[ubuntu-art] hardy artwork

[Sumit Chandra Agarwal]

I think the 2D icons for the 'system tray' is an excellent idea because 
currently the top panel in Ubuntu is a befuddling array of icons with no 
clear sense of hierarchy. For a new user there's no strong sense of 
difference between the 'start' icon, the firefox icon, and system tray 
icons, so it coalesces into something like Apple's dock, which itself is 
confusing as a jumble of icons. However, Apple's top menu excellently 
distinguishes these important differences, and rightly makes the 'system 
tray' be a graphical equivalent of indicator lights found on most laptop 
bezels (but, notably, not on Macs).

I like the idea of an 'etched' look for the system tray icons, with the 
caveat that if they are made too subtle or too gray, they may look 
'inactive' and unclickable.

Ubuntu Tweak looks great. I'll have to try it out.

I think we should aim for a single standard 'look'/visual style and try 
to provide novice users with a simple 'color' or 'hue' slider to change 
the color of their desktop without changing widget shapes or being able 
to change brightness or saturation in a way that compromises usability 
or app compatibility.

As far as instructions not to have dramatic visual differences from LTS 
to LTS, I want to point out that Microsoft and Apple do exactly that: 
they make dramatic visual changes. And for this they get tremendous 
attention and excitement.

Finally, I do agree that 3D should be enabled by default is the computer 
is capable, but currently the 3D effects and the human theme seem to 
clash. 3D effects are all about softness and subtlety. Human is far too 
solid, too tactile, too old. In particular, the 'dividers' (i.e. panel 
dividers) and scroll-bar center-markers are far too lumpy, dark, and coarse.

But I really think the first order of business (as a usability, not 
aesthetic issue) is creating a visual hierarchy between the main 
interface icons. Right now looking at my Ubuntu panels I have:
'ubuntu' icon
firefox
email
'?' (I guess this is 'help')
tracker (looks like a grafitti icon. totally illegible)
updates notification
network icon
speaker icon
power off
show desktop (at the bottom)
recycle bin.

Each and every one has equal visual weight. This needs to be broken down 
into several weights:
HIGHEST VISUAL WEIGHT:
'start' (ubuntu icon)
SECOND VISUAL WEIGHT (application launchers):
Firefox
email
THIRD VISUAL WEIGHT (desktop commands):
show desktop
recycle
shutdown
tracker
LOWEST VISUAL WEIGHT (system tray):
updates
network
speaker
battery

I would differentiate by making the 'ubuntu' icon largest, the app 
launchers somewhat smaller. Not sure how to handle the desktop commands, 
but I feel like these should all be orange circles with white 
silhouettes in them. Finally the system tray should be monochrome and 
look 'etched'.

Sorry about how much this message meanders.
-Sumit

sylvain marc wrote:
> I agree with you Ken,
>
> We must have a theme based on elephant for the walpaper and for the 
> GDM (with 2 possibilities : the list of users and the other one...),
>
> We must use the brown colors for Ubuntu, and the blue colors for Kubuntu.
>
> For the 2D icones, it will be necessary to change them, for making 
> them more modern...
> I think it will be necessary to make 3D icones too.
>
> For Gnome, i think it will be interesting to use *Ubuntu Tweak ( 
> http://ubuntu-tweak.com/ )*
> instead of gconf-editor.
>
> For the theme, i think it was necessary to hav the possibility to 
> change all the colors of all the elements...
> But it was necessary to have the possibility to keep the "old themes" 
> we use actualy in 7.10, and int the precedents...
>
> Others propositions :
> I would like that the Logitech camera will be better recognise (the 
> mine isn't recocnise)
> I would like that the dual screen was automaticaly used if there are 
> two screen (my second screen isn't recocnise automaticaly, i must 
> modify the xorg.conf and i think it is not normal)
>
> Eventualy, make the 3D by default for the computers able to do it...
>
> Sorry for my verry bad english... i hope you understand me.
>
> Sam7
>
> 2008/1/28, Kenneth Wimer <kwwii at ubuntu.com <mailto:kwwii at ubuntu.com>>:
>
>     Hi all,
>
>     This mail attempts to clear up some issues in the art direction
>     for Hardy
>     Ubuntu. As already stated we will not be changing things
>     radically. Here are
>     some of the things I would like to see changed and some possible
>     ideas for
>     them.
>
>     1) Wallpaper: Ideally dark and mysterious yet modern, clear and clean
>         a) It should use the palette (in a previous post, email me if
>     you missed
>     it)
>         b) If nothing else, we will continue to use the elephant
>     background for
>     Hardy.
>
>     2) GDM: Lighter, friendlier than the wallpaper but inline as far
>     as artwork
>     goes.
>         a) Until now we have used a different background image for GDM
>     (ie not the
>     wallpaper). I would like to see Ubuntu use a common look for the
>     entire
>     experience (usplash throuh GDM, Desktop) but this is not a
>     definite *must
>     have* for Hardy. If possible we can work towards this.
>
>     3) 2D Panel Icons: simplified panel icons - those on the right
>     side, some (me)
>     might call them system tray icons :-) I've looked into using an
>     etched look
>     for these as well as a very simple 2D look. I'll be posting these
>     images
>     later today so we can look into the possiblities and discuss them.
>
>     4) Murrine or Clear Looks as a GTK/WinDeco theme. The overall look
>     should not
>     change radically, and in any case the colors should be very
>     similar, perhaps
>     moving slightly to a bit more orange version (but only slightly).
>         a) I would like to use a theme in which one can change the
>     colors (not
>     possible using the older style gtkrc). Ideas have been posted
>     based on the
>     clear looks engine but they have the problem that the selected
>     menu items
>     look too pale/light compared to what we have now and each
>     toolbar/menubar/etc
>     has a line between them. Murrine seems to be the most flexible
>     theme, perhaps
>     it would be the way to go.
>
>     In addition to all of this we have lots of bugs with icons: menu
>     icons, and
>     especially the package related icons in the System menu. I'd like
>     to see some
>
>     Look forward to more of this in the future :-)
>
>     Thanks,
>     Ken
>
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