[kubuntu-devel] Kubuntu default look

[Jonathan Riddell]

On Sat, Jan 21, 2006 at 12:58:59PM +0100, Flavio Tordini wrote:
> 1. Use nuoveXT (http://nuovext.pwsp.net/) as the default iconset. nuoveXT 
> looks very professional and is available for both for KDE and Gnome. Kubuntu 
> should come with both versions installed.

Generally speaking I like keeping in line with KDE for look and feel,
Crystal is popular and quite usable.  nuoveXT feels less usable to me
and as others have said is too close to Windows Vista.

> 2. Use DejaVu Sans Condensed instead of DejaVu Sans. The Condensed version is 
> smoother. The "sans" alias should be resolved to the chosen font and not to 
> Bitstream Vera.

Looks terrible on my LCD.

> 3. Provide GTK+ libs configured with the ClearLooks theme, nuoveXT icons, and 
> Dejavu Sans Condensed. ClearLooks is cleaner and more stable than GtkQt, 
> users care more about great looking apps than identical widgets everywhere 
> (think OSX Aqua and Brushed Metal). A typical user will surely need at least 
> one GTK+ application, and it has to look good out of the box.

Clearlooks brings in a bunch of depends which I don't really want on
the CD.  But I do agree that GtkQt isn't great.

> 4. Use bigger icons, 16x16 icons are a relic from the past. The toobar icon 
> size should be 32x32. Some applications still have way too much toolbuttons 
> (e.g. KOffice), they should be simplified. Small icons should be 22x22. Icons 
> in the KMenu should be set to 32x32: 
> http://purl.org/net/flavio/download/kubuntu-proposal/kmenu.png

32x32 feels far too big on a kmenu.  22x22 is too big for window titles
and panel taskbar.  

> 5. The color set is too dark/bluish. The "Redmond XP" color theme is a good 
> starting point, especially the light gray background. The "Contrast" setting 
> should be set to "Low". The "Alternate background in lists" should be set to 
> white. The violet Konqueror filelist background should be dropped in favor of 
> a plain white one.

The colours just follow the KDE default, which I'd like to keep.  Any
rationale for using plain white on konqueror's file manager instead of
the very light red/purple colour at the moment?  I don't think it is
distracting and you get a bonus kubuntu logo if you look closely.

> 6. The Lipstik style should be configured as shown in this screenshot 
> http://purl.org/net/flavio/download/kubuntu-proposal/lipstik.png, 
> especially the menu gradients should be removed.

What's wrong with the menu gradients?

Jonathan