This tutorial shows you on how to make a Loading Screen that will load on his own.
You can call this also a little mod , as it basically is one

You will need a program to convert pictures to .dds files
* If you have Photoshop, download and install this Plugin
* if not, download DXTBmp

1. Open your Graphic-edit Software (e.g. Photoshop) and open a new project with the size 1024x1024
2. Add 2 bars at the top and the bottom of the picture with the size 1024x128. ( It does not matter what color they have, you won't see them in TM )
3. Insert the picture you want as a loading screen and drag the layer underneath the bar-layers.
4. Transform and Strech your picture as long as it looks good (the preferred size is 1024x768, so you don't have to resize, just pull it in the center).
5. Save your file in .dds format and call it "LoadScreen.dds" and save it on your desktop for example

Here's a preview on how your project should look like *click*
If you have problems with the bars or your photoedit software doesn't support layers, you can also go to "TmUnitedForever\GameData\Stadium\Media\Texture\Image" and search for the file "LoadScreen.dds", which is the standard loading screen,including the bars.

6. Now go to "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Mod" and create a new folder called "Image" and paste your loadingscreen-file.
7a. Right-click the folder called "Image" and archive it as a .zip file right here and use the best compressionmethod to keep it as small as possible (normally the size should be around 342 KB now)
7b. You can also right-click on an empty space in your current folder and go to New -> .zip File . After creating and giving it a name, just drag the folder "Image" into your new created .zip folder

If you are missing some of those folders, create them. This also works for TMU-Environments, you just have to use a slightly different path.
Once you've created the .zip , you can delete the Image-folder.

8. Now start TM and edit a track. By holding ctrl, while opening the track, you will be redirected to the mood- and mod-windows. Select your .zip file in the second window to test if it works
9. Click on OK .If you did everything right, you will see your new loadingscreen
10. The last step that you have to do is to upload your .zip file to a webspace. If you don't have one, you will need to create a new one (fileden .com for beginners ; ohost.de and kilu.de for advanced users). Go to the mod-window again (step 8) and click on "select url" and paste the download-link of your .zip-file.

Note:
* Others won't see the LoadingScreen at the first time playing the track. It usually takes a couple of seconds to load, so they have to restart the track.
* The folders and files must have the exact name or it won't work (the .zip-file can have any name you want though ).
* Don't upload too much stuff on the same webspace when it has a limited bandwidth.
* If you use fileden, make sure you remove the tick at "Create [img]-Tags"

* If you still have questions, just ask, I might edit the tutorial then

Thanks for the tut mate!
I would just mention a few extras as I had a little problem with a few steps.
In step 8, to get the -mood window you click CTRL when selecting the track to open, then keep holding the CRTL button when selecting the mood. I failed to do so and wasnt getting the -mod window to appear.
Also you can have a .loc file next to the .zip with the url rather than entering the url directly in the -mod window.

Just a way I got around a few difficulties that someone else can use

Thanks again!

-TO

Good job guys. May i point out that the folder must be called Image and the file must be called LoadingScreen.dds with all capitals as shown. The name of de .zip file can be any name...
A .loc file is always the best option...

Edit: This should be a sticky...

K, as far as I'm aware, it works with LoadScreen.dds too So nice tutorial TB!

Although a few questions to avoid mistakes:

1) In step 6, you say: Now go to "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Mod" and create a new folder called "Image" and paste your loadingscreen-file. --> should this be a folder called "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Mod\Image" or a folder called "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Image" I did it with the first suggestion, but I'm just checking ^^

2) Do you need to zip the whole Imagefile, I mean the map itself or is it enough to zip the ddsfile alone?

3) Do you need a locfile somehow or isn't that needed?

D4v1d says...

K, as far as I'm aware, it works with LoadScreen.dds too So nice tutorial TB!

Although a few questions to avoid mistakes:

1) In step 6, you say: Now go to "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Mod" and create a new folder called "Image" and paste your loadingscreen-file. --> should this be a folder called "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Mod\Image" or a folder called "Your Documents\TrackMania\Skins\Stadium\Image" I did it with the first suggestion, but I'm just checking ^^

2) Do you need to zip the whole Imagefile, I mean the map itself or is it enough to zip the ddsfile alone?

3) Do you need a locfile somehow or isn't that needed?

1) you can actually create the image-folder wherever you want to, you will pack it in a zip file anyways and the image-folder can be removed then
2) the dds file
3) its not needed, you can insert the url in the mod-select window

Aight thx for the answer TB

Perfect tut m8
Tried it and it worked
Next tracks will have a custom loading screen.
It was a bit hard to keep the quality though
Took a lotta tries before I finally had a reasonable screen

wow
great tutorial TimeBreaker

another great job from you
hmm, the only custom loading screen that I knew untill now was from Baetis Rhodani

great tut, sticky that one

Sticky for sure, I agree!