Customize the boot loader splash screen
Customize the syslinux splash screen
Create your image with gimp, 640x400. Convert the image to 14 indexed colors (Image > Mode > Indexed). Save as ppm.
For LH_BOOTLOADER="syslinux"
$ ppmtolss16 '#d0d0d0=7' < splash.ppm > splash.rle $ cp splash.rle config/binary_syslinux/splash.rle
Also set LH_SYSLINUX_SPLASH="config/binary_syslinux/splash.rle"
The syslinux package provides 'ppmtolss16'.
Customize the grub splash screen
For LH_BOOTLOADER="grub"
$ ppmtoxpm < splash.ppm > splash.xpm && gzip splash.xpm $ cp splash.xpm.gz config/binary_grub/splash.xpm.gz
Also set LH_GRUB_SPLASH="config/binary_grub/splash.xpm.gz" in config/binary.
The netpbm package provides 'ppmtoxpm'.
Customize the startup splash screen
Custom startup splash screen using usplash
Study usplash-theme-webconverger from http://webconverger.com/debian/stable/ which is based on Otavio's http://ossystems.com.br/ work.
Usplash is a pain. Use the latest one, even on etch.
Use Inkscape to edit the master SVG.
Custom startup splash screen using splashy
Your config/binary should look begin like:
LH_BOOTAPPEND_LIVE="quiet splash vga=792"
You probably need to backport splashy from the latest git. Splashy uses directfb which is a better approach than usplash. Still it has some rough edges...
You do not need to backport splashy-themes for your own splash artwork. When backporting splashy just copy in your own graphic to themes/default/background.png and build.
Customize the login manager artwork
Custom gdm theme
Custom kdm theme
In order to have a custom KDM theme, perform a chroot after having 'kdm' package installed, copy your theme directory to '/usr/share/apps/kdm/themes/', then edit the following file: /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc In section [X-*-Greeter], you should have two entries:
Theme=/usr/share/apps/kdm/themes/Your_Theme UseTheme=True
Customize the desktop artwork
Customize the CD/DVD and case artwork
Other resources
Customize Usplash in Debian blog article by John Madden 2007-05-31
Usplash on Debian Debian user forums discussion 2006-12-30