Animated Game Background Images in LaunchBox's Main View - How To

[JoeViking245]

To show a games Background Image in LaunchBox's main view, 

• Go to 
  • Tools
  • Options
  • Visuals
    • Background
    • Check the Box "Use Game Background Images"

 

To show a games animated Background Image (i.e. gameName.gif)  Using the Default Theme as an example...

1. Enable Game Background Image as shown above.
   • Note: Blur Amount has no effect on animated gifs. But the Fade Amount does.
2. Add animated gifs to your games as Background Images.  (saving as 'Fanart - Background' works well)
   • You will need to find (create?) your own images.  Animated gifs are not available from the LaunchBox Database (nor EmuMovies??)
3. In Windows Explorer, make a copy of the folder ..\LaunchBox\LBThemes\Default\
   1. i.e.  D:\LaunchBox\LBThemes\Default - Copy\
4. In this 'new' folder, navigate to the Views subfolder and open "ContentBackgroundView.xaml" using any text editor.
5. In the declarations, add

6. xmlns:gif="clr-namespace:WpfAnimatedGif;assembly=Unbroken.LaunchBox.Windows"

7. On the line beginning with <Image change Name="Image" to Name="Image2"
8. On the next line, after "HighQuality" add a space and then insert

9. gif:ImageBehavior.AnimatedSource="{Binding ImagePath}"

10. Save and close.
11. In LaunchBox, go to Tools - Options - Visuals - Main Window Theme
    • Set the Theme: to the one you just copied (created) / saved  (Default - Copy)
12. Click OK to save this option and restart LaunchBox

 

ContentBackgroundView.xaml After making the above changes: