Will Take Requests for Definitive Theme

[dannymichel]

Look people...
Seriously...
I'm an accomplished (and I think) talented web/graphic designer. I am willing to take requests and make a new and totally ORIGINAL GTK/Berl theme if there is enough demand for it.
I can create the graphics and cut it up for us, but someone with experience with themes will have to actually convert it into an actual theme.

My ideas:
A predominately 3 color design, of which will be light, easy on the eyes colors.
Compact design.

If anyone has more ideas, just post them here.
If someone wants to help me convert it'd be great if you could post here in this thread too.

I see NO themes on GNOME that are good enough in my standards.
It might be a little arrogant on my part, but I want to make this happen.
My work will speak for itself.

[IYY]

The actual design should be yours because, as you said, you are the designer. But here are some elements that I think every modern theme should incorporate (and many don't):

1. Titlebar and window merged (same colour). To distinguish active and inactive windows, simply change the colours of the controls. All the Apple themes are like this. Here is an example of this kind of theme done right:

http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=26050

As you can see, it looks great in all colours, and is very easy on the eyes. A light gradient can be included.

2. Not too glossy/shiny. It seems that the Windows guys didn't get the memo and are still stuck in the glossy age (where Apple and KDE were 4 years ago). Nowadays, it's all about matte, smooth gradients, subtle faded shades, etc. The lollipop look is highly dated. Ubuntu's icons and theme are nice, but they seem too shiny to me.

3. Use something closer to the Tango/Gnome palette. No brown, though a faded orange can look quite decent.

[dannymichel]

Great start.
Any more suggestions?

[ComplexNumber]

i got sick of all the unoriginal and boring mac, vista, windows, and other clones and ripoffs on gnome-look. so i made my own original themes.

i agree with a theme not really needing to use more than 3 main colours.

[thorwil]

There's a long thread regarding the wish/need for a new default theme:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=441979

Some people dislike the current very much and claim it puts people off. Some think it's fine. Others think brown and orange are not the problem, but can be done better.

There are links to my own mockups on pages 10 / 11. I don't want to hijack this thread (so no comments on them here, please), but think you should have a look at that thread and maybe announce your plans or first results over there.

[bvc]

I'm interested in doing the theme conversion but would have to see visionary mockups before committing to it.

Don't bother with it being default if it's a pixmap theme. That's just not going to happen, trust me. Concerning mockup on that other thread (page 11) the menubar (and toolbar) can not do that. It may be possible with an engine, but it's not with the pixbuf engine.

ComplexNumber, are you up on the lastest gtk additions. That's my only hang up, but I can swing it in a day or two. I can either learn from Jip's themes or email him.

[ComplexNumber]

ComplexNumber, are you up on the lastest gtk additions. That's my only hang up, but I can swing it in a day or two. I can either learn from Jip's themes or email him.
i use this (http://developer.gnome.org/doc/API/2.0/gtk/) for my only reference, so it is quite up to date. but then again, that's for pixbuf themes. i assume that encompasses what you mean by "additions".

[dannymichel]

I'm interested in doing the theme conversion but would have to see visionary mockups before committing to it.

Don't bother with it being default if it's a pixmap theme. That's just not going to happen, trust me. Concerning mockup on that other thread (page 11) the menubar (and toolbar) can not do that. It may be possible with an engine, but it's not with the pixbuf engine.

ComplexNumber, are you up on the lastest gtk additions. That's my only hang up, but I can swing it in a day or two. I can either learn from Jip's themes or email him.
I'm looking forward to working on this with you.
Can you PM me so we can exchange a more direct contact method?

[leibowitz]

I think the default theme is great as it is.

The only thing which isn't right on the default theme is the panel window button.

I mean look without any window open it's fantastic
http://www.gnome.org/start/2.18/notes/C/figures/figure-desktop-big.png

Then some days ago, I saw this:
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7508/screenshotke3.png

Holy cow :-)

That raise the quality level IMHO.

PS: I don't know if it's a real theme or a mockup yet.

[ComplexNumber]

Then some days ago, I saw this:
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7508/screenshotke3.png

Holy cow :-)

That raise the quality level IMHO.

PS: I don't know if it's a real theme or a mockup yet.
what do you like about it? i mean, which parts stand out that make it appeal to you?

i think that's an already existing theme. i've seen many similar/same to it in the past.

[leibowitz]

It's style baby!

:-)

I don't know, maybe it's the polished look. It's between clearlooks and murrine. I don't know if it's an existing theme. I think it may be in development, and will be appearing in the next weeks/months.

I think the default theme should not be too much appealing. Because anyway you can't satisfy everyone taste, so it has to be rooms for improvement/customisation in a default appearance.

And I must say the clearlooks/human style is fine for me. Like I said earlier, the only negative part is the bottom panel buttons for the opened windows.

In this screenshot, it's not so bad. And the workspace switcher have some rounded corners. *It has rounded corners* Wouhou!!!

I feel like a kid in front of chocolate :-) I love chocolate!

[kpolice]

The screenshot
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7508/screenshotke3.png

is the current Clearlooks-svn GUMMY style and the man behind it is no other but Cimi the creator of Murrine. I am using it in ArchLinux and definetly Clearlooks is better than ever.

The scheenshot is also Cimi's desktop.

[ComplexNumber]

It's style baby!

:-)

I don't know, maybe it's the polished look. It's between clearlooks and murrine. I don't know if it's an existing theme. I think it may be in development, and will be appearing in the next weeks/months.


i hope not. i think it looks almost ugly ;). the background shade of grey is not nice...at all. it's also got that commonplace look about it, which makes me believe that i've seen it a million times before and got bored of it.

it just goes to show that i doubt that there is a universal standard that would appeal to everyone.

[dannymichel]

Do we all use BOTH top and bottom panels? Or do we mostly delete one and use one?
I have my reasons for asking.

[thorwil]

How would any of us know what all do?

Personaly, I use only one top panel. It's easier to move everything to one on larger resolutions. On low reslution there's a stronger need for 2, even though the lost space hurts more there, too.

Since 2 panels are the defaul for vanilla GNOME and Ubuntu, you can expect less resistance keeping it that way. Note how the Ubuntu setup makes use of all 4 corners (Fitt's law).

[Hairy_Palms]

from what i gather, and this probably isnt the answer your looking for :) is that from many previous discussions, its a pretty even split, looking through the desktop screenshot threads id say theres possibly more people who use two panels though.

also just thought id mention, i think that clearlooks-svn shot looks horrible.. nice folder icons though.

[ComplexNumber]

nice folder icons though.
Livious. click (http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Livious?content=54933).

[leibowitz]

Can we all agree that Livious is the best icon theme ever ? It's based on Tango mostly.

[dannymichel]

Can we all agree that Livious is the best icon theme ever ? It's based on Tango mostly.
I want to move away from the cartoony look as much as possible.
How would any of us know what all do?

I was looking for JUST a FEW opinions on it. I wasn't asking what EVERYONE does. I was hoping to get some reasons as to why some of us use two and some of us use one.
I for one don't understand why ANYONE uses two as again, it would save space just combining everything into one.

[ComplexNumber]

I was looking for JUST a FEW opinions on it. I wasn't asking what EVERYONE does. I was hoping to get some reasons as to why some of us use two and some of us use one.
I for one don't understand why ANYONE uses two as again, it would save space just combining everything into one.
i guess it must be due to a number of factors...
a) most importantly by far, habit. what one is used to. simple as that.
b) how much of a panel people use. people that tend to cram in lots of bits and bobs on the panel may prefer 2 panels. personally, i use 2 mostly because of (you guessed it) it's what i'm now used to, and partly because i like to have my window list on 1 panel and everything else on another.

[dannymichel]

i guess it must be due to a number of factors...
a) most importantly by far, habit. what one is used to. simple as that.
b) how much of a panel people use. people that tend to cram in lots of bits and bobs on the panel may prefer 2 panels. personally, i use 2 mostly because of (you guessed it) it's what i'm now used to, and partly because i like to have my window list on 1 panel and everything else on another.
I see NO reason for two panels IMHO.
I believe it's a waste of space which I'm trying to move away from.
But that's only MHO.

[bvc]

One of the first things I do on a new install is delete the bottom panel. Wasted space.

[IYY]

I only use one panel, and I keep it on top. I also prefer using a window-list button rather than a taskbar.

Also, I agree that the murrine/clearlooks combination theme posted earlier looks wonderful.

[ComplexNumber]

I see NO reason for two panels IMHO.
I believe it's a waste of space which I'm trying to move away from.
But that's only MHO.
it's not wasted space for me. my panels are always completely hidden. one of the first things i do is set the panels to autohide.

[nocturn]

I think the gnome HIG contains some reasons for choosing two panels. I like the setup very very much.

[dannymichel]

I got side-tracked while I was creating the re-design and I started on a little doodle of a wallpaper.
It's not that good, but I thought i twas funny when I made it.
:)
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/medium/Penguin-2.png (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802)
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802

[thorwil]

I think the gnome HIG contains some reasons for choosing two panels.

I'm rather sure it doesn't, but wouldn't mind a pointer to prove me wrong.

[crimesaucer]

I got side-tracked while I was creating the re-design and I started on a little doodle of a wallpaper.
It's not that good, but I thought i twas funny when I made it.
:)
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/medium/Penguin-2.png (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802)
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802

That's a nice doodle...

[slimdog360]

Would/could this project include a massive new theme for everything. I'd love a project which worked towards creating a universal theme for most of the applications which are included in linux. A cool integrated theme for openoffice, gimp, audacious/xmms, firefox, thunderbird, and of course the window manager. I was using the kde cd of fedora 7 and really like the kde4 stuff. The login window and boot splash look really smick.

[gvoima]

I got side-tracked while I was creating the re-design and I started on a little doodle of a wallpaper.
It's not that good, but I thought i twas funny when I made it.
:)
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/medium/Penguin-2.png (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802)
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/The+Penguin+3?content=60802

you know, i'm not a big fan of orange, but this wallpaper... i like it, i like it alot :)

but imho, get rid of the penguin or draw it instead of a photo

[ComplexNumber]

yeah, that penguin shouldn't be in there. or at the very most, have a 'stylised' version similar to what mandriva did.
also, the wallpaper should be left til last until after the theme is done

[oomingmak]

I see NO reason for two panels IMHO.
I believe it's a waste of space which I'm trying to move away from.
But that's only MHO.
You assume that everyone doesn't have space to spare.

I always use 2 panels. In fact when I tried a KDE based distro, the first thing I did was add a second panel and try to make it work like Gnome's. I've even started doing the same on Windows now (using 3rd party add-ons).

I'm running at 1920 x 1200 on 24inch widescreen LCD monitor, so usability is far more important to me than saving a few measly pixels.

[ComplexNumber]

In fact when I tried a KDE based distro, the first thing I did was add a second panel and try to make it work like Gnome's. I've even started doing the same on Windows now (using 3rd party add-ons).

that's exactly what i did when i ran kde in the last 2-3 years :D

[dannymichel]

I'm rather sure it doesn't, but wouldn't mind a pointer to prove me wrong.
That's what I plan on doing.
I want to create the OS theme first. I plan on creating themes for the more commonly used Linux apps that I can't bare to look at such as RythymBox as well.
you know, i'm not a big fan of orange, but this wallpaper... i like it, i like it alot :)

but imho, get rid of the penguin or draw it instead of a photo
Thanks. This wallpaper actually only uses the colors in the official Ubuntu logo.
That's a nice doodle...
Thanks.
yeah, that penguin shouldn't be in there. or at the very most, have a 'stylised' version similar to what mandriva did.
also, the wallpaper should be left til last until after the theme is done
The wallpaper isn't for the theme at all.
It's something I did for fun as I was doodling.
I just wanted to share it with you guys.

I'm running at 1920 x 1200 on 24inch widescreen LCD monitor, so usability is far more important to me than saving a few measly pixels.
This is the point that I was trying to make in the original post when I bought up the size of MY monitor.
Another member responded by saying that the average user's monitor is NOT as big as mine even. If mine is a bit above average and 2 panels is simply a waste of space for me, imagine what it is like for someone with a 17 inch monitor.
yeah, that penguin shouldn't be in there. or at the very most, have a 'stylised' version similar to what mandriva did.
also, the wallpaper should be left til last until after the theme is done
I'm curious now.
What did Mandriva do?
I'm starting to think wallpaper now, between working on this whole project.
Maybe I should create a couple you guys would like.
I'm rather sure it doesn't, but wouldn't mind a pointer to prove me wrong.
Those reasons being?

[Omnios]

How about a paper office stuff theme or themes. I was originally thinking of a light weight desktop but it might be interesting to push it farther with enhanced desktops.

There can be various versions with various options.

For example the there can be different types of paper.
Blank "possibly with shadows.
lined
graph
ledger
etc.

Also could do a clip pad window frame etc.

Almost like a office or studio type theme for the desktop.

[dannymichel]

I was originally thinking of a light weight desktop but it might be interesting to push it farther with enhanced desktops.I was thinking that's how most would feel.

[thorwil]

[Somehow I don't get quotations inside quotations when hitting quote and that multi-quote button doesn't seem to work]

dannymichel: nocturn stated that he thinks the HIG contains reasons for having 2 panels. That and only that I was referring to. Which should be clear after I quoted him.

Reason for my doubt being that the HIG aims at application writers and I don't remember to have seen any mention of the panels and desktop layout. I checked the table of contents and see nothing it would fit in.

Your talking about OS and application themes make me wonder if you are aware how things are organised (WM theme, widget theme, widget engine, icon theme, application specific theming in cases like firefox).

[Omnios]

I was thinking that's how most would feel.

I was thinking more on the lines of nice glossy pics of paper etc with shadows and drop shadows rather than a hand paint of basic paper.

[dannymichel]

Your talking about OS and application themes make me wonder if you are aware how things are organised (WM theme, widget theme, widget engine, icon theme, application specific theming in cases like firefox).I want to slowly improve the way our applications look as well as the general theme of Ubuntu(raising the bar a bit)
I believe that when I'm done a trend should soon follow, starting the beginning of a design and usability wave for Linux in a whole.
This is going to take me a long time.
This is not going to be easy as someone pointed out to me in a PM, Linux is about open-source. One of the main reasons everything is ugly is because people are not getting paid.
I know I'm not getting paid for this.
I'm doing this because I truly believe Linux can go somewhere. I truly enjoy Linux, but I can't BARE to see it like this.
You all might not want to admit that Mac and Windows are on to something by actually CARING about how the OS looks. You might say that you don't care because your main concerns are with how the OS actually runs, but this is about how the OS runs.
The aesthetics are also VERY important for running applications.

This is something I truly believe in.

[floke]

My congratulations for the effort.
I really hope this works out.
Just wanted to add my support.

=D>=D>=D>

[dannymichel]

My congratulations for the effort.
I really hope this works out.
Just wanted to add my support.

=D>=D>=D>
Thank you.

[DROWE859]

I want to slowly improve the way our applications look as well as the general theme of Ubuntu(raising the bar a bit)
I believe that when I'm done a trend should soon follow, starting the beginning of a design and usability wave for Linuat you don't care because your main concerns are with how the OS actually runs, but this is about how the OS runs.
The aesthetics are also VERY important for running applications.

This is something I truly believe in.

I completely agree with you. I use Linux because not only is it open-source, but I can customize it into something I want. And all the customizing I do is to make it *feel* better. Things like smooth fades, sliding windows, and great themes make using the OS a more enjoyable experience. I think that with all the focus on other aspects (which have their merits). Aesthetics, an important part of the OS experience, has been left behind.

I really support you efforts, and will support in anyway I can.
Also, I would like to bring to your attention this mock up: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Gentle+Gnome+mockup?content=31128

It is one of the best I have seen, but unfortunately never realized. Granted there are things that need to be changed (min., max., close buttons, etc.) But I believe it is a a very good visualization for a usable and comfortable desktop.

You have have my most sincere blessing in what you are trying to do here.

[dannymichel]

CLICK TO ENLARGE
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/11/medium/Experimental-Ubuntu-Colors.png (http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/11/Experimental-Ubuntu-Colors.png)



Ignore the black background. Were just talking about the colors in the white cards.
Of course this isn't final and You always have minimal, yet tasteful gradients, but....



Also, I would like to bring to your attention this mock up: http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Gentle+Gnome+mockup?content=31128

I like it.
I really support you efforts, and will support in anyway I can.
Thank you.

[Omnios]

Hi hi. I was wondering about a left panel menu system for Ubuntu. So this will allow a user to put the menu on a side panel. Problem is the graphics for it are horizontal WOuld it be possible to take the Ubuntu menu and make verticle graphics for it to allow for a panel menu theme for Gnome and other WM. Kind of thought of it as to sway away from windows type stuff.

[dannymichel]

Hi hi. I was wondering about a left panel menu system for Ubuntu. So this will allow a user to put the menu on a side panel. Problem is the graphics for it are horizontal WOuld it be possible to take the Ubuntu menu and make verticle graphics for it to allow for a panel menu theme for Gnome and other WM. Kind of thought of it as to sway away from windows type stuff.

You know what's funny?
Since the actual DAY I posted this thread, I've been working on perfecting the panel.
It's pretty much all I have done so far.
This is harder than I thought.
The though DID cross my mind, but honestly bro... There is NO way you guys are going to embrace a left or right panel as default.

I also wanted to share some of my conversation with a good friend of mine.
Please ignore the grammar.
Were good friends, so we talk like kids when we speak to each other.
(see attachment)

[zero-9376]

Just have to say that I really like the Gentle Gnome theme, Im still using legacy human window border with silicon for colour etc. It looks good with beryl, I would use gentle gnome (probably keep my window border purely because it shrinks very well)

[Hairy_Palms]

ya know i think ive figured out why i like two panels, i much prefer the menu and clock at the tope, the mnu i find much easier to use up there, but the reason i like the panel at the bottem, i think is the sam reason many posters have larger borders at the bottom than top and sides, its because it focuses your attention on the centre of the screen.

[bvc]

maybe I missed it, but how is all this panel discussion relevent to a theme? Other than specific top and bottom panel images made available to the user for them to apply? I usually make images for both, but neither should be something predetermined by the theme, unless of course you are using the theme on a default install of a distro -whether top and bottom or just bottom has already been decided for the new user.

[zero-9376]

many of the themes available in default ubuntu install change the colour of the menu, and he is looking at an overall theme accross many apps so i don't see why the panel should be any different, i agree though that whatever is done should cater for both, i myself use 2 on my 1680x1050 desktop because i naturally look to the bottom for running apps, and i use one on my laptop to regain screen space again down the bottom.

not sure if this is strictly a theme issue but perhaps goes to the overall look: i find that ubuntu uses to much screen space especially on my 1024x768 laptop. I always shrink the panels as small as they will go and have the fonts at size 8 or 9, and on the laptop change the dpi to 85. I use the new liberation fonts on my desktop now with size 9/10 but they come up worse than the defaults on the laptop. Anyway my point is i would appreciate if the theme used or could use small window decorations and maybe even smaller form elements, to me everything is too spaced out and results in not being able to get to buttons easily.

[bvc]

exactly, catering to both means not really doing much or nothing at all, other than bg and buttons.

[dannymichel]

Anyway my point is i would appreciate if the theme used or could use small window decorations and maybe even smaller form elements, to me everything is too spaced out and results in not being able to get to buttons easily.This was my initial reason for wanting to re-design in the first place.
I HATED the large fonts, spacing and general form elements.
I'm glad other people are agreeing something needs to be done.
This fuels me when I create.

[corney91]

Personally, I like the default sizes of the panels, etc. in Ubuntu. I use a 1024x768 screen but I never feel that the windows take up too much screen space. If that does happen, I seperate them into workspaces (that is what they are there for, right?)

I like your colours but I think they're a bit calm. That was one thing I liked about the orange/brown, it stood out, it was vibrant.

BTW you've blurred out the name in your pidgin conversation but the tabs still have their name in.

[Doovoo]

I feel alot of Gnome deserves an overhaul, because it seems very inflexible. Also, most themes out there for Gnome don't carry the same "weight" that OS X's aqua, and to a certian degree Vista's Aero have.

I've been trying to pinpoint for a while where this weight comes from, and I think part of it is an overall unity with subtle individuality. For instance, in OS X you have the unifying theme, and then have subtle variations on it with certain applications (like Safari's brushed metal, iTunes gray gradient, and Garageband's unique wood metal blend. Conversely Window's Media Player's shiny black interface, etc, etc).

I think that giving applications some control over their look, as long as it isn't too drastic, is good practice and makes for an overall better experience. The most variation I get on Ubuntu is when an application uses Gtk1, and that's not a good kind of variation. Also, I think that variation lends itself to MDI applications, like The GIMP. When one application has 3 windows, and all windows of all applications are the same color and everything, it can get somewhat overwhelming.

[IYY]

I feel alot of Gnome deserves an overhaul, because it seems very inflexible. Also, most themes out there for Gnome don't carry the same "weight" that OS X's aqua, and to a certian degree Vista's Aero have.

I've been trying to pinpoint for a while where this weight comes from, and I think part of it is an overall unity with subtle individuality. For instance, in OS X you have the unifying theme, and then have subtle variations on it with certain applications (like Safari's brushed metal, iTunes gray gradient, and Garageband's unique wood metal blend. Conversely Window's Media Player's shiny black interface, etc, etc).

I think that giving applications some control over their look, as long as it isn't too drastic, is good practice and makes for an overall better experience. The most variation I get on Ubuntu is when an application uses Gtk1, and that's not a good kind of variation. Also, I think that variation lends itself to MDI applications, like The GIMP. When one application has 3 windows, and all windows of all applications are the same color and everything, it can get somewhat overwhelming.

Actually, in his latest presentation Steve Jobs was saying how wonderful it was that Leopard finally has a unified look for apps. Apparently Mac users were complaining about non-uniform looks.

[bvc]

Windows too. It is not restricted to any platform.....yet....

[AlexC_]

Make sure you do something with the Panels, It's the same old story with every distro - first impressions of the Bootscreen are amazing, then the GDM screen is again great - but once you login, you are faced with the same old boring grey flat panels.

No one ever thinks about the panels =( Poor panels =(

[Hairy_Palms]

you can make GTK2 apps use a different theme, like this

GTK2_RC_FILES=/home/mike/.themes/Murrina-Eternal_Blue/gtk-2.0/gtkrc rhythmbox
and you can use alias to make it permanant,
obviously you need to have mike as your username and Murrina-Eternal_blue installed for that exact command to work but you get the idea :)

[bvc]

not all apps obey the call

[Omnios]

Hi again. You might want to look into charcoal and black themes. Though they sound cool there are a lot of problems with them such as drop down menus in Firefox etc. A glossy black or charcoal might prove interesting.

Another interesting color aspect is neon like glow as just about all neon themes suck. A 3d shade gloss affect might work well with this. I'm kind of partial to the matrix green but it might be interesting to expand on the scrolling lettering and use a shading gloss affect for the window borders etc. Anyways we can talk more about this and the regular problems with this type of theme.

[ConnyBK]

Great plan, dannymichel.

I'd love to see a new design that's not too similar to the actual available designs. I think many of them are OK, but none are really really good. I couldn't find a theme yet to which I would have said: "hey, great theme!".

...nevertheless I love the mockup which DROWE859 pointed out

[Hairy_Palms]

not all apps obey the call

afaik all gtk2 apps obey the command

[dannymichel]

Hi again. You might want to look into charcoal and black themes. Though they sound cool there are a lot of problems with them such as drop down menus in Firefox etc. A glossy black or charcoal might prove interesting.I would NEVER go near any kiddy dark themes.
First rule of design.
Software or Web

Great plan, dannymichel.

I'd love to see a new design that's not too similar to the actual available designs. I think many of them are OK, but none are really really good. I couldn't find a theme yet to which I would have said: "hey, great theme!".

...nevertheless I love the mockup which DROWE859 pointed out
Thanks.
Wish I had an ETA for you guys.

[brainee28]

This is what I did with mine...borrowed a bit here an there, but I like the smooth and sleek of the look.

[Codename]

Look people...
Seriously...
I'm an accomplished (and I think) talented web/graphic designer. I am willing to take requests and make a new and totally ORIGINAL GTK/Berl theme if there is enough demand for it.
I can create the graphics and cut it up for us, but someone with experience with themes will have to actually convert it into an actual theme.

My ideas:
A predominately 3 color design, of which will be light, easy on the eyes colors.
Compact design.

If anyone has more ideas, just post them here.
If someone wants to help me convert it'd be great if you could post here in this thread too.

I see NO themes on GNOME that are good enough in my standards.
It might be a little arrogant on my part, but I want to make this happen.
My work will speak for itself.
I'd like a Ubuntu colored wallpaper (light brown) and a somewhere in the wallpaper the Ubuntu logo and a cup of coffee, haha.

[bvc]

afaik all gtk2 apps obey the commandmaybe so, but try some gdk>gtk=xul apps. I'm quite sure gtk apps didn't either but that was over 8-10 months ago, so maybe that's been fixed.

[Bosiak]

hey buddy
how is your work progressing? Since you showed us color scheme, there was no progress :P

[crimesaucer]

This is what I did with mine...borrowed a bit here an there, but I like the smooth and sleek of the look.

The top panel is really nice looking.

[zero-9376]

just as a note regarding screen space usage, i filled my 1680x1050 screen with icons in both ubuntu and xp and xp allows litterally DOUBLE the number of icons 121 for ubuntu v 242 for xp. i get that gnome is supposed to be simple and part of this may be not cluttering the desktop, but seriously DOUBLE?

[berniefranks]

I'm on board with your crusade for a sexier Ubuntu/Linux experience.

I'm no programmer, but I am a graphic designer, and I actually have been working every now and then on a modified Ubuntu theme, as well as designing interfaces for nonexistent software like Ubuntunes. :D

I enjoy using Ubuntu, but most of it (along with included software) is absolutely butt ugly. I don't think that the colors are particularly that bad, though, they could just be used more effectively.

[bvc]

afaik all gtk2 apps obey the commandI looked a little into this. Now, I did this on an up2date dapper. I have edgy, but never use it and I'm downloading the feisty iso right now with wget (I'm dialup :D ).

if I did
GTK2_RC_FILES=/home/bvc/.themes/Murrina-Eternal_Blue/gtk-2.0/gtkrc evolution
then started evolution from the menu or panel which has a commandline of
evolution --component=mail
it doesn't work for me. Since
--component=mail
doesn't have a thing to do with the theme, I find this ridiculously sloppy coding, but then I'm not a programmer that knows what it takes to do something like that. It's these kinds of little details that are in the 100's that annoy gnome themers. I don't know if this happens on newer releases or not.

[crimesaucer]

I'm on board with your crusade for a sexier Ubuntu/Linux experience.

I'm no programmer, but I am a graphic designer, and I actually have been working every now and then on a modified Ubuntu theme, as well as designing interfaces for nonexistent software like Ubuntunes. :D

I enjoy using Ubuntu, but most of it (along with included software) is absolutely butt ugly. I don't think that the colors are particularly that bad, though, they could just be used more effectively.

I think the real trick would be a few of you expert guys working on a theme engine that is even more customizable than the murrine engine, or any other Linux gtk-2.0 theme engine known.

Then, add complete documentation of every option and the different ways to draw the widgets, and also have an option to use your own pix_map images for buttons, toolbars, and all other widgets...

That's my wish.

[dannymichel]

I think the real trick would be a few of you expert guys working on a theme engine that is even more customizable than the murrine engine, or any other Linux gtk-2.0 theme engine known.

Then, add complete documentation of every option and the different ways to draw the widgets, and also have an option to use your own pix_map images for buttons, toolbars, and all other widgets...

That's my wish.
That is EXACTLY what this is.

[crimesaucer]

You're building a theme engine? I thought you were just creating a single theme.

[ComplexNumber]

You're building a theme engine? I thought you were just creating a single theme.
from the very begining, it seems that the OP wants to design both an engine and a theme to utilise it....although he may have believed that he was just wanting to design a theme.

[lyceum]

I'd like a Ubuntu colored wallpaper (light brown) and a somewhere in the wallpaper the Ubuntu logo and a cup of coffee, haha.

I know this was a joke, but really, if you were to make a new theme for Ubuntu, using Ubuntu colours, I would rather it looked like coffee than poo.

[crimesaucer]

from the very begining, it seems that the OP wants to design both an engine and a theme to utilise it....although he may have believed that he was just wanting to design a theme.

I've followed this thread from the beginning, and I just re-read it after your comment above...and after re-reading it thoroughly, I have to say that this thread has talked about panel preferences more then anything else. Maybe I've missed something that was said in a different thread or IRC chat...

It also spent the rest of the time on wallpapers, color palettes, and suggestions for different looks. I liked the wallpaper color and design (maybe not the penguin, but everything else), and I didn't care much for the 3 different color palettes...

I saw a brief 4 or 5 posts at the very beginning about theme engines such as pixbuf, murrine, and clearlooks.

bvc talked of using the pixbuf engine, and IYY suggested making a theme with the menu bar blending into the window decoration sort of like this: http://themes.beryl-project.org/repo/images/57-solidLINE-1.0.emerald.png

...but I never read anywhere about creating a completely new theme engine...which I think would be the answer, maybe not for a "default" theme, but for something new besides murrine and clearlooks.

Now, I don't know all of the details of how theme engines are designed or how difficult it is...so please excuse me if I say something ignorant....but I think if a new theme engine had more possibilities then all of the other theme engines put together, then we could not only make a new theme, but enable more customization afterwards...

I like how the murrine engine has so many options...but I think that one of you talented designers should build a new theme engine with completely new ways to draw all of the buttons, toggle buttons, ComboBoxs, OptionMenus, ComboBoxEntrys, GtkCombos, GtkEntrys, checkbuttons, radiobuttons, progressbars, Columns, Frame shadows, tabs, scrollbars, menubar, and toolbars, rather then using an existing engine that we already have.

...and maybe it could include new possibilities to draw for specific apps.

Please take my suggestion as constructively. It's jut that I would like to see a new look that hasn't been done already, like most the themes that are in Gnome-looks.org, Xfce-Look.org, and KDE-Look.org...

I totally support this thread and hope we pull together on a nice theme, and then we can add an icon pack and some beautiful panels, and even a few different wallpapers to go with it.



...also...for the theme engines, does anybody have a link to how a theme engine like murrine or clearlooks is written. I would love to learn some details about it.

[kpolice]

Learn C and learn to use the Cairo library.

[bvc]

I've always said someone should perfect the disaster we call the pixbuf engine, but no one wants to touch it. I said on this very forum when cairo came out and people drooled over the coming themes, it wasn't going to happen any time soon. How long has it been? Almost two years. I was the negative person that didn't know what he was talking about, but having themed gnome for years you'd have thought someone would have listened. So here we are 2 years later and the pixbuf engine is still as limited as ever, and the cairo engines aren't near the promised eyecandy we thought. The cairo engines that can't look near as good as an pixmap are just as slow and nothing elaborate is done because it then becomes a dog. I have no problem of course with that option, but a pixmap theme that looks far better can be made in a fraction of the time and be just as fast or faster. I really don't know for sure because no one has made a really good cairo theme yet to be alble to compare. If someone put as much time into pixbuf as these cairo engines we'd be rock'n already. There's always the "Learn C and learn to use the Cairo library" but themers are like designers, we are not coders and have no desire to be (generally speaking). Themers theme, not code engines. /end of rant :D

I haven't been theming (although I just re-worked the ports TiSkin, TiCons, and Xi-GNOME Icons yesterday to release in the next few days at DA). I mentioned possibly being interested in putting this one together because for years I said I am not a graphics artist and if someone who was would make the images I would convert it into a theme.

[kpolice]

He asked how an engine is written that's why I gave him that answer, and believe it or not sometimes we theme designers are coders too but I just don't like C. I work everyday with Java though :P .

[bvc]

Yes, I know what your intent was, I wasn't slamming you. Sorry, it sounded that way.

[thorwil]

So an engine like clearlooks uses drawing operations but no pixmaps and no cairo and is faster than any engine doing so?

As a designer with limited interest in coding, I would love to see a theme authoring application where one can create widgets like in a combined vector / bitmap editor. Actually, vector only could be fine, but with blur, clipping, masking and perhaps compositing modes like layers in GIMP / PS have. Maybe with Flash-like animation capabilities for the bling-fraction. The same thing could be a great tool for developing custom widgets. I know this would be a huge effort and I'm not holding my breath ;)

[ikonia]

This thread has been around for a while

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=437694

and seems to build on whats already there in gnome - add some polish and try to incorperate ideas from other OS's - some work, some don't in my opinion. But the overall look to the theme of gnome looks reasonably polished.

[crimesaucer]

That thread is a mock up...it's just a wallpaper with a proposed panel bar, and a proposed dock that is doing all sorts of things (are they possible? I don't know)


I like where this thread is going, because we might actually piece something together...either with a current engine, or maybe hopefully something new.


Anyway, I find that mock up terrible...not to be a jerk or anything, but it looks like a step backwards...the top panel is pinkish...and I never have liked the OSX docks that much, they're cool and all, but I think of docks as something that you add...like Conky.


I also like the style of the orange glossy wallpaper better...maybe not the penguin part...and maybe drawn with a different feel, but it has a nice desktop glossy look to it and should be the step in the right direction.

Since I haven't stated what I would like to see in a theme yet, I'll do my suggestion part now:

these are just suggestions, you can listen to them or not...

1.) I would like to see new buttons that don't look like any of the current buttons with the crease in the middle and the corners. The same goes for all of the toggle buttons, ComboBoxs, OptionMenus, ComboBoxEntrys, GtkCombos, GtkEntrys, checkbuttons, radiobuttons,

2.) I would like to see a nice rounded corner button with the glossy look and a nice gradient texture to it.

3.) I would like to see no "sunken" buttons, only beveled out buttons that have the appearance of being round, similar to most of the glossy panels and Emerald window themes you see these days.

4.) No Apple/Vista looking themes and buttons. Or colors.

5.) I wish there was a different way to draw the shadows between the menubar/toolbars...I don't like the way most of them look so I don't use them at all in any of my themes.

6.) I like a gradient in the menubar and the toolbar to give it a nice look, I hate when it's all one flat, solid, color.

7.) I hate when a theme use the same gradient for the menubar and the toolbar so they look bad when on top of each other.

8.) Please don't make the progress bar look like a stripped barbershop pole....I have never liked those progress bars...I like a gradient or nice glossy look to the progress bar...

9.) As for the color of the theme, I would like to see a glossy White menubar/toolbar color, either like white metal or a glossy white milky plastic look, similar to the feel of most panels these days.

10.) I would like to see it accented with Black font, and the ubuntu Orange icons and a faded Brown and creamy Tan in places...

11.) I would make a different wallpaper.

12.) I would make a nice glossy black panel bar, better then the UbuntuStudio one, and theme it with matching buttons for the Orange Human theme...like for the start button...

13.) I would like to see you make a new wallpaper that was the dark Brown Ubuntu color, but with that same glossy curvy feel, and no penguin.


...So in the end, I picture a new Dark Brown glossy Ubuntu desktop wallpaper (since that is what ubuntu is known for), with a newer and better glossy panel (maybe slightly transparent), and a new and improved Ubuntu start button and active buttons for the panel.


And with that darker back drop of Black and Brown...you would have bright, glossy, milky-white apps that use the default Ubuntu Human glossy Orange icons, and a color palette of matching light tans and Ubuntu specific colors for the File System stripes... then the overall gtk theme would be very glossy and smooth with a "rounder feel".


I know that it sounds like the basic theme with the average black panel...and it is... because I like the way the Ubuntu look is, especially when it is given the black glossy panels...but what I hate is that boring gray for the gtk theme...I think a milky white glossy look on that brown wallpaper and black accenting for the panels and window themes would make for a beautiful theme.


I'm actually going to make that exact gtk-theme and then I'll post it here...it won't have any of the fancy new buttons because I don't know how to make them, but I will make it how I make my current Xfce themes, just to see if the color scheme works for a new look instead of the gray/tan thing.

[dannymichel]

That thread is a mock up...it's just a wallpaper with a proposed panel bar, and a proposed dock that is doing all sorts of things (are they possible? I don't know)


I like where this thread is going, because we might actually piece something together...either with a current engine, or maybe hopefully something new.


Anyway, I find that mock up terrible...not to be a jerk or anything, but it looks like a step backwards...the top panel is pinkish...and I never have liked the OSX docks that much, they're cool and all, but I think of docks as something that you add...like Conky.


I also like the style of the orange glossy wallpaper better...maybe not the penguin part...and maybe drawn with a different feel, but it has a nice desktop glossy look to it and should be the step in the right direction.

Since I haven't stated what I would like to see in a theme yet, I'll do my suggestion part now:

these are just suggestions, you can listen to them or not...

1.) I would like to see new buttons that don't look like any of the current buttons with the crease in the middle and the corners. The same goes for all of the toggle buttons, ComboBoxs, OptionMenus, ComboBoxEntrys, GtkCombos, GtkEntrys, checkbuttons, radiobuttons,

2.) I would like to see a nice rounded corner button with the glossy look and a nice gradient texture to it.

3.) I would like to see no "sunken" buttons, only beveled out buttons that have the appearance of being round, similar to most of the glossy panels and Emerald window themes you see these days.

4.) No Apple/Vista looking themes and buttons. Or colors.

5.) I wish there was a different way to draw the shadows between the menubar/toolbars...I don't like the way most of them look so I don't use them at all in any of my themes.

6.) I like a gradient in the menubar and the toolbar to give it a nice look, I hate when it's all one flat, solid, color.

7.) I hate when a theme use the same gradient for the menubar and the toolbar so they look bad when on top of each other.

8.) Please don't make the progress bar look like a stripped barbershop pole....I have never liked those progress bars...I like a gradient or nice glossy look to the progress bar...

9.) As for the color of the theme, I would like to see a glossy White menubar/toolbar color, either like white metal or a glossy white milky plastic look, similar to the feel of most panels these days.

10.) I would like to see it accented with Black font, and the ubuntu Orange icons and a faded Brown and creamy Tan in places...

11.) I would make a different wallpaper.

12.) I would make a nice glossy black panel bar, better then the UbuntuStudio one, and theme it with matching buttons for the Orange Human theme...like for the start button...

13.) I would like to see you make a new wallpaper that was the dark Brown Ubuntu color, but with that same glossy curvy feel, and no penguin.


...So in the end, I picture a new Dark Brown glossy Ubuntu desktop wallpaper (since that is what ubuntu is known for), with a newer and better glossy panel (maybe slightly transparent), and a new and improved Ubuntu start button and active buttons for the panel.


And with that darker back drop of Black and Brown...you would have bright, glossy, milky-white apps that use the default Ubuntu Human glossy Orange icons, and a color palette of matching light tans and Ubuntu specific colors for the File System stripes... then the overall gtk theme would be very glossy and smooth with a "rounder feel".


I know that it sounds like the basic theme with the average black panel...and it is... because I like the way the Ubuntu look is, especially when it is given the black glossy panels...but what I hate is that boring gray for the gtk theme...I think a milky white glossy look on that brown wallpaper and black accenting for the panels and window themes would make for a beautiful theme.


I'm actually going to make that exact gtk-theme and then I'll post it here...it won't have any of the fancy new buttons because I don't know how to make them, but I will make it how I make my current Xfce themes, just to see if the color scheme works for a new look instead of the gray/tan thing.
Let's talk...
AIM: danielmichel0101 Yahoo~: danielmichel0101 MSN: danielmichel0101@hotmail.com ICQ: 488336961 GTalk: xcingix@gmail.com

[crimesaucer]

Let's talk...
AIM: danielmichel0101 Yahoo~: danielmichel0101 MSN: danielmichel0101@hotmail.com ICQ: 488336961 GTalk: xcingix@gmail.com

Sure but not right now, I'm about to go off-line...I also will have to add an IRC app to contact you (I never use them so I don't have one installed)...I'll get in touch tonight if that's cool.

[ikonia]

I only added that link as an example of someone trying to do something different with the gnome look - ignore the mac os dock, I'm not a fan either, but things like the new buttons set, the gradient on the tool bar, the colour being a bit different but still maintaining an ubuntu theme. Thats where I was going, using the existing gnome layout - making it look new.

Rather than trying to re-write or change gnome.

[kpolice]

So an engine like clearlooks uses drawing operations but no pixmaps and no cairo and is faster than any engine doing so?

As a designer with limited interest in coding, I would love to see a theme authoring application where one can create widgets like in a combined vector / bitmap editor. Actually, vector only could be fine, but with blur, clipping, masking and perhaps compositing modes like layers in GIMP / PS have. Maybe with Flash-like animation capabilities for the bling-fraction. The same thing could be a great tool for developing custom widgets. I know this would be a huge effort and I'm not holding my breath ;)

Clearlooks use Cairo, almost every engine use it.

The application you want doesn't exist in any OS and I don't think you will get it anytime soon, especially in Linux. Just a note, try to create a theme for XP or OS X, it is a nightmare compared to GNOME, the worst is OS X but IMO the one with the best "themes".

Just use GIMP or PS and the pixmap engine, probably is not the fastest engine but in a not so old computer you won't notice the difference against other engines.

[crimesaucer]

I only added that link as an example of someone trying to do something different with the gnome look - ignore the mac os dock, I'm not a fan either, but things like the new buttons set, the gradient on the tool bar, the colour being a bit different but still maintaining an ubuntu theme. Thats where I was going, using the existing gnome layout - making it look new.

Rather than trying to re-write or change gnome.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude, I have been linked to that thread a few times and I guess I snapped. I agree with you about the button on the right and how it has a round circle look to it.

I'm also with "maintaining the ubuntu theme", I like the brown and orange look of ubuntu. I think we pretty much share the same view of a new theme, basically just a little touch up of the current one, to make it look newer in style.

As for the wallpaper, I like the Brown fading gradient, I just would go with a clean glossy look instead of that "fuzzy" blurry look, and maybe a bit darker so icons and apps stand out more.

[ikonia]

not a problem,

you get what I was going at, instead of trying to change gnome which isn't going to and perhaps shouldn't happen in the short time, look at whats there and instead of putting a new macos or vista theme together trying to do something new and refreshing, perhaps a little more modern with the existing gnome layout and tools.

Totally agree with your points made.

I've added the OP to some IM clients to try to chat to him as I think he'd be interesting but so far he's not been online.

[dannymichel]

I'll have a mockup for you guys some time within the next 2 weeks.
I have a LOT of other projects I'm working on right now.

[Paul820]

Heres some colours i like, what does anyone think of them? I prefer colours easy on the eye and natural to look at. I would love to see a theme based on some of these colours.

[dannymichel]

Heres some colours i like, what does anyone think of them? I prefer colours easy on the eye and natural to look at. I would love to see a theme based on some of these colours.
Ubuntu's coffee brown is ridiculous for an operating system.
THAT IS NOT design.
What is Apple went around designing IT'S operating system with all apple green or apple red?
It's NOT a good idea from a design stand-point or a corporate image standpoint.

[Paul820]

Ubuntu's coffee brown is ridiculous for an operating system.
THAT IS NOT design.
What is Apple went around designing IT'S operating system with all apple green or apple red?
It's NOT a good idea from a design stand-point or a corporate image standpoint.

A LOT of people actually like the brown, it's just put together wrong. If you mix and match a few subtle colours in with it, i think it would improve. And why would apple go green or red just because it's apple? The only relation ubuntu has with coffee colours is this forum and the bean count. The default theme in ubuntu doesn't even mention coffee, it's human. Natural colours of brown, beige etc look damn good if mixed correctly.

[dannymichel]

Ubuntu= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28ideology%29
Brown= African Feel
Ubuntu Linux= Brown
Brown= Terrible choice for OS colors.

[ikonia]

I quite like the natural thumnail colour set you posted.

[amlucent23]

Im not a designer nor do I have much artistic flare (I can draw really great stick people though!), but couldnt/shouldnt you use colors from the tango palate? I am sure you already thought of this, its an obvious choice so I am sorry for even mentioning it.

[vexorian]

for god's sake, ever considering apple to have set an standard of how UI should look is terrible.

Ubuntu has gone orange and it is a very pretty color, nobody cares about defacto standards and their blue, there's a difference between "good design" and "design I am used to"

[dannymichel]

Ubuntu= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28ideology%29
Brown= African Feel
Ubuntu Linux= Brown
Brown= Terrible choice for OS colors.
Bu tthis thread is not aboujt what I want.
If you guys want "Human" You will get "Human"

[picpak]

But why reinvent the wheel? Shouldn't fixing the Human theme be the art team's job?

[nocturn]

But why reinvent the wheel? Shouldn't fixing the Human theme be the art team's job?

That would be cool, but Feisty brought us desktop effects while Gutsy already has compiz-fusion BUT no outlook on a new theme.

Mind you, human is not plain ugly, it's just not OS X like beautifull... With the inclusion of compiz-fusion, we could deliver a stunning look with graphical effects that are stunning on hardware that would not even boot Vista.

[dannymichel]

I'm JUST playing around with colors
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/11/medium/Ubuntu-Mockup-Step-2.png?7197 (http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/11/Ubuntu-Mockup-Step-2.png)

CLICK THE ABOVE IMAGE TO ENLARGE
I repeat, JUST playing around with colors here.
http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/thumbs/angelina.png http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/thumbs/angelina-2.png http://www.ny-dev.com/forums/gallery/data/507/thumbs/theron.png

[radeon21]

The colors look nice... but it looks like a living room. Know what I mean?

I think it needs to be more bold.

[dannymichel]

The colors look nice... but it looks like a living room. Know what I mean?

I think it needs to be more bold.
Not sure what you mean bro.

[exploder]

I think the colors you have in mind look good, modern yet easy on the eyes.

[dannymichel]

I think the colors you have in mind look good, modern yet easy on the eyes.
Thanks

[Dec]

Very nice. I would probably change the yellow for something else.. Another light but different color. Very nice indeed!

[dannymichel]

Very nice. I would probably change the yellow for something else.. Another light but different color. Very nice indeed!
Thanks

[Dev0205]

Very nice indeed. :D

[Paul820]

Yes, i agree. Very nice, real modern and up to date look to it. :D Well done, can't wait to see the finished theme now.

[dannymichel]

Yes, i agree. Very nice, real modern and up to date look to it. :D Well done, can't wait to see the finished theme now.
I got a few PMs from forum members and some have contacted me via messenger.
We are forming a group VERY soon.
This is GOING to happen.
It's been too long for Linux.
Official announcement to come soon in this thread.

[Merk42]

Are the 3 thumbnails the same with a different background? I can't enlarge them.

I sort of feel 'file' and 'view' may be difficult to read.

In future screnshots you should include two windows, one in focus, one not

I also don't see the minimize maximize close buttons, but I guess that's what you meant by only playing with the colors?


I'd love to help, but alas, I've been told many times at work I'm not a designer.

[radeon21]

About it looking like a living room, I just meant that the colors are a little lacking in personality. I think colors that are a little bolder would do well. The colors are pleasant, just not quite what I imagined.

But, I'm definitely excited about this, I'm no graphic designer but I've always thought that I could do much better than the default look of Ubuntu and I'm hopeful that this actually goes somewhere. There's too much apathy about the look and too many people that get indignant or reply with "oh, well, you can't please everyone, so we might as well just leave it like it is". That's the worst attitude you can take. Best of luck.

[AlexC_]

Yes, I agree with Radeon. IMO the colors are to pale and dirty looking, also I think everything is far to rounded. Keep it up though!

Here is my desktop if you're interested, it still keeps with the Brown style - but it is far less orange than Human:

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8687/desktopeu7.th.jpg (http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=desktopeu7.jpg)

Edit: You may want to take a look at the July Desktop Thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=489082) - the first image shown by testtube_babies is pretty damm good.

[melalcoolique]

I guess you know this wonderful KDE mockup (http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/Kde4+Mockup?content=28476).

[nocturn]

Really nice!

[Traldan]

I'm VERY interested in following your progress. Looks like some nice work so far, I can't wait to see some early mockups (beyond just color explorations).

[moredhel]

*eagerly awaits announcement*

EDIT: I thought I recognised that avatar ;)

[berniefranks]

I dig the mockup, though I'd like to see a color scheme geared more towards subdued oranges instead of yellows. I'd love to help out in the designing in any way I can.

I just saw this video of Compiz Fusion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w&v3) and remembered this thread, and suddenly got excited about where Linux is headed.

[moredhel]

Also, It would be great to make variations of this theme, say an all greys/grey-blkue/black-grey/green-white :D

[crimesaucer]

I like the mock-up so far.

I made a new xfce theme for myself, I sort of themed it to match the xubuntu colors, and the colors of the UbuntuStudio icons that I think are some of the best folder icons out.

This is similar to the the look that I was thinking of for an ubuntu theme that I had been talking about making.

What I would do (and might do just to see how it looks), is, that I would change the main color to a white/light-orange/silver. And I would also use the ubuntu colors for a lot of the trim...

plus a nice black panel to match a nice black window border theme.



This is my current look for xubuntu using the xfce engine:




http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-22-13.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-22y-1.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-38-8.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-38-9.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-39-7.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-39-8.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-31-10.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-31-9.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-30-14.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-30-13.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-23-13.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-23-12.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-27-8.png
http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/crimesaucer/Screenshot-27-7.png

....now I made this for me, but what I might do for an "ubuntu theme" is to make a similar theme like above, but with a silver/white color that would match the Ubuntu Human colors better. This would just be a regular default theme, nothing to fancy, I just think that the gray color that most of the default themes are is really boring.

So in the end, it would be a nice clean and shiny theme that is white/silver like my theme above...but with dark panels and window borders, a nice brown ubuntu wallpaper, and I wish someone would make an icon pack like UbuntuStudio icons with the Human orange colors.

I think that would look nice....I also think the style in the mock up is very nice too.

[berniefranks]

I guess you know this wonderful KDE mockup (http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/Kde4+Mockup?content=28476).
Dang, while it could certainly use some tweaking, I really like that design. Wouldn't mind seeing something like that come to Ubuntu.

[justinjstark]

I wish you luck Danny.

But, one thing that you will find: a lot of what you have in the mock-up is not possible.

In the gtk theme, you can specify base colors that will be used in menus but you cannot, as far as I have seen, make them rounded. The way you have the workspace switcher would require creating a whole new applet. The scollbar would require a whole new theme engine (like clearlooks). And good luck getting nautilus to look anything like that. You have more work in front of you than you realize.

I do have one criticism. The workspace switcher is quite awful. I would lose track of windows if I had to mouse-over the workspaces to see what windows were where.

Oh, and bring back the second panel. ;)

[kknd]

I have a suggestion:

Smooth colors and transitions are good, but try to avoid low contrast between widgets (lcd monitors suffer from low contrast).

[bvc]

In the gtk theme, you can specify base colors that will be used in menus but you cannot, as far as I have seen, make them rounded.
correct. gtk2 can not do transparency yet. Pretty amazing for a menu really. You'd think it could be like any other image that is stretched. Engines can't do it either. It's a gtk2 issue atm.


The scollbar would require a whole new theme engine (like clearlooks). Why? I don't see anything dificult there.

[potrick]

He made it pretty clear he was just messing around with colors. I don't think what you saw in the mock of was at all indicative of his plans. I could be wrong, though.

[crimesaucer]

I was hoping that one of you would make a new theme engine that would have new scrollbars and button styles.

[Anonii]

Just wanted to wish good luck. I love projects that start from a simple forum post.

[dannymichel]

He made it pretty clear he was just messing around with colors. I don't think what you saw in the mock of was at all indicative of his plans. I could be wrong, though.
You are 100% right.

[potrick]

Then there you have it everyone.
And I really hope this project yields results, OP. Keep us posted!

[LazyB]

Wow, I really like it, and I've never posted a comment to compliment a theme or a background before (come to think about it, I've never had the need to login and post before).

I'd really like to thank you, and I hope that the work continues. I hope this materialises.

LazyB

[Traldan]

Any progress? I hope you continue work on this, I'm eager to see how it all turns out!

[dannymichel]

I'm working on it. It's there, but as I said, I have many projects and this is the only free one so...

[dannymichel]

We will have something for you guys next week

[por100pre1]

Dannymichel, Ubuntu Studio needs help (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=519284). It would be appreciated!

[potrick]

I know you've got other projects on the go, so I'm not going to nag. I'm pretty excited about what might come of this, though, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[por100pre1]

We will have something for you guys next week

We are waiting...

[Merk42]

I'm sure it's with good reason, but it's a shame this thread seems to have died.

[phrizek]

I'm sure it's with good reason, but it's a shame this thread seems to have died.

Yeah, I was really looking forward to seeing what would come of this.

[graabein]

Love the effort and I like the proposed colour palette except maybe the yellow. Maybe it fits in, it's easier to see with more mockups.

I can't understand the suggestions that this should be another orange-brown effort when we already have default Ubuntu. :confused:

Just chiming in my thumbs up for one panel on the top and the blended theme (http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=26050), and I really like the still life icons (http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Still+Life?content=22914) but sadly the project looks pretty dead. Check them out if you haven't seen them dannymichel.

Good luck!

[dannymichel]

I know it's been a while.
I ASSURE you we are working diligently.
Sorry I cant show you a preview right now.
This is quality stuff.

[Anonii]

I know it's been a while.
I ASSURE you we are working diligently.
Sorry I cant show you a preview right now.
This is quality stuff.
<3

[Chymera]

Ive seen the last preview you posted, but i have to agree that the colors are too pale and and lack personality. But what distrubs me most is that it looks far too much like a website, its supposed to be an operating system!

I see you have "secretary" (the movie) on your disk, like it? :D

[por100pre1]

Ive seen the last preview you posted, but i have to agree that the colors are too pale and and lack personality. But what distrubs me most is that it looks far too much like a website, its supposed to be an operating system!

I see you have "secretary" (the movie) on your disk, like it? :D

Secretary is a good movie, Amelie is another good one. :)

[Chymera]

Secretary is a good movie, Amelie is another good one. :)

Amelie is a better movie, but secretary is ... in certain ways.... more intriguing

[crimesaucer]

Did this thread end?

[potrick]

I'm just about ready to pronounce it dead.

[floke]

Shame.

[potrick]

And a damn shame at that.

Maybe some of us should set up a bounty for a definitive theme?

[adamorjames]

I read all the posts o_O. I don't think this thread is dead yet :) Remember the designer said that it would take a while to make the theme. I can't wait to see a new pic of what has been done I bet it's awesome. I'm pretty sure the theme will be professional quality.

[moredhel]

THIS IS NOT DEAD!

I REPEAT: NOT DEAD!

I'm in contact with the guy and he said he's working on it, expect it before the end of the year certainly.

He's very busy with other stuff as well which is why there is a lack of feedback on here.

[Merk42]

Well can we at least see what has been done so far? Otherwise 1 of 2 things will happen.

The thread will die and we'll forget about it
We'll all hold our breath and hype it up amongst ourselves so much so that we'll be disappointed with whatever is delivered.


Also, it appears that HH will be going with Orange and Black? Wouldn't that put a major kink in this whole process?

[adamorjames]

Well can we at least see what has been done so far? Otherwise 1 of 2 things will happen.

The thread will die and we'll forget about it
We'll all hold our breath and hype it up amongst ourselves so much so that we'll be disappointed with whatever is delivered.


Also, it appears that HH will be going with Orange and Black? Wouldn't that put a major kink in this whole process?

It doesn't matter what HH does. The designer started working on this before HH was announced. :)

[Anonii]

Am I the only one disliking the fact that this project has no open-sourceness in it? I mean, we don't have a "new" sketch from the designer, and we only got a "I'm working on it. Patience is a bliss" type reply 3 weeks ago, with no pictures of advancements or progress.

[adamorjames]

Am I the only one disliking the fact that this project has no open-sourceness in it? I mean, we don't have a "new" sketch from the designer, and we only got a "I'm working on it. Patience is a bliss" type reply 3 weeks ago, with no pictures of advancements or progress.

I do think there should be a new pic showing the progress. What the designer does to his theme is kinda his choice which makes me kinda not bothered with what you are bothered by :). After the designer gets done with the design then you can change it if you want... isn't that what open-sourceness is, changing what other people make with no worries? Improving and such...

[Paul820]

The op did say they were very busy with other projects. Give them time.

[moredhel]

It may be that he hasn't had a chance to work on it since the initial ideas that he posted here, and that he will power ahead with the design in a few weeks...

[nocturn]

Also, it appears that HH will be going with Orange and Black? Wouldn't that put a major kink in this whole process?

Where did you find that out? Are there any mockups of something yet (I'm hoping for a revamped look for the next LTS)

[adamorjames]

Where did you find that out? Are there any mockups of something yet (I'm hoping for a revamped look for the next LTS)

It's in a thread one sec let me find it...
EDIT: here it is (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=565685) no mockups yet

[nocturn]

It's in a thread one sec let me find it...
EDIT: here it is (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=565685) no mockups yet

Thanks, I hope it will look GREAT, not like the current Human theme which looks OK, but plain.

With the default inclusion of Compiz-fusion...

[nocturn]

I think this thread/project is dead now despite some earlier news that it was not. A damn shame.

[adamorjames]

I think this thread/project is dead now despite some earlier news that it was not. A damn shame.

Not dead, just hibernating.

[moredhel]

Ok it's not like I said last time.

I will inform the thread when he decides to not do it.

[Anonii]

Some teaser shots, at least? :(

[Merk42]

Some teaser shots, at least? :(

dannymichel hasn't been in the forums in over a month, so don't hold your breath for anything.

[texangod]

A new default theme is a great idea. I'm VERY new to Ubuntu and overall I like it, but it is kinda bland looking. Everyone says how customizable it is and I'm sure that's true, but when newbies can't figure out why they can't get a DVD movie to play in Totem then they probably won't want too spend much time trying to learn how to change font colors on their toolbar.

A nicer looking default theme would also be more attractive to potential new users. First impressions DO matter a LOT. It's a lot easier to tolerate all the travails of learning a new system (for Windows converts) if you have a favorable opinion of it to start with.

I think an Earth theme would be perfect for this. Ubuntu is supposed to be about humans and Earth seems to be pretty popular with most humans. Something with blues, greens, and (maybe) browns - warm, subtly attractive, but not too flashy. After all, Earth is the ULTIMATE theme.

[crimesaucer]

This Thread R.I.P.

[Angellis_ater]

One should be careful what great things one promises, when one cannot deliver.

[Merk42]

One should be careful what great things one promises, when one cannot deliver.

And the point of bumping this thread was...?

It's clear dannymichel was assassinated by the art team, long ago.

[Oldsoldier2003]

This thread has long outlived its purpose. the last activity of the OP was September 23rd, 2007. Click