The image must be be 800 x 600 and it must be a jpg file.
When saving an image as a jpg file be careful not to set the compression too high since this will result in poorer image quality. Ideally, the amount of compression should be no more than about 15%. Of course, the file size must also be taken into account - the lower the compression, the greater the file size.
Areas visible in the game
When creating background images, the layout of the game itself must be taken into account. For example, the top 70 pixels of the background image will not be visible in the game because the titlebar and the navigation buttons are in the way. Therefore, the part of the image that you want to be visible in the game should be no larger than 530 pixels high.
The full 800 pixels width is visible in the game however, after the first three pixels on the left there is a 111 pixel wide semi-transparent bar which often contain buttons. This may need to be taken into account when arranging the image because it may look better if the main subject is centred between right edge of the bar and the far left of the screen.
Also, there is a 27 pixel high bar at the very bottom of the screen which is not transparent at all and this may also be needed to be taken into account when arranging the image. Above this bar there are the back and next buttons which are 21 pixels high. I don't usually take into account the back and next buttons but maybe other people do.
Therefore, the main subject of the image should be within a 686 x 473 area from the right of the screen and between the titlebar and the back and next buttons. If the back and next buttons are ignored, the area is 686 x 501.
The diagram below illustrates the areas which are visible in the game:
Installing the image
Installation is fairly easy. The image needs to be copied to NHL Eastside Hockey Manager/data/pictures and then it needs to added to pics.cfg (see below).
Pics.cfg
In order for the image to be displayed in the game, it needs to be added to this file.
To add the image, open pics.cfg using a text editor (I use Windows Notepad). Pics.cfg contains a list of the images to be displayed in EHM and under what circumstances the image will be displayed (for example when viewing a particular team's roster). An image can be used for a number a circumstances if desired. The different types of circumstances are described below:
[Random]
Images under this heading are displayed as general random pictures.
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:". Use a comma as a seperator.
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg, image3.jpg
[Clubs]
Displayed when a team's roster, information, player profile, etc. is viewed.
Syntax: Team long name: imagename.jpg
Example: Atlanta Thrashers: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Nations]
Displayed when the nation's team roster, etc.
Syntax: Nation long name: imagename.jpg
Example: Czech Republic: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Comps]
Displayed when the competition's table, fixtures, team rosters (if there aren't any backgrounds for that team), etc. are viewed.
Syntax: Competition long name: imagename.jpg
Example: National Hockey League: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
If the image is to be displayed when the competition is won then put {} around the filename e.g. {image1.jpg}.
[Arenas]
Displayed when a game at that arena is being played.
Syntax: Arena long name: imagename.jpg
Example: Madison Square Garden: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Staff]
Displayed when the staff's profile is viewed.
Syntax: First name Surname dd/mm/yyyy: imagename.jpg (If the birth day or date is a single digit, do not put a zero before the number e.g. if the player is born on the 2nd April 1980 then the date should be 2/4/1980 not 02/04/1980).
Examples: Pasi Nurminen 17/12/1975: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
Alexei Yashin 5/11/1973: image3.jpg, image4.jpg
Shawn Bates 3/4/1975: image5.jpg, image6.jpg
[Awards]
Displayed when a player wins an award or the award history is viewed.
Syntax: Award long name: imagename.jpg
Example: Conn Smythe Trophy: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Training]
Displayed when the practice screen is viewed.
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:".
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Boardroom]
Displayed when?
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:".
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Trophy]
Displayed when?
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:".
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[Transfer]
Displayed when viewing the list of transfers made during the past month.
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:".
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
[SI]
Displayed when viewing the main menu at the beginning of the game when the various options are available (such as delete game, start new game, etc.).
To add an image to this circumstance, add the filename to the list after "Misc:".
Example: Misc: image1.jpg, image2.jpg
As far as I know, all of the measurements mentioned above are exact but I could be wrong
