Kubuntu io theme for the 10.04 LTS Release (download)

[Loadus]

[img width=400 height=207]http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/kdesudo-kio.png[/img]


Testdrive the early beta:
http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/kio-rc.7z

Icon sketches (10.9MB):
http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/kio.7z

__________________________________________


Helloes to all Kubuntu-folks out there!

Ever since I read the project Timelord brainstorming document, I've been tinkering
around on my Kubuntu theme to have a look that I would like to see out-of-the-box.
Before I go any further, I'd like to point out that this is just a humble suggestion, not
a "you-have-to-use-this-or-the-cute-bunny-gets-it" kind of post. Everything you see
here is just brainstorming on the visual aspects of Kubuntu, with mostly screencaps
from various stages of designing the could-be-look of 10.04.

Back to simplicity

I wanted a theme that was calm, unified, not in any way distracting, and a theme that
is simplified to the extreme. Now, here's a small problem - not everyone likes overly
simple UI. To some, too clear interface is the distracting aspect. That's why I need the
Kubuntu community's feedback, ideas and feelings about these mockups.

I've only tinkered the colours so far. The font is not possible to use, since it doesn't
look good without anti-aliasing (it's "Futura" with modifications to work well with the
anti-alias effect). Also, I think it's proprietary font anyway, requiring some paid licence.
The font is also very hard to read on smaller screens, I'll look for an alternative but
the default sans font that is now in use would probably go well too.

I haven't touched the icons (well, some, like the folders, but they're templates from
deviantArt), but I probably will take a shot at creating at least a partial icon theme.
I'd love to have Jimmac back as the default cursor theme, nothing against the current
theme, it's just me, I prefer jimmac.

I started out with removing the "server" look* of the default theme (8.04 theme being
my favourite theme of all time). The feel started to fall too much towards Window$
look, so I turned around and started going more to the '8.04 meets Google'.
*It's funny, I've heard this from couple of peeps trying out Kubuntu 9.04 for the
first time.

There's a chance that my couple of hours of tinkering have made the UI fubar, but
I'm posting it anyway. If I hear any word of interest from the devs, I'd love to hand
out a complete UI package for them.

Here's the screencaplist from today (1.7MB of stuff):
http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/ly...suggestion.htm

- Is it too OSX?
- Is it too Google?
- Is it too Windows?
- Is it too empty, colourless etc?
- Would it fit the Kubuntu look in any way?

Hit me with your rhythmstick.

[MoonRise]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Smooth with a Professional feel. Nice. Not M$ feeling. Can't say for OSX or Google. Nice. I'd like to see the refined finished look.

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Thanks,

I'll have to pick a good font to go with this, something that's readable and clear.
It's possible I have to return to square one and use the default sans. : /
I also have a stack of wallpapers I plan to give away for the 10.04 release. I probably
have to join the #IRC channel at some point to ask about these, and mainly to ask
if they already have settled on some theme.

[MoonRise]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

I've always liked the "Georgia" FONT from M$. Use it on my machine here as the base FONT.

[c2006]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

It looks nice, the only issue might be that it's actually quite similar to Fedora's GTK theme (it's something about that shade of blue on the title bar that does it). I do like the folder icons though...

In addition, the icon you've used for the K Menu might better be suited as a KPackageKit icon, or as an icon for the Applications tab of the K menu. I actually think a stock Kubuntu logo would fit well as the icon - its colours are very similar in tone, and it'd be a link between the panel and applications.

As far as font, I do think Sans would actually work well with this. I like the ideas, it feels very airy and free, which I suspect is the general feel you were going for, and you've conveyed it well.

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Thx muchos,

The icons on those previews are templates that I grabbed from the web. I'm now
working on the iconpack for this theme (a lot of work on that), and here's some
quick shots with the new icons. These are very very WIP, so things will probably
change a lot on these:

http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/icons.png
http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/icons-02.png

Why the weird folders?

I don't know. I wanted to see something new I guess. :P

[MoonRise]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

I do like the icon in the first link. The folder isn't bad, but not my style. Although I really never gave much thought to how the folder icon should appear to my eyes.

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Posting more WIP stuff. I've been tinkering with the icons more,
just quickly doing the most visible ones (no way I could pull off
1200+ icons due 04.2010). I'll release all the icons as public
domain (if not GPL, but I'm not fond of licencing).

I guess I'll name the theme 'Kubuntu io':



http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/ku...io-preview.png

[ashsalama]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Where I can download that theme

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Where I can download that theme

I'll make the icon theme (beta) available first, then maybe later the theme. Hopefully the theme will be included with 10.04 release, so you'll get it with that.

I might make the whole bundle available in this thread, so peeps can test it out. ^^

[MoonRise]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Where I can download that theme

I'll make the icon theme (beta) available first, then maybe later the theme. Hopefully the theme will be included with 10.04 release, so you'll get it with that.

I might make the whole bundle available in this thread, so peeps can test it out. ^^

That would be great if you could make it avail. here. Here is something I worked on. Don't know if you can use it or would even want to, but anyway, here you go:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3107781.0

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

That would be great if you could make it avail. here. Here is something I worked on. Don't know if you can use it or would even want to, but anyway, here you go:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3107781.0

Uuu. That's a nice one. I just might add that to the icons.

Meanwhile, here's the early beta of the icon pack (10.7MB):
http://www.loadusfx.net/lucidlynx/kio.7z

There are no small icons (8x8, 16x16) so open dialogs etc will look funky to say the least.
Most icons are unchanged Tango icons with some random temps, so the look WILL be
ackward. Only the main icons are done, with some application and device icons.
This is like version 0.00001 so don't expect much. Have fun.

[MoonRise]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

Thanks! As soon as I get a chance, I'll try it and let you know.

[pansz]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

IMO useability is the most important for a theme.

I think a decent Kubuntu theme should be:

1. have KDE4+gtk2+KDE3 version. (yes some really good applications are still KDE3, but GTK2 support is a must here.)
2. obey the "sweet point" KDE4 design philosophy, i.e. when you push your mouse to the top-right corner of screen, the close button of your window should be focused at this point. the similiar should work for the top-left corner.
3. font is irrelavent for a theme, because I'll always use my own font, think: your font is available only in English and all non-English users (especially CJK users) will use another font, so you should design your theme to work for different fonts anyway.
4. support some general feature: global-menu for example. We don't need an option to toggle that, if user placed an xbar at the panel then we enable the global-menu, if user does not have any xbar plasimoid then we keep the traditional menu.

[Loadus]

Re: Suggestion for Kubuntu 10.04 LTS default theme

@pansz:
Very good points there. And almost all of those are met with this theme - haven't tested the sweetpoint thingy yet (right now I'm at work on XP).

With this theme I will focus mainly on KDE4, but Kubuntu will apply that theme to GTK applications as well (like Gimp on one of the screenshots).

As for point 4., the theme does not touch the inner workings of the menus/windows and does it's best to apply the selected colours and borders etc. I'll have to try the xbar plasmoid to see what you mean, but I'm pretty sure that it works.

Good post, I'll have to make a note of these.