[wayne_cat]

Originally Posted by chrisccoulson The new one can be themed with standard GTK and Metacity themes

True ... so ... let's see what we can do:

1. Change the gdm background picture

The current settings

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --get /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename

Set a new background picture

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --set --type string --set /desktop/gnome/background/picture_filename /data/pictures/Grassy.jpg

2. The gdm gtk theme

The current settings

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --get  /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme

Set a new gtk theme (you can find them in /usr/share/themes)

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --set --type string --set /desktop/gnome/interface/gtk_theme Redmond

3. The gdm icon theme (changes the look of the computer icon ... icon above the hostname)

The current settings

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --get /desktop/gnome/interface/icon_theme

Set a new icon theme (You can find them in /usr/share/icons)

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --set --type string --set /desktop/gnome/interface/icon_theme Tangerine

and you can edit the file

/usr/share/gconf/schemas/gdm-simple-greeter.schemas

if you don't like the computer icon. Change the icon (<default>coputer</default>) in the section

<schema>
      <key>/schemas/apps/gdm/simple-greeter/logo_icon_name</key>
      <applyto>/apps/gdm/simple-greeter/logo_icon_name</applyto>
      <owner>gdm-simple-greeter</owner>
      <type>string</type>
      <default>computer</default>
      <gettext_domain>gdm</gettext_domain>
      <locale name="C">
        <short>Icon name to use for greeter logo</short>
        <long>Set to the themed icon name to use for the greeter logo.</long>
      </locale>
</schema>

4. The gdm user icon

This does not work

sudo -u gdm gconftool-2 --get /schemas/apps/gdm/simple-greeter/logo_icon_name

I haven't found it yet ... but at least we could overwrite

/usr/share/icons/gnome/scalable/stock/generic/stock_person.svg

but this icon may be important for other applications ... so don't do it.

solved: you can set the user icon for your user with

/usr/bin/gnome-about-me

What else can we do???

edit: added some information about paths (where can i find icon themes ... where can I find gtk themes)

2nd edit: you can change the user icon ... it's so simple