iphone - Custom colors in UITabBar

Question

Is it possible to use custom colors and background images in a UITabBar? I realize that Apple would like everyone to use the same blue and gray tab bars, but is there any way to customize this?

Second, even I were to create my own TabBar-like view controller, along with custom images, would this violate Apple's Human Interface Guidelines?

Answer 1

I found an answer to this at Silent Mac Design.

I implemented this way:

First make a subclass of UITabBarContoller

// CustomUITabBarController.h

#import <UIKit/UIKit.h>

@interface CustomUITabBarController: UITabBarController {
  IBOutlet UITabBar *tabBar1;
}

@property(nonatomic, retain) UITabBar *tabBar1;

@end

?

// CustomUITabBarController.m

#import "CustomUITabBarController.h"

@implementation CustomUITabBarController

@synthesize tabBar1;

- (void)viewDidLoad {
  [super viewDidLoad];

  CGRect frame = CGRectMake(0.0, 0, self.view.bounds.size.width, 48);

  UIView *v = [[UIView alloc] initWithFrame:frame];

  [v setBackgroundColor:[[UIColor alloc] initWithRed:1.0
                                               green:0.0
                                                blue:0.0
                                               alpha:0.1]];

  [tabBar1 insertSubview:v atIndex:0];
  [v release];
}

@end

And in your Nib file replace the class of your TabBar Controller with CustomUITabBarController.