Revision 50 as of 2007-01-26 08:48:39

Clear message

There are many ways to customize Ubuntu to look cooler.

If you've got any cool additions, add any fairly short items to this page, and add longer items to their own pages with links from here.

Changing Desktop Wallpaper

Right-click on your desktop and choose Change Desktop Background. Pick a wallpaper from the list, or choose the Add Wallpaper button to add an image from any directory.

attachment:ChangeDesktopWallpaperNewResized.png

Use the Desktop Colors selector to change the background behind translucent or semi-transparent images - this works very well with SVG graphics.

Changing Desktop Themes

Ubuntu comes with a selection of desktop themes, and many more can be downloaded from websites.

Ubuntu 7.04 Development version: click System → Control Center. Then click Theme. Ubuntu 6.10 and earlier: click System → Preferences → Theme.

attachment:ThemeDialogue.png

Download each theme, then drag the theme file onto the Theme Manager. It will now appear in your list of themes.

Themes can have:

  • Controls - sometimes called GTK Themes

  • Window Borders - sometimes called Metacity Themes

  • Icons.

Most themes include all of these items, some only one - you can find those by clicking the Theme Details button. Here you can also mix and match elements from different themes.

Changing Login Window (GDM) Themes

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Gnome Desktop Manager (GDM) controls the login screen in Ubuntu. There are several themes pre-installed, and many more can be downloaded.

In Ubuntu 7.04 Development Version:

  • Click System → Control Center → Login Window. Click the Local tab to change themes.

In Ubuntu 6.06:

  • Click System → Administration → Login Window.

In Ubuntu 5.10 & Earlier:

  • Click System → Adminstration → Login Screen Setup, then click the Themed Greeter tab and choose a GDM theme.

To install new login screen themes, save the .tar.gz with your theme on it to your Desktop. In the Login Screen program, press the Install New Theme button, find your new theme's file, and press the Install button.

Then simply select the new theme from the list of available themes. You can also set it up to pick a random theme on every boot, rather than picking just one theme.

Changing The Splash Screen

Ubuntu 6.06:

  • Install gnome-splashscreen-manager. Start it by selecting System → Preferences → Splash Screen.

  • Install new splash screens with the 'Install' button, by navigating to the file you want to use for your splash.

Ubuntu 5.10 & earlier:

  • On the Gnome menu select Applications → System Tools → Configuration Editor.

  • Select System → Preferences → Configuration Editor.

  • From the tree menu on the left select apps → gnome-session → options.

  • Right click on splash_image then select edit key.

  • In the value field enter the absolute path to the image file you wish to use for your splash screen.

Changing Mouse Cursor Themes

Ubuntu 6.06:

  • Download the theme to an easily accessible location - ~/Desktop is good.

  • Install the gcursor package via Synaptic or apt-get.

  • Start gcursor with System → Preferences → Cursor Selection.

  • Select a theme, or click 'Install theme' and select the compressed file to add it.
  • Once you're finished, select the theme you want to use and click "Close"

Getting Regular Art Updates

Ubuntu Calendar

The Ubuntu Calendar is a regularly updated package containing this months Ubuntu-themed desktop wallpaper. Just install ubuntu-calendar - see [:InstallingSoftware:Installing Software], then click System → Preferences → Desktop Background. You'll find 'Ubuntu Monthly Calendar' and 'Ubuntu Monthly Calendar Widescreen' added to the list.

Gnome Art Manager

Gnome Art provides an way to fetch backgrounds, themes, login screen art, and more from art.gnome.org. Just install gnome-art. See [:InstallingSoftware:Installing Software], and click System → Preferences → Art Manager.

Use the Art menu to select the category you wish to view.

Ubuntu Eyecandy Pages

  • [:QtGnome:Qt-Gnome]: Make KDE applications look the same as Gnome apps.

  • [:CompositeManager:Compiz] - Provides smooth, 3D animated window movement, desktop switching, 'expose' like application switching, transparent terminals, and more, including simple graphical configuration tools.

  • ["GnomeLaunchBox"]: Mac OSX-style application launcher

  • ["WallpaperTray"]: Picks a particular wallpaper each time you log in, or regularly.

Ubuntu Art Pages

  • ["ArtTeam"]: Ubuntu Art Team

  • ["Artwork/Official"]: Official Ubuntu artwork, and policy for using it.

  • ["CommunityArtwork"]: Community artwork links

  • ["UbuntuTitle"]: the official Ubuntu Title Typeface

Other Theme & Eyecandy Resources

CategoryDocumentation