Unity

Location of Icons, Fonts, and Backgrounds in Unity

Asked by Flavelle

I'd like to see if I can adapt the Nimbus theme (GTK2+) that was used in OpenSolaris to be used in Unity. In order to do that, I need to understand where various files are located, and what those files need to be named. There may be a 'global' location and there may also be a location for the individual user.

In an ideal world, this should be documented, in which case, I'd like to see the documentation. Otherwise, a list of the locations so that I can poke around.

There also used to be documentation on how to install a new theme in the GTK desktop. I was hoping that there might be some documentation for Unity. If there is not any documentation, then if a technical person wants to work with me, then I can do a wikki. For a sample of one of my wikkis, please see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/fballem

A major driver for me is that I have a client who is currently using 10.04 and the nimbus-ubuntu theme. Given his physical challenges, the theme is perfect I'd like to migrate him to 12.04, but I would like to use the nimbus theme. I will probably need to modify it for use, given that it is a GTK2+ theme, and is doubtless missing some of the icons that are needed in unity.

Thanks,

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Aleksandar Jovanov
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Best Aleksandar Jovanov (ajovanov93) said : 		#1

Unity depends on gnome which in turn depends on gtk3.
So you need to port your theme to gtk3.
The best way to do so would be to look at themes at http://gnome-look.org/index.php?xcontentmode=167
There is also a template theme at gnome-look.
Theme directories are stored in ~/.themes (this directory might not exist in a new install).
As for unity, the only thing that can be themed is the top panel.
There are some themes which support theming the top bar like Orion (http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Orion?content=148527)

To create gtk 3 themes you will need to learn / use css.

I do not understand what do you mean with icons.If you create a gtk theme you do not need to mess with icons.
If you create icons theme all icons are installed locally in ~/.icons( again this might not exist after a new install).
You can use inkscape to create icons.

And finnaly global paths:
Icons : /usr/share/icons
Themes : /usr/share/themes

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Flavelle (flavelle.ballem) said : 		#2

Thanks so much for this information - an excellent place to start looking!

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Flavelle (flavelle.ballem) said : 		#3

Thanks Aleksandar Jovanov, that solved my question.