With the release of Dark Mode, I was interested to see how I could change the actual resources of the Pro Tools interface. Long story short, yes I found a way. The same method can be used for dark mode. In essence, you can make an entirely new skin. There are around 5000 assets (pngs) consisted in each skin. At the moment, the process is not user friendly and I might write a python script to extract and replace but might not happen anytime soon.

ALSO, in the folder: "Avid\Pro Tools\Skins\Dark" there is PTColors.txt, it has numbers that means (Red, Green, Blue, Alpha) and other paremeters for further customization, I haven't messed around with Dark Mode yet but its the same process to modify as classic. Anyway, here are samples of classic with edited transport skins (THESE ARE NOT MEANT TO LOOK NICE, they are just there to show you modifying can be done):



Orange Transport Edition

Rainbow Sherbert edition:

 

Oooohhhh, I've been trying to figure out how to do this in 12.5 , any way you could give me the abridged version?......I would appreciate it.......

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2020

Video tutorial coming soon, hope some can make some nice looking skins! And yes the same method works on 12.5. Anyway, I wrote a python script succesfully to extract all images. I havent written a script to put edited images back into the UI archive yet BUT for now you will ahve to do it manually be changing some values in a hex editor (it's not too difficult, you just have to be careful and of course have a backup).

Heres an image for now with my script that pulled all 5076 assets from the dark skin (this works with either skin). video tutorial to come

 

Yass Lord... I like this right here! I'm very excited about the work.

 

What is the name of the file you pulled these from and what folder is it in?

 

edit: I solved the problem, tutorial recording in progress.

 

Last edited: Nov 20, 2020

Here is a tutorial:

links expired edit

 

Last edited: Jul 7, 2021

Thank you anon, this is great work, if you figure out a script for putting the images back in the resource files, please upload it, I might try the hex editor, I've never worked with hex code, so it would be a new venture for me....thanks again

 

Great tutorial by the way

 

no worries, if i have some time ill try to write a script, the concept isnt too hard but getting it to work will take a little bit of time. and yes hex editors are a bit intimidating just from the get go, but it literally is just like a word document you are copying and pasting. hopefully it is easy to understand in the video, thanks!

 

Good work anon.
One of the drawbacks of working in PT's is not having themes\skins but hopefully someone will figure out how to pull the resources from the new dark theme. It has to be easier on the eyes.

 

Thank you. Also it is already possible to do this with the dark theme as well, it will just be the same method but instead you take the files from here: "C:\Program Files\Avid\Pro Tools\Skins\Dark"

 

Thanks bro.
Unfortunately i'm not confident enough to mess with the resources but thanks for the info and tutorial.

 

I tried to go by your video, looking at the image you edited, I can't find it in the pro tools IDB that I open

 

I did however figure out a neat trick for those using the Audioutopia 12.5, who want the dark theme, I downloaded the 2020.11 installer, if you have the "show hidden folders and files" option checked in folder options in control panel, you will see the pro tools program folder when you extract the installer, I went in and found the dark theme folder and copied all the IDB and PTColors files and overwrote the ones in my system PT folder, and.....now I have the dark theme in 12.5, so far no issues to speak of......FYI

 

Now, if I can figure out where to change the text from black to white

 

I did the same thing Joe and it works without issue (so far)
I have the same problem with the text although i think it has something to do with that PT color text file, i'm just not sure how to change it. I'm sure someone smarter can figure it out though.

 

try to use Resource Hacker it will be more easy way (I never try but you can try it)
here a download link Here

 

Thanks Smoker. I'll leave it to someone else to try to figure out. I'm kind of limited when it comes to computer skills.

 

I have Resource Hacker, the problem I'm having is finding the config file that dictates the text color, if I stumble across it, I'll let you guys know where it is and the name of it, there are some other parts of the dark theme that I've noticed aren't present when you copy over the files in pt12, they must be part of a config file that I'm missing somewhere, I'll keep you guys updated on my progress