Phone gap build documentation states that:
The default splash must be named splash.png and must reside in the root of your application folder.
<gap:splash src="splash.png" />
but they also say:
Patch-9 backgrounds are supported. All patch-9 files have to have a ".9.png" suffix.
Does this mean that I can use
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" />
as the default ?
You are right, according to the documentation, you can't use a 9-patch image as default splash.
Extracts from the Phonegap Build Documentation page:
The default splash must be named splash.png and must reside in the root of your application folder.
and
All patch-9 files have to have a ".9.png" suffix.
I suggest the following solution: Use the same splash.9.png source for all Android sizes and you will have a similar result. One file for all screens.
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="ldpi" />
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="mdpi" />
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="hdpi" />
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="xhdpi" />
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="xxhdpi" />
<gap:splash src="splash.9.png" gap:platform="android" gap:qualifier="xxxhdpi" />
Still, the default splash.png must be present, but will not be used on Android.
<gap:splash src="splash.png" />