How To Change Splash Screen in Ubuntu 10.04/10.10

You may be searching for hours or even days like myself on how to customize your boot splash on your newly installed Ubuntu because you want to have a personalized system.

If you don't like this:

Then we'll make a new one that you would be happy with.

The new Ubuntu uses Plymouth for its splash screen so it is not that simple to change unlike the previous releases.

Here is a simple way to do that thanks to the different forum and blog posts I've read while searching on how to change the splash screen on my Ubuntu 10.04 install.

First, if you only see a blank screen when your Ubuntu boots type this in a terminal:

echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | sudo tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

sudo update-initramfs -u

This will activate your splash screen.

Thanks to this thread:

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1470876

Now to change the image to the one of your liking:

In terminal type:

sudo mkdir /lib/plymouth/themes/simple

(This will create a folder labeled simple inside plymouth.)

sudo gedit /lib/plymouth/themes/simple/simple.script

Then copy and paste this:

#STARTING FROM THIS LINE:
simple_image = Image("simple.png");

screen_ratio = Window.GetHeight() / Window.GetWidth();

simple_image_ratio = simple_image.GetHeight() / simple_image.GetWidth();

if (screen_ratio < simple_image_ratio)

  {  

     scale_factor =  Window.GetHeight() / simple_image.GetHeight();

  }

else

  {

     scale_factor =  Window.GetWidth() / simple_image.GetWidth();

  }

scaled_simple_image = simple_image.Scale(simple_image.GetWidth()  * scale_factor,

                                         simple_image.GetHeight() * scale_factor);

simple_sprite = Sprite(scaled_simple_image); 

simple_sprite.SetX(Window.GetWidth()  / 2 - scaled_simple_image.GetWidth () / 2); 

simple_sprite.SetY(Window.GetHeight() / 2 - scaled_simple_image.GetHeight() / 2);

simple_sprite.SetZ(-10000); 

#END

Save and exit.

Next type in terminal:

sudo gedit /lib/plymouth/themes/simple/simple.plymouth

Then copy and paste this:

[Plymouth Theme]

Name=simple

Description=Personalized theme

ModuleName=script

[script]

ImageDir=/lib/plymouth/themes/simple

ScriptFile=/lib/plymouth/themes/simple/simple.script

Save and exit.

Then, in terminal type:

sudo nautilus

type your password

Navigate to File System>lib>plymouth>themes>simple

Copy and paste the picture you want to be on the splash screen.  Rename that picture to simple.png.

Now back in terminal:

sudo update-alternatives --install /lib/plymouth/themes/default.plymouth default.plymouth /lib/plymouth/themes/simple/simple.plymouth 100

sudo update-alternatives --config default.plymouth

choose simple.plymouth.

Still in terminal type:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot and you will see your new splash screen.

For an in-depth tutorial on how to customize plymouth read this blog:

http://brej.org/blog/?p=158

 Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.