Hey all, just the other day I just received my new Nuvi 660, and I have been searching high and low for custom vehicle *.srf files of different vehicle icons for the thing, and the closest that I came across was a Jeep Wrangler. Rumor has it that someone on the board has came across an Element one.., or does anyone know where to get it.

Thanks

I was going to look into that, but never have found the time to actually do anything with it.

Maybe one of these days.... as far as I know no one has created an element - if they have, I would love a copy of it. :)

Have you searched to see if there is a way to creat one yourself?

Have you searched to see if there is a way to creat one yourself?

I'm sure there is dance, I just need to take a look-see at the actual custom cars that garman is using. It can't be too difficult, it's just a matter of figuring out the format they are using. Again, I'll get to it when I have the time. However, if anyone else is actively perusing it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

I remember seeing someone with a carputer having a element, but that's the only thing I've seen. :|

pretty sure Genom created his own...all-be-it for his TomTom

Have you seen this site? http://www.techmods.net/nuvi/

I was looking at one of the stock images and it looks more complicated than I could do.

Dang if that doesn't take the work out of it. :)

Looks like all we have to do now is just take some pictures - matchbox maybe?

Thanks guys, this is why the EOC is so AWESOME! I think I will climb up a tree now and start taking pics of me E from above lol,

pulled from google images and cleaned up a little. size it to your preference and there you go.

It's a tad more involved than that, here's about half of the Lexus custom car for the Nuvi to give you an idea.

39895

39896

39897

39898

39899

As you can see, it's going to take a while (once someone starts) to get all the pictures together.

Time to bust out the camera and get all those vantage points of the E. The matchbox idea is sounding great right now lol

If you go to Honda's Element website you can use the 3D Viewpoint view to capture the overhead shots at any angle you want. Click on the "Enlarge View" button to get full screen and use Alt-PrintScreen to capture, or use your favorite screen capture software.

You have a choice of Orange or (SC) Rootbeer Metallic, but I noticed the SC version doesn't display center screen so it might be harder to get all angles.

Edit: I took a stab at creating this file so here it is in .png format. Go to this link mentioned by kastivich ( http://www.techmods.net/nuvi/ ) to convert it to .srf. ImageShack would not allow me to host an .srf file

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9467/elementgarminca9.th.png (http://img264.imageshack.us/my.php?image=elementgarminca9.png) or here's the direct link: http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9467/elementgarminca9.png

I didn't have a Garmin to test this with, hope it works for you :)

If you go to Honda's Element website you can use the 3D Viewpoint view to capture the overhead shots at any angle you want. Click on the "Enlarge View" button to get full screen and use Alt-PrintScreen to capture, or use your favorite screen capture software.

You have a choice of Orange or (SC) Rootbeer Metallic, but I noticed the SC version doesn't display center screen so it might be harder to get all angles.

Edit: I took a stab at creating this file so here it is in .png format. Go to this link mentioned by kastivich ( http://www.techmods.net/nuvi/ ) to convert it to .srf. ImageShack would not allow me to host an .srf file

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7022/elementgarminmg9.th.png (http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=elementgarminmg9.png) or here's the direct link: http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/7022/elementgarminmg9.png

I didn't have a Garmin to test this with, hope it works for you :)

You Are AWESOME! I cant wait to try this.

GregP, I installed it in the Nuvi and it's really good for a first attempt, it works! I'll get pics

Shane, are there simple instructions for how to load it onto the Garmin on their website? I haven't looked yet but am interested. :)

Shane, are there simple instructions for how to load it onto the Garmin on their website? I haven't looked yet but am interested. :)

First you have to go to the techmods link to convert the png to an srf file. Then drag it into the vehicles folder of your nuvi, the nuvi comes up like another drive.

Just realized that the images are a little blotchy, which I cant understand because the png file with all the different angles of the element looks perfect.

Okay thanks, I'll check it out later!

OK, I'll be the first to admit I'm lost on this one. I would like to have an Element on my Garmin but not sure if I can do this. First and fore most I would want it to be Tango Red Pearl. Secondly, I don't recall my c550 having or using all those different angles or views as loaded on the thread. Seems like on my screen the car is typically a top view shot or at least that's the one I'm using. So how do I use this. I've gone to the Garmin site in the past and used the webloader to download the vehicles available as well as the software and voice updates.

Shane, are there simple instructions for how to load it onto the Garmin on their website? I haven't looked yet but am interested. :)
The Garmin website has information on how to load new vehicles

http://www8.garmin.com/vehicles/

First you have to go to the techmods link to convert the png to an srf file. Then drag it into the vehicles folder of your nuvi, the nuvi comes up like another drive.

Just realized that the images are a little blotchy, which I cant understand because the png file with all the different angles of the element looks perfect.

Do you get a white square halo around the vehicle?

Do you get a white square halo around the vehicle?

yes, and some blotches when you view it in the vehicle selection menu.

yes, and some blotches when you view it in the vehicle selection menu.

I was just reading this post by the guy that created the conversion website: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=78125

Seems like a common problem. Although the solution seems a bit involved.

That link has info to download or upload THEIR vehicles into your Garmin. Thats the same site url from the sites downloader for software updates. I'm interested in getting the Element or getting an Element loaded into my c550 if at all possible. Anyone have some direction or instruction on making that happen. I can live with it not being my exact color but having an Element would be the bomb!

That link has info to download or upload THEIR vehicles into your Garmin. Thats the same site url from the sites downloader for software updates. I'm interested in getting the Element or getting an Element loaded into my c550 if at all possible. Anyone have some direction or instruction on making that happen. I can live with it not being my exact color but having an Element would be the bomb!

Yes it does. And once you convert the image file that was already created you would load it into your c550 the same way you would load a stock image. However there are still issues with the Element image that was created. Seems like it has to do with the transparency surrounding the vehicle image.

I've converted it and when I get home tonight or tomorrow, I'll load it onto my c550. I really appreciate it. Now, can anyone create this same Element in Tango Red Pearl?

I did the conversion and loaded it onto my c550 but it didn't appear in my library of vehicles to choose from. Don't know what happened. I converted and saved the file into my photos and nothing happened. I'll drive it again but save it in my "C" drive and see if that makes any difference. Wouldn't think it would but we'll see. If anyone has an idea, let me know. When I initially did all this I was at work and didn't have the unit with me. I may just do the conversion over again and then save it directly to the unit this time and see if thats the ticket. Will have to wait until tomorrow though. 0430 hrs will come fast but in this part of the country we call it "Oh-Dark-Thirty.:D

I worked on the .png image in a different package, it allowed saving in 32-bit with alpha transparency. I also cleaned up some inconsistent drop shadows.

I updated the original link in my first post. Here's the link again:

EDIT: Corrected link
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9467/elementgarminca9.png

I tested the transparency in a generic web page and it worked fine. Hopefully this will convert to .srf and look better than before.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9...tgarminca9.png

I worked on the .png image in a different package, it allowed saving in 32-bit with alpha transparency. I also cleaned up some inconsistent drop shadows.

I updated the original link in my first post. Here's the link again:

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9...tgarminca9.png

I tested the transparency in a generic web page and it worked fine. Hopefully this will convert to .srf and look better than before.

This looks much better. I can confirm that the white shadow around the vehicle is gone. There still seems to be some roughness around the edge of the vehicle, which I dont understand because it is not there in the images. And just FYI the link in this post doesnt work (though the one in your edited post does)

Regardless, nice job. Thanks for doing this.

Why am I not getting anything on this link? All I get is this image can't be found. What up with that?

Have you tried the link in the edited post on page 2?

Edit: I just downloaded it and then went back to check and it was gone. Strange.

I uploaded the original image file and the converted file necessary for the Garmin to Rapidshare.

http://rapidshare.com/files/60108418/Element_Garmin.zip.html

I'm having problems with it. Can you email the file to me? That way I can save it to my desktop and then plug my Garmin in and move it to it. Let me know and I'll PM you my email address though you can go on my username and email me that way. Thanks!

PS

I do have my Garmin here at work with me so I can or could do it relatively quick and let you know if it works. THanks!

it is not hard to take the png file and change the color in photoshop.
but i do not know how to then make it an srf file. must be a windows thang.
if you want what i have chozn, i will send it to you.

At this point I'll take whatever I can get that will work. Thanks!

it is not hard to take the png file and change the color in photoshop.
but i do not know how to then make it an srf file. must be a windows thang.
if you want what i have chozn, i will send it to you.

Some of the earlier post have a link in them to a web page that will convert the file into the necessary srf format.

Sorry for the bad link, I cut-and-pasted the link from the screen in my original post and forgot that the forum software inserts a "..." into the long URLs.

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/9467/elementgarminca9.png

In case someone didn't read earlier posts, go here and do the "png2srf" conversion using the image above. The resulting srf file is what you'll use.
http://www.techmods.net/nuvi/

OK, finally got this done. I ended up doing everything I did before and saved it directly to my c550. The TM Element appeared on the list of cars to choose from. I'm happyand its cool! I'll leave it as is and not worry about changing the color but if someone happens to do it in all the possible colors the Element rolls in, I'll jump on the TRP. In the meantime, I'm going to put it in my police car and see how it looks and works. Thanks again!


Peace!

sorry chozn, i didn't get up early today.
do you still need the png file??

Thanks but I think I have it now or at least its on the c550. I'm going to see how it works on my way in to work this afternoon but its on my Garmin now. I noticed there was a hair line just above the display but it may go away once I put the unit in operation. We'll see but I have it now. Wish it was color specific but I'll take it as is. Thanks again to all who developed this.

Great! I cant wait to give this a try, thanks alot guys