Create your own themes with BlackBerry Theme Studio
by Joe Pawlikowski on November 19, 2009
As mentioned in yesterday’s theme review post, RIM recently released BlackBerry Theme Studio, an application which allows anyone to create new BlackBerry themes. While we’ll always appreciate the work of the professional designers who create vibrant premium themes, we also know that many people have an idea for the perfect theme in their heads. I know I do. There have been a few themes that have come close to that, but none have been the perfect Joe Theme. If you’ve been longing for your own perfect theme, and you have some time on your hands, you can now give it a try. The first step is to download BlackBerry Theme Studio 5.0. You can do this at http://www.blackberry.com/themestudio. Unfortunately, if you’re a Mac user, you get the old school treatment from RIM. You’ll need Windows XP Professional or Vista to run Theme Studio, which is a shame for some of us. It doesn’t mention anything about Windows 7, but if it’s compatible someone please let me know. Otherwise the requirements are pretty straight forward. You’ll need BlackBerry OS version 4.2.2 or higher.
Theme creation is a long process. Thankfully, the folks at Inside BlackBerry have taken the time to write out a full tutorial. Check out Part 1, where they go over the different elements of theme design. This covers aspects like creating the different screens — home screen, applications menu, lock screen, incoming call screen, etc. — and how they work within Theme Studio. Once you’re familiar with theme creation, read
Part 2, which goes step-by-step through the creation process. After reading both of these articles, you should be well on your way to creating the perfect theme for you. And, while you’re at it, if you want to create the perfect theme for me (since I’m a Mac user), all I need is a two-row bottom dock, Today section for messages, and access to Clock, Profiles, Manage Connections, and Options through the home screen icons (signal, battery, time, etc.). Anyone up for it?
About the Author
Joe Pawlikowski is the Senior Editor at MobileMoo.com and has been covering the mobile industry full time since 2007. When he's not writing about the tech scene, he can be found discussing his personal love - baseball (and more specifically the New York Yankees) as well as writing on his personal blog.
21 comments… read them below or add one
The fact that mac users are screwed out of this privilege makes me an angry little bear! Rawr!
I’ll make your theme for you. E-mail me with your specific requirements and I’ll have it ready for you by tomorrow.
You did this for me (or because of me) didn’t you ;)
I use BB Theme studio just fine on Windows 7 ultimate.
Theme Studio installed fine on Windows 7 32bit for me through VMware Fusion 3.0.
Thanks for the article – it pointed me in the right direction.
well i wanted something very cool with skulls, new moon pics, new icons Colorfull…
I don’t really feel bad for Mac users. Apple has the iPhone. RIM is only trying to monopolize what they can. At least Blackberry is available for all major wireless companies, unlike the iPhone.
I wanted to see if someone knew where i can find a curious george theme for my blackberry tour…
The current version worked on windows 7 basic for although some of the simulators wants to kinda stick when trying to close out sometime. When exiting out. Haven’t tried to run it in compat. mode yet. Thinking that would clear that up.
Also had to try a couple of time to get theme to load to simulator from t-studio. BB curve 8330 os. V5.o
How do you get new icons to work ?
GRR I want it on my mac. I think its ridiculous. Cause Iphone has made theirs a multi-compatible phone.. I think that Blackberry should too
It wont let me install it. It keeps telling me to find another place to extract the files, but no mater where I put it.. It wont work! Please someone help me!
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Wouldn’t install for me on Windows 7 64-bit =(
how do i create themes for devices with rim os 4.1 ? i can’t find cdk 4.1 help pls
Ill download this today, I’m only 12 but I know a lot about computers, can you put your themes on BB app world or do you need a contract of a buisness deal of some sort?
I just what a new theme !!
I want a theme for my 8310. A nice theme with skulls , flames … Can any one help me ?
Hi Blackberry theme studio 6 is compatible with windows 7
There is agood site to bb themes and all soft were called. BB stars
v6.0 works on XP home edition (or at least thats what i’m running).No problems so far from it. And thanks for the links!!!
I would like a theme that doesn’t change the password locked screen. I would like it to have icons out of blackberry 6. The font out of colours of life. But the colour of the font purple. And the hightlight of things colour should be aqua.