Results 1 to 1 of 1

Thread: How To: Make Ubuntu 14.04 Look Better [GNOME]

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Beans
    1

    How To: Make Ubuntu 14.04 Look Better [GNOME]

    This will be an in-depth guide on making Ubuntu look pretty. However if you want the summarized version of it, watch this video on YouTube.
    Unlike Unity, Gnome is pretty stylish to begin with. I'm not hating Unity, I just prefer Gnome over it since it's really responsive. Here are 10 things you can do to even make it more stylish!

    Here is the final look: And uh..don't mind the LoL forums tab.


    SCREENSHOTS WILL BE ADDED SOON!


    #1 Update Gnome Shell
    I highly recommend updating Gnome since the default Gnome is 3.10. Having new features on is a fun thing to have.
    Note - one line at a time!

    Code:
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
    If you don't like it, it's cool! You can still do the 9 other things.
    Code:
    sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3-staging

    #2 Install Themes

    This is basically the heart of everything. Find a nice theme in the interwebs! If I were to choose then they would be the Iris Light and Iris Dark.
    Installing them is really easy to do.
    First of all download the theme files, then extract them to a folder of your choice. Open up the terminal and type the following code.
    Note - replace the text in bold with the actual theme folder location.
    Code:
    sudo cp -r /theme/file/directory/ /usr/share/themes/
    Once you've done that, run the Tweak Tool (it should be installed by default and change the themes.

    #3 Install Icons
    Quite similar to #2 and it should be not much of a hassle. I really love the Numix Icon set and I suggest you to try it out.
    Note - one line at a time

    Code:
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:numix/ppa
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install numix-icon-theme
    If you've got another icon set and want to install it (if they don't have a PPA for that), read this post since it pretty much covers up everything on installing icons.

    #4 Installing a Dock
    Since the dock is in the activities area (and you want to open, swap and close through programs with style), install Docky or Cairo Dock. Both of those docks are good but I prefer Docky.

    Code:
    sudo apt-get install docky
    #5 Getting a fantastic wallpaper
    If you find a wallpaper that matches with your theme and icon set, then that's awesome!
    Here
    are 100 minimalistic wallpapers that you must definitely check out.

    #6 Conky-Harmattan
    This is definitely one of the best looking desktop modules.
    Note that you need to install conky and curl for this program to work properly. Once you've done that, go ahead and download it.
    There's an instructions manual that comes with the archive so I don't think it's necessary to post it here.

    #7 Changing the color schemes
    It's weird if your theme and color scheme don't match. You can easily 'harmonize' those 2 with Elegance Colors.
    URGENT NOTE - You need to have the User Theme extension installed! Visit GNOME extensions and get it installed. Without it, the changes won't apply. (correct me if I'm wrong!)
    Code:
    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:satyajit-happy/themes 
    sudo apt-get update 
    sudo apt-get install gnome-shell-theme-elegance-colors gnome-shell-extensions
    Once you have it opened, just select the GTK Theme and hit apply! If the changes doesn't take place even with User Theme installed, alt + f2 then type 'r' to restart the interface.

    #8 Adding Transparencies
    Run Elegance Colors>Panel and click on the gradient (the one with 2 gradients beside each other) then select the totally transparent color. Repeat the same thing for the other one. Now it should look pretty!

    #9 Activities Dash --> Dock
    If you're fine with the dock in the activities panel, except you hate going through the process of showing it, you can now transfer the dock to the front page.
    Just install the Dash to Dock gnome extension and it will magically change place!

    #10 Move the clock/calendar from the center to the right
    This is something very trivial but it was a big change for me. By default the clock/calendar is placed at the center. FRIPPERY MOVE CLOCK MAKES THINGS SUPER EASY! Just switch it on (it's a gnome extension) and it should move by itself!
    Last edited by creeperslayercraft; May 20th, 2014 at 03:19 AM.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •