FS2004 SplashScreens

The two links above will take you to pages showing some start up screens for FS2002 and FS2004. If you would like a copy of these please drop me an email.

How to make them

Having seen some excellent FS startup splash screens I thought I'd have a try myself. It's good fun and anything you do will look better than the default drawing.

You need a couple of tools to make an FS splash screen. First you must have a paint program that works in layers e.g. PSP or PhotoShop. Second is the ImageTool utility that comes with FS2002/4 (it's on the CD). Here's how to make them.

1. Take a screenshot in FS - or use any aviation image you like - and load it in your paint program.

2. Reduce the image to exactly 800 x 600 format. This is essential.

3. Next open the FS logo file. For FS2004 there are several logo files available ready for use from the usual sites.

4. Copy the logo bitmap and paste it over your screenshot as a new layer. The lettering should float over the picture.

5. Save the file and close your paint program.

6. Start ImageTool (you can find this on your FS CD) and open up the file again.

7. Click on Image then Format and then select 16 Bit (555), then Save. When you do this the BMP shrinks from 1.4MB to 936KB - a useful crosscheck that it has worked.

If you only wish to replace the default screen with one image save your file as dlgsplash.bmp. Copy this to the UIRES folder in FS2004 - but BACKUP THE ORIGINAL FILE FIRST!

If you wish to use several screenshots you will need a randomiser program. In this case follow the instructions that come with the program.

A tip - when you take the screenshot remember that the Flight Sim lettering takes up almost the top quarter of the screen and you will lose a lot of detail behind it. When you crop your picture to 800 x 600 crop it so the aircraft is towards the bottom of the selected area - as shown below.