Loading screen - your own picture in Zero Hour
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The Loading screen tab of the studio replaces the faction background that Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour shows while a skirmish or online game loads with a picture of your choice. You crop it, shape it for widescreen and check it against the game's text on a 16:9 preview. It does not need Control Bar Pro.
What the loading screen part changes
When a match loads, Zero Hour draws a faction background with the general's name, portrait and features, the map, and a row per player (rank, name, army, win/loss and progress). Generals Style changes only the background picture. All of that game text still appears on top.
You choose which loading screens use your picture:
- USA
- China (with Boss)
- GLA
- Observer
All four are on by default. Turn off any you want to keep as the original.
How to add your own loading screen picture
- Open the studio and go to the Loading screen tab.
- Click the empty preview to choose a picture, or drop one onto it.
- Crop it. The crop shape follows your widescreen setting: 16:9 when Made for widescreen (16:9) is on, 4:3 (800×600) when it is off. You can also rotate by 90° or use the whole picture.
- Choose a fit: Fill covers the whole screen, Fit inside shows the whole picture with bars, Stretch forces it to the screen shape.
- Use Zoom and Move left / right, Move up / down to frame the part you want.
- Set Darken (keeps the game text readable). It starts at 20% and goes up to 80%.
- Turn on Show where the game draws its text to see where the name, portrait, map and player rows land, and keep faces and logos clear of them.
- Tick the factions under Use it for, then save your design.
Pictures can be JPG, PNG, WebP or GIF. The studio shows the current upload size limit next to the button. A new picture may be checked before it can be used in an installer.
How widescreen shaping works
Zero Hour builds its loading screen on a 4:3 area of 800×600 and stretches it to fill the screen. On a 16:9 monitor that stretch makes people look wide and circles look like ovals.
Made for widescreen (16:9) fixes that in advance. The studio lays your picture out on a 1600×900 (16:9) canvas, then squeezes it into the 800×600 area. When the game stretches it back across your wide screen, it comes out with the right proportions. The preview is shown in 16:9, so what you see is what you get on a widescreen monitor.
If you play on a 4:3 or 5:4 screen, turn the option off. The picture is then laid out directly on 800×600.
What picture size to use
| Setting | Canvas the studio uses | Good picture to upload |
|---|---|---|
| Made for widescreen (16:9) on | 1600×900 | A 16:9 picture of 1600×900 or larger, for example 1920×1080 |
| Made for widescreen off | 800×600 | A 4:3 picture of 800×600 or larger |
A smaller picture still works, but it is enlarged and can look soft. A much larger one is fine; the crop and zoom let you pick the part you want. Very tiny pictures (under 16 pixels on a side) are not accepted.
On your PC, the installer writes the final picture into the game's own loading-screen files, at the size and format the game expects, as new loose files next to your game data. It does not open or repack the game's archives for this, and "Restore my original files" removes them again. The installer guide explains backups and restore.
Tips for a great loading screen
- Know where the text goes. The general's name runs across the top, the portrait sits on the left, the features in the middle, the map on the right and the player rows across the lower middle. The bottom of the screen stays clear, so it is a good place for a logo or a face.
- Raise Darken for bright pictures. 20 to 40% usually keeps the white game text easy to read.
- Pick one picture per mood, or match the colours of your control bar.
- Use Fill for photos and wallpapers, and Fit inside for logos that must not be cut.
- If a picture looks squashed in the game, check that the widescreen option matches your screen.
To install it, press Make my installer and tick Loading screen. See plans for what each plan includes, and troubleshooting if the old background still shows.
Frequently asked questions
Does a custom loading screen cause a mismatch online?
No. It is only a picture, not a game rule, so it does not affect online matches. Other players see their own loading screens.
Do I need Control Bar Pro for the loading screen?
No. Loading screens, hotkeys and Tab shortcuts work without Control Bar Pro. Only the control bar style needs it.
Which loading screens change?
The faction backgrounds shown while a skirmish, LAN or online game loads, for the factions you tick: USA, China (with Boss), GLA and Observer.
Can I use a different picture for each faction?
One design has one loading-screen picture. You choose which factions use it, so you can leave the others as the original.
How do I go back to the original loading screen?
Open Generals Style from the Start menu and choose "Restore my original files". The loading-screen files it added are removed and the game uses its own pictures again.
Make Zero Hour look and play your way
Design your control bar, loading screen, hotkeys and maps pack in the studio, then install it with one click.