[ubuntu-art] using a dark theme

[tonic]

I often wish we could have two colourings for controls. One dark one for
controls out of focus and light colours for the active window. There is
a compiz plugin can fake this but actual correct colouring would be
better.

For example using the ADD Helper plugin I currently have non-focused
windows darkened 10%, and de-saturated 50%.

tonic


On Thu, 2007-11-15 at 14:28 -0600, Matthew Nuzum wrote:
> I've been experimenting with using dark themes. I've tried the Ubuntu
> Studio theme, which looks very shiny, and I've tried a customized
> theme which looks like this:
> http://code.bearfruit.org/~matt/MattsDesktop.jpg I used my customized
> theme for two weeks, I've been using Ubuntu Studio for about two
> hours.
> 
> Number one problem with the two themes I've used is the lack of
> contrast in icons, and especially text. 
> 
> Number two problem is that a lot of contrast between the window (white
> web pages, etc) and the chrome around the window or on adjacent
> windows makes it difficult to re-focus your eyes when switching tasks
> or applications. 
> 
> Number three problem is that some programs make poor assumptions about
> the background colors of some of the widgets. For example, the url
> drop-down list in firefox or the auto-complete dropdowns that show up
> below firefox's form fields. These appear to be black text on
> dark-dark grey and are nearly unreadable. 
> 
> These things will need to be addressed with care.
> 
> That being said:
>  * The transparency of inactive windows in the ubuntu studio theme is
> beautiful. I'm personally getting tired of glossyness, but the ubuntu
> studio theme's dark gloss could support transparency even on the
> active window. 
>  * The Orange and grey theme I've been using has turned a lot of
> heads. Like the Apple doc, it's long-term usability is questionable
> (since the lighter grey affords less contrast) but it sure does
> attract eyeballs. 
> 
> -- 
> Matthew Nuzum
> newz2000 on freenode