Author Topic: (SOLVED) How do I configure the colour of the panel?  (Read 969 times)

Offline besonian

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(SOLVED) How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« on: May 07, 2011, 02:29:11 AM »
It seems to me the question I am about to ask should have a very simple answer. Except I can't figure it out. So it might sound a bit of a daft question - even so, how do I change the colour of the panel in Xfce? Or is it not possible? I've got the rest of the desktop looking as I want it. But I'd really love to be able to do something with the rather flat, slightly grey/blue colour of the panel.  

And while I'm about it - I've just come back to Xfce. I'd tried it a number of times in the past and liked it. But I needed to do the rounds within PCLOS and try the others out. KDE4 isn't for me. Just feels cumbersome and bloated. Gnome I like very much, but am wary of what the situation's going to be like when Gnome3 hits the repos. I know Tex will, as usual, make it as trouble-free as possible, but it it's anything like the confusion brought about by the launch of KDE4 I don't want to be around it. LXDE I like too. But I'd forgotten just how good, fast, efficient and configurable Xfce is. So this is primarily to thank those hard-working, creative guys working on it. Excellent job. Thank you.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2011, 06:47:21 AM by besonian »
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Offline sasdthoh

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2011, 10:59:40 AM »
I opened the xfce menu, then opened the xfce 4 settings manager, then clicked appearance. The first tab by default displays six different color themes that change the color and look of the panels and windows, borders, etc.

I would also like more theme control. What I want to know is how you can add more themes to the existing six. Thanks anyone for suggestions.

sasdthoh

Offline Sproggy

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2011, 12:32:06 PM »
all themes are located in /usr/share/themes ... you can download additional GTK themes from Synaptic for Phoenix and Phinx ... or alternatively you can get some great themes from XFCE-Look

Kori

Offline besonian

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2011, 03:36:27 PM »
Thank you, guys. OK, as far as the panel is concerned I see now. Seems like in my playing around with settings I was changing the colours of the panel but I wasn't seeing it because large parts of the pane were obscured by a huge spacer. (Gonna take me some time to get my head around this). But Kori - some of the emerald themes look great. But here comes another stupid question - how to I actually get to apply any one of them? I can see no means of doing that. OK, I'm tired and should be in bed. But that's just and excuse really. Help!
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Offline Sproggy

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2011, 11:24:01 PM »
Thank you, guys. OK, as far as the panel is concerned I see now. Seems like in my playing around with settings I was changing the colours of the panel but I wasn't seeing it because large parts of the pane were obscured by a huge spacer. (Gonna take me some time to get my head around this). But Kori - some of the emerald themes look great. But here comes another stupid question - how to I actually get to apply any one of them? I can see no means of doing that. OK, I'm tired and should be in bed. But that's just and excuse really. Help!

Emerald themes need compiz and emerald theme manager installed ... if you install compiz remember to turn the native compositing engine off (XFCE Settings MAnager >>> Window Manager Tweaks >> Compositing) or else it can mess up your visuals ... you use emerld theme manager to import your emerald themes and set ...

Kori

Offline GermanTux

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2011, 07:33:47 AM »
I opened the xfce menu, then opened the xfce 4 settings manager, then clicked appearance. The first tab by default displays six different color themes that change the color and look of the panels and windows, borders, etc.

I would also like more theme control. What I want to know is how you can add more themes to the existing six. Thanks anyone for suggestions.

sasdthoh

If total control over appearance is your goal have you tried KDE?  I have criticisms of the project, but they do a great job of allowing the user to configure their desktop practically pixel by pixel. 

PCLOS does have a GTK2 theme manager built into Phoenix, however, which works great. 

Offline besonian

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Re: How do I configure the colour of the panel?
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2011, 06:46:53 AM »
Kori - thank you. I guess that answer that. I'll have a go at that later today.

And GermanTux - I know what you mean. I try KDE from time to time but for me there's always too much bloat. Too many coloured balloons and party-stickers flying around - if you get what I mean. What I really like about Xfce is its simplicity and the sense that it's there in front of you to do a job. And it looks good too. But thank you all the same.
We are here and it is now. Further than that all human knowledge is moonshine.