63

Hi,

I'd really like to see a default theme installed with KDE4 that has a more conservative look, especially for the panel. My dream would be something that looks like the default Gnome panel. Most of all no transparency. Aya comes close to this but still has some transparency and some gradients that I'd like to get rid of. The theme "plain" that was once available on KDE-look and can still be found here: http://www.kde-look.org/CONTENT/content-files/83174-plain_06.tar.gz came even closer to what I'd imagine.

I know that some people really like all this transparency and background patterns and gradients but to me it's more confusing and gets in the way of my work. And I know I'm not alone here, many people at my work still choose the "Classic" Style for Windows XP.

But for KDE4 it's almost impossible to find a theme that doesn't use transparency and gradients at all nowadays (as I said, even Aya uses some)

My point is: it's ok, if "stylish" themes are developed for KDE4. It's even ok to make those default to show off. But it would be nice if it was really easy to change to a more conservative theme without having to search for themes or even modify existing themes.

Please think about this and thanks for all your effort.

+1 to this. It is hard to read anything at all on those semi-transparent panels / notifications.

I wouldn't use a plain theme myself, but there are many people that would. There is no reason to leave them hanging high and dry, so this is worthy of a yes vote.

However, I agree that the fancier themes must remain default. KDE's modern look is a major reason I'm currently using it over Gnome.

Good idea. Personally I love a theme like Air but it would be good if there was a plain and simple one, even simpler than Aya. Then again, its probably reasonably easy to make one... Why not try it?

An interesting variant would be to provide a theme that is specifically designed to consume the least amount of memory.
Memory use reduction was one of the original promises of moving over to Qt4, but if it indeed happened, it was lost with all the eye candy.

The Air theme is very good... only if you have composite enabled!
One of the nice things Windows Vista bought to the UI world, is the notion that the desktop interface should be discrete (as black), because the real attention should be placed in the apps itself, and not in the DE. That is why I use KDE without plasmoids in the desktop and with oxygen theme, is simply gets out of your way.

should be easy to accomplish, it\'s just artwork. if someone creates one and is willing to maintain it, i\'m happy to put it into the kde-artwork bundle for release with the main KDE software distribution.

(as for comments on memory consumption, i doubt it\'s the plasma theme used)

@protomank: that\'s an idea that predates Vista by quite some time. i was presenting on that exact idea and was one of the original ideas behind Oxygen when it was started some 4 years ago. it\'s also an idea seen in the world of art framing that emerged over a hundred years ago. Vista may have made more people aware of the concept (though i think they did a really poor job of it, tbh) but it\'s not a Vista innovation or idea.

aseigo wrote:Vista may have made more people aware of the concept (though i think they did a really poor job of it, tbh) but it\'s not a Vista innovation or idea.

Sure, I never said it invented it
I was sad when air replaced Oxygen, because it is just.. gray! It is like returning to KDE3 visuals. Having a dark blue, green or even black is much better, IMHO.

protomank wrote:

aseigo wrote:Vista may have made more people aware of the concept (though i think they did a really poor job of it, tbh) but it\'s not a Vista innovation or idea.

Sure, I never said it invented it
I was sad when air replaced Oxygen, because it is just.. gray! It is like returning to KDE3 visuals. Having a dark blue, green or even black is much better, IMHO.

It doesn\'t *replace* Oxygen. It\'s just another, *option*.
That said, I think the Air theme is very refreshing and, moreover, I think the entire point of Plasma is to make the desktop important again. Before Plasma, what did the desktop really do? Drew a picture and showed a folder. Pff!

Here is a "conservative" theme but still beautiful : Cream
http://kde-look.org/content/show.php/Cr ... ent=100849

I love it because it is easy on the eyes and is still quite stylish

EDIT : (oups, ok it has some transparency... not really the best for your request)

Thank you for stating this request so clearly. As of kde 4.3 the only major thing blocking my use is the lack of definition/contrast between text and backgrounds. I would like to see default themes that provide the best clarity of text while showcasing features that do not reduce usability.

An option to turn off transparency for certain features (panels, folder views) while still allowing other composite features (shadows, magnification, transitions, etc) would be ideal. I like many of the effects provided by the composited desktop but transparency behind text (or low contrast between text and background) keeps me from being able to read what I am looking at.

I'm sure good eyesight would make a difference but that is not an option for me 8-(

As a user without compositing due to lousy video card drivers, I'd like more transparency-less Plasma themes too. But should those be discussed here or on kde-look?

Dare I say it would be nice to have something that looked a little like windows classic. It has to be simple and to the point, something you would find on a corporate desktop. Nice rounded corners but no transparency or background svg like air.