How can I create a custom live tile in Windows Phone 8.1?

Question

I wanted to ask how it's possible to achieve something like this (first wide tile):

http://oi59.tinypic.com/149p6s8.jpg

I know that there are only a limited number of live tile templates and this is the list I found on Microsoft's website:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh761491.aspx

There isn't any template that looks like what I'm looking for, so is there any other way to create a custom tile specyfing text size and position? Thank you!

Answer 1

On Windows Phone 8.1 (or Windows 8.1) you can use the RenderTargetBitmap class. It has a method called RenderAsync() that takes a UIElement object as parameter. You can then use the RenderTargetBitmap object as an ImageSource to display it in the tile.

Answer 2

You need to create an image (use a custom control and render an image from it) and use it has a bakcground.

This link could help for generating the image: http://spasol.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/creating-custom-live-tiles-for-windows-phone/

And here are the template available for universal app : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/hh761491.aspx