Custom Splash Screen, Background and Model Images for T16 / TX16S / T18

by Oscar

To take advantage of the big beautiful color screen in the TX16S, T18 and T16 radios, you should upload personalised startup logo, background and model images. In this tutorial I will show you the steps how to setup custom splash screen as well as background and model images.

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The RadioMaster TX16S (review) is currently my new everyday radio, you can get it from:


Image Size/Format Requirement

Splash Screen:

  • Path: /IMAGE/splash.png
  • Dimensions: 480×272 px

Background Image:

  • Path: /THEMES/DEFAULT/background.png
  • Dimensions: 480×272 px

Model Images:

  • Path: /IMAGE/******.png (image name max 6 characters)
  • Dimensions: 192×114 px

Downloads

I have a folder full of images you can download, https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1K-rlJuF6ITKTlGCY536bvWW4xn3A5S5H?usp=sharing

Splash Screen, Background and Model Images Explained

The Splash screen is basically the image that appear when you power on the radio. You can change how long it stays on before moving to the home screen in the system settings.

Background image is displayed in the background of the home screen.

Model images are the icon/logo you want to assigned to a model profile.

Personally I like to use the logos of radio protocol instead of the actual images of my models, because I use the same model profile for all the models of that particular protocol. That way is just easier to manage for me, because I have way too many models :)

Do you like the customized interface color and layout? You can get creative and create your own style following this guide.

How to Put Images in Radio

  1. Choose a image in my folder, or search on Google (images.google.com)
    1. Make sure the image has the required dimension and file format (480×272, PNG), if not you have to first edit it
    2. Open the image in your favourite image editor (for example, Gimp or Photoshop)
    3. Resize/crop the image to 480×272 px
    4. Save the image in PNG format
  2. Rename the image file to splash.png / background.png
  3. Lastly, place the image file in the required directory on the SD card inside the radio
    1. For Splash.png = > /IMAGE/
    2. For Background => /THEMES/DEFAULT/
  4. Optionally, it’s best to compress the images, the smaller the image, the faster it loads. There are a ton of image compressors online, just google “png file compressor”

Splash image and background image are interchangeable since the image sizes are the same.

There are two ways to access the SD card inside an OpenTX radio:

  1. Take SD card out of the radio and insert it to your computer
  2. Or, connect the radio with a USB cable. But first you have to enter bootloader mode

Splash / Background Image Not Showing?

If your image doesn’t work, try to open both the original image file from the radio and your new image, then copy your image and overwrite the original image. Save it and copy it back to the radio.

Also try to compress the images to similar size as the original file.

Setting Custom Model Images

  1. Choose a image in my folder, or search on Google (images.google.com). Make sure the image has the required dimension and file format (192×114, PNG), if not you have to edit it
  2. Rename the image file anything you like, but make sure the filename doesn’t exceed 6 characters
  3. Place the image file in the IMAGE folder (same folder as background.png)
  4. Finally go to Model Settings in the radio, and select Model Image (under Model Name)

Edit History

  • Dec 2019 – Guide created
  • Jun 2021 – Updated instructions

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8 comments

Yaron Shkop 2nd December 2022 - 6:10 am

You say you use the same model for all the models that share that same radio protocol but there might be changes in the endpoints of the channels, even in the same protocol. Probably minor changes in the rx.
I wonder if you just ignore such cases or do I miss something

Reply
Oscar 2nd December 2022 - 4:17 pm

I have not encountered such issues with my models. But if you notice this then you can just duplicate a profile that that specific model that requires endpoint adjustments.

Reply
Will 6th May 2022 - 7:26 pm

Image names CAN exceed 6 characters for TX16S, and can include spaces and special characters.

Reply
Mark Johnston 21st August 2021 - 9:43 am

On my TX16S the images are JPG not PNG and the sizes are 192px x 96px not 114.

Reply
EarthBounce aka Nick 18th August 2021 - 4:25 pm

“doesn’t exceed 6 characters?” You have .png’s images in your repo that have longer filenames than 6. tbs-tracer.png is 10 characters and works on my TX16S. Where is the 6 character limit coming from? I believe the old days of x9d, supported 10 characters (no spaces allowed).

Thank you for all your hard work Oscar!

Reply
Mr Jonathan Wise 18th July 2020 - 8:30 am

No image in images/ called splash? using my image viewer as well its not visible but opentx plays when I start the radio. So I put my own in there but still the opentx screen on start up, I followed painlesses and others guide to the letter.

Reply
Chris Hollman 3rd June 2020 - 8:41 pm

Yes, custom firmware. OpenTX is open source, you can download the firmware and modify and compile it yourself.

Reply
snakeye fpv 29th December 2019 - 6:40 pm

Is there a way to get animated splashscrees, while powering on or off?!

Reply