1999 Eddie Bauer
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- May 14, 2008
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '99 Eddie Bauer
So I finally got tired of looking at the damn blue cars in the Garmin and decided to see if it could be modified.
I found a few resources, one being http://garmin.com/vehicles/. They have maybe 20 or so there to choose from - the two I think this forum might like would be the SUV (a white SUV) and a blue monster truck.
I read up more on a few forums and found that you can customize them using a photoshop-like program (I used GIMP 2, since it was recommended). You basically convert the garmin model file (.SRF) to a .PNG file (using the link in the next paragraph) and you are able to edit the PNG. It's a really wide image (2881x160) with 2 rows of 36 images of the vehicle in different positions and zooms.
The online converter to back and forth from SRF and PNG is located at http://techmods.net/nuvi/. Basically after you're finished with the .PNG you convert it back to .SRF and load it onto your Garmin via USB.
It took me a few hours (mainly because I wasn't familiar with GIMP 2) but I finally got it looking nice enough for me to be satisfied. I might add some headlights though or try to make the lines a bit better. Here's an example of part of the my .PNG file:
I tried to take a shot of the Garmin screen and the Explorer spinning around, but can't get a good shot w/ my camera phone.
I worked from the white SUV model on Garmin's site and used a feature in GIMP 2 that let me replace a color range (in my case white to silver-ish) with another color range (dark blue & darker blue). I had to go back and paste on the wheels because I forgot they were silver and were replaced. Added some taillights and the Eddie Bauer gold trim and I'm happy.
I think some combination of the tires from the monster truck and the body from the SUV could be awesome.
I found a few resources, one being http://garmin.com/vehicles/. They have maybe 20 or so there to choose from - the two I think this forum might like would be the SUV (a white SUV) and a blue monster truck.
I read up more on a few forums and found that you can customize them using a photoshop-like program (I used GIMP 2, since it was recommended). You basically convert the garmin model file (.SRF) to a .PNG file (using the link in the next paragraph) and you are able to edit the PNG. It's a really wide image (2881x160) with 2 rows of 36 images of the vehicle in different positions and zooms.
The online converter to back and forth from SRF and PNG is located at http://techmods.net/nuvi/. Basically after you're finished with the .PNG you convert it back to .SRF and load it onto your Garmin via USB.
It took me a few hours (mainly because I wasn't familiar with GIMP 2) but I finally got it looking nice enough for me to be satisfied. I might add some headlights though or try to make the lines a bit better. Here's an example of part of the my .PNG file:
I tried to take a shot of the Garmin screen and the Explorer spinning around, but can't get a good shot w/ my camera phone.
I worked from the white SUV model on Garmin's site and used a feature in GIMP 2 that let me replace a color range (in my case white to silver-ish) with another color range (dark blue & darker blue). I had to go back and paste on the wheels because I forgot they were silver and were replaced. Added some taillights and the Eddie Bauer gold trim and I'm happy.
I think some combination of the tires from the monster truck and the body from the SUV could be awesome.