Helium | Theme inspired by Steam

[darklinkpower]

Helium | Theme inspired by Steam

Description
                                                                                                                                                                             
Theme inspired by Steam for Playnite Desktop Mode.

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium

Feature requests and bug reports:
Create an issue on the theme GitHub repository after verifying it doesn't already exists.
Make sure to fill all the requested information when opening the issue.

I don't use the forums frequently so please use GitHub for requests and bug reports. You can join the Playnite discord where I am active if you have questions or need support

Theme goals
                                                                                                                                                                             

• Use the Steam client as inspiration to create a polished Playnite UI.
  
• Achieve a more modern and clean design with the chosen pallete and things like rounded corners in certain elements like the windows, borders, buttons and controls.
  
• Improve the user experience with small animations in certain parts.
  
• Change the aesthetic without affecting functionality.
  
• Polish certain parts of the UI to give a better user experience.
  
• Different aesthetic of other available themes available by default in Playnite and created by the community.
  
• Achieve features that are not available by default on Playnite via community extensions.
  

Installation
                                                                                                                                                                             
Option A. Download from the Addons browser in Playnite.
Option B. Click here to start the install process
Option C. Download the latest package from here and open it

Functionalities and features
                                                                                                                                                                             

• Full support for features available in the default Playnite Desktop themes
  
• Customization: Customization of certain aspects of the theme can be done via custom integration of the ThemeModifier extension.
  
• Achievements: via custom integration of the SuccessStory extension.
  
• HowLongToBeat data: via custom integration of the HowLongToBeat extension.
  
• Game statistics: via custom integration of the GameActivity extension.
  
• Duplicate copies handling: via custom integration of the DuplicateHider extension.
  
• Logos: Via Extra Metadata Loader extension.
  
• Videos: Via Extra Metadata Loader extension.
  

Screenshots
                                                                                                                                                                             

Settings in screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/jfC3TUY

[Splatoon]

Looks sharp, excited to give it a try when the stable 9.0 drops!

[ohkami]

Tested this week end, everything works without problem, including plugins (especially use of logos). So I switched to this theme for playnite9.
Thanks darklinkpower for the theme and your extensions.

[KimaRo]

Would love it if there was a button or something to swap the description with where genres, features, tags, categories etc. are and have those up where the description is instead.

[darklinkpower]

Would love it if there was a button or something to swap the description with where genres, features, tags, categories etc. are and have those up where the description is instead.

I've added a variable for use in the ThemeModifier extension to modify the description dock position to the right.

[KimaRo]

Would love it if there was a button or something to swap the description with where genres, features, tags, categories etc. are and have those up where the description is instead.

I've added a variable for use in the ThemeModifier extension to modify the description dock position to the right.

I meant more like this. https://i.imgur.com/E4O1WLX.png But having it on the right is better.
Then maybe have an option of it being a box like in the image and the other taking up the "page" so when you scroll, you scroll the whole page down with the description.

[breaksoon00008]

Hello, I want to install a theme for the first time. But I can't find the detailed installation video. It is very difficult to set up functions and features. Help me

ThemeModifier, Logo support, successStory, howLongToBeat, GameActivity, DuplicateHider, Extra Metadata Tools and Extra Metadata Tools Video

[Splatoon]

Hello, I want to install a theme for the first time. But I can't find the detailed installation video. It is very difficult to set up functions and features. Help me

ThemeModifier, Logo support, successStory, howLongToBeat, GameActivity, DuplicateHider, Extra Metadata Tools and Extra Metadata Tools Video

I just got 9.1 installed, once that drops I think you'll find it much easier as everything can be found in the new Add-Ons menu.

Also, love the theme!

[Splatoon]

One question (and possible request) regarding the background image. Given the layout of this Theme, it seems like background image space would be ideal for something roughly the size of a Steam Hero (1920x620), especially since I'm not a big fan of the blurred-out look. I got part of the way there by deselecting "Use game background as window background" however I can't seem to figure out how to get it to fit cleanly in that area without weird cropping/blurring/resizing. I don't know if this is even possible, but is there a way to lock the area below (above the detail bar) to make it into a a set 1920x620 area (or the equivalent ratio) when selecting the background image?

Also, sorry if I'm using the wrong terms, very much a learning as I go layman with this stuff.

[darklinkpower]

One question (and possible request) regarding the background image. Given the layout of this Theme, it seems like background image space would be ideal for something roughly the size of a Steam Hero (1920x620), especially since I'm not a big fan of the blurred-out look. I got part of the way there by deselecting "Use game background as window background" however I can't seem to figure out how to get it to fit cleanly in that area without weird cropping/blurring/resizing. I don't know if this is even possible, but is there a way to lock the area below (above the detail bar) to make it into a a set 1920x620 area (or the equivalent ratio) when selecting the background image?

Also, sorry if I'm using the wrong terms, very much a learning as I go layman with this stuff.

While I agree that the theme is ideal for images with Steam's Hero image, the theme was made with the objective that any image could be used, no matter the aspect ratio and display fine. You can change the height of the image background area in Settings -> Appearance -> Details View -> Vertical Spacing to game details.

Regarding the wanted change to not use the blur area, that's not possible. It would require some major changes to the theme layout. This version behaves like you want in that aspect, although it's very outdated and I'm not sure if it still works in the latest Playnite 9 version https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium/...s/tag/0.10

If you just want to remove the blur effect, you can delete these lines from your theme installation: https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium/...#L140-L147

[Splatoon]

First off, thanks for the detailed reply! I tried the trick to remove the blur effect and that worked like a charm! I also understand the rationale for wanting the background art to just be plug and go, I realize I'm in the minority of weirdos who gets big into the custom artwork. I think at this point it might just be a matter of tooling around with the installation and figuring things out for myself, but if you don't mind I did have one follow-up question. I messed with the height of the image background area as you suggested and it definitely helped with the key parts of the image getting cut-off, but out of curiosity I dropped in a small (300x300) image to see what would happen and it stretched to fit the background area. Is that something controlled by Playnite itself, or the theme? I'm wondering if I could use that information to get a better idea of the image sizes I want to avoid the awkward cropping, or possibly tweak it a bit to fit my own specific look.

[darklinkpower]

First off, thanks for the detailed reply! I tried the trick to remove the blur effect and that worked like a charm! I also understand the rationale for wanting the background art to just be plug and go, I realize I'm in the minority of weirdos who gets big into the custom artwork. I think at this point it might just be a matter of tooling around with the installation and figuring things out for myself, but if you don't mind I did have one follow-up question. I messed with the height of the image background area as you suggested and it definitely helped with the key parts of the image getting cut-off, but out of curiosity I dropped in a small (300x300) image to see what would happen and it stretched to fit the background area. Is that something controlled by Playnite itself, or the theme? I'm wondering if I could use that information to get a better idea of the image sizes I want to avoid the awkward cropping, or possibly tweak it a bit to fit my own specific look.

Scaling and alignment is handled by themes, you can change it here: https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium/...#L112-L113

If you have more questions you join the Playnite discord and we can help you there in any of the dedicated channels

[Splatoon]

First off, thanks for the detailed reply! I tried the trick to remove the blur effect and that worked like a charm! I also understand the rationale for wanting the background art to just be plug and go, I realize I'm in the minority of weirdos who gets big into the custom artwork. I think at this point it might just be a matter of tooling around with the installation and figuring things out for myself, but if you don't mind I did have one follow-up question. I messed with the height of the image background area as you suggested and it definitely helped with the key parts of the image getting cut-off, but out of curiosity I dropped in a small (300x300) image to see what would happen and it stretched to fit the background area. Is that something controlled by Playnite itself, or the theme? I'm wondering if I could use that information to get a better idea of the image sizes I want to avoid the awkward cropping, or possibly tweak it a bit to fit my own specific look.

Scaling and alignment is handled by themes, you can change it here: https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium/...#L112-L113

If you have more questions you join the Playnite discord and we can help you there in any of the dedicated channels

Will do, thanks again!

[SaltySamurai]

"Logos: download of logos for use in the theme via Extra Metadata Tools extension."

How do I get them to show up? I have the extension and downloaded some logo's they aren't showing up though.

---

Also, I noticed icons for cloud saves, controller support and trading cards among other on the right, how would I enable those?

[vannessqn]

The theme looks very nice but can you help me how to remove the faded play and edit buttons inside the game covers in grid view, it looks pretty unpleasantly to me

[darklinkpower]

"Logos: download of logos for use in the theme via Extra Metadata Tools extension."

How do I get them to show up? I have the extension and downloaded some logo's they aren't showing up though.

---

Also, I noticed icons for cloud saves, controller support and trading cards among other on the right, how would I enable those?

You need to install the "Extra Metadata Loader" extension to add viewing support for videos and logos.

For the icons, install and configure the "LibraryManagement" extension

---

The theme looks very nice but can you help me how to remove the faded play and edit buttons inside the game covers in grid view, it looks pretty unpleasantly to me

If you mean the transparency, you can increase the opacity value here in your theme installation https://github.com/darklinkpower/Helium/...e.xaml#L36

[SaltySamurai]

"Logos: download of logos for use in the theme via Extra Metadata Tools extension."

How do I get them to show up? I have the extension and downloaded some logo's they aren't showing up though.

---

Also, I noticed icons for cloud saves, controller support and trading cards among other on the right, how would I enable those?

You need to install the "Extra Metadata Loader" extension to add viewing support for videos and logos.

For the icons, install and configure the "LibraryManagement" extension

Awesome, I'd wanted something like the LibraryManagement plugin for a long time. Gonna have fun fiddling with that.

[SaltySamurai]

Got my logos in, are you going to improve the steam imitation over time? For one, in steam, you can move the logo to the left, right, centred, top or bottom (I have since found that you can do this globally, but still not individually as is sometimes needed). and the logo and background are scrolled at different speeds, the background moves up at half the rate of everything else, it adds a cool effect.

When your mouse is over the info section, you can't scroll, you have to move it away and then scroll.



The video player is something I've wanted for a while, so this is great! But I had a couple of problems with it. First is a technical one, if you click away from playnite the media player video vanishes, even if you were playing it. I don't know if this is the way you used the media player or if this is just the way their plugin works though.

The second is a few design choices that I find annoying, again, not sure if they were your choices or if this is just the way it is in their plugin.

The play and pause buttons are separate buttons rather than a single button toggle.

The mute button not being directly next to the volume control.

Clicking the volume control to snap the volume to that spot toggles mute too.

No full-screen button.

A button that seems to do nothing, looks like a page with a film camera inside.

[ariesps]

Any chance to add support on ThemeModifier Extension to remove game name on Grid View Detail Panel and also buttons inside Grid cover?
I have removed them editing files, but on every theme update they are back

Also, is there any way to vertically and horizontal center Extrametada logos only on Grid View Detail Panel?

Awesome theme by the way, thanks for your work.

[tozdem777]

Could you please share your appearance parameters such as;
Details View / Vertical spacing to game details

because I think I ruined mine.