

<container class="subsection_box">

<translation id="title" translation_id="247436" type="use" value="Personal Details" />

And change the bold subsection text to match your renamed folder name (i.e. change subsection_box to read profile_box).

If you are editing a custom skin that has already changed these lines then you just need to edit the graphics shown in the edited files for the skin.

[Butschi]

It depends on which profile screen you mean, for the Overview -> Attributes one it is controled by the contents of the boxes\bordered\standard folder, whilst the Overview -> Profile screen is controlled by the contents of the boxes\subsection\standard folder by default.

However both of these files also control the appearance of the other boxes that look like them.

Though you should be able to assign them to custom graphics by first copying the contents of the bordered or subsection folders depending on which screen you want to edit and then give the copied folders a custom name (i.e. profile) - note you only want to rename the copied bordered or subsection folder, the subfolders need to keep their orignal names, though the only graphic files you need to edit should be found in the standard subfolder.

Then for the Attribute screen you need to locate this line in the player profile xml file:

<!-- Personal Details -->

<container class="bordered_box" id="pdet" file="player profile personal details" />

And change the bold bordered text to match your renamed folder name (i.e. change bordered_box to read profile_box)

If its the Overview screen you need to locate this line in player personal details panel xml file:

<container class="subsection_box">

<translation id="title" translation_id="247436" type="use" value="Personal Details" />

And change the bold subsection text to match your renamed folder name (i.e. change subsection_box to read profile_box).

If you are editing a custom skin that has already changed these lines then you just need to edit the graphics shown in the edited files for the skin.

Thank you a lot. It worked :-)

[ak71]

Hi, Mr Michael Murray.

I'm in need of help.

Wish to increase the opacity of the widget, but didn't work on the game.  Been trying to follow the guide, but no luck.  Not too sure where it went wrong.

Could you kindly assist me.  Attached are screenshots of widget i'm trying to work on and the folder i keep my skin.

Thank you.

[HaraldNatvik]

I am just not good enough at mods/skins to do this - but I'd so love a skin with a lot more opacity  in the overview split screen during matches. It's just too dark to see the backgrounds.

I've downloaded a few skins and it seems that none of them have enough opacity. At the moment I'm using the WannachupFm17 skin and it has great opacity when you look at the squad, but during the matches - there's little.

[ak71]

On 06/11/2016 at 15:28, ak71 said:

Hi, Mr Michael Murray.

I'm in need of help.

Wish to increase the opacity of the widget, but didn't work on the game.  Been trying to follow the guide, but no luck.  Not too sure where it went wrong.

Could you kindly assist me.  Attached are screenshots of widget i'm trying to work on and the folder i keep my skin.

Thank you.

 

 

Hi, Mr Michael Murray.

Problem finally resolved.  Instead of naming it base_dark2017, i've to name it as fm-widgets.  My bad.  

Thank you.