How to install a Theme Selector for Gimp 2.8, 2.10 (Windows) Updated

Pocholo · **Joined:** Jul 28, 2018 **Posts:** 1196

How to change your Gimp theme with gtk2-runtime-2.24.10 and Theme selector for Windows 64 only.
***This is for those who would get bored like me an would like to switch Themes once in a while. Also for those who will like to change the Gimp program Font and size.

1. Download gtk2-runtime-2.24.10 and GTK+Themes from here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/gtk-win/ and https://gtk-win.sourceforge.io/home/index.php/Main/Downloads . Install both programs. Once installed, go to your: C:\Programs\Program Files (x86)\GTK2-Runtime. Click on the gtk_prefs file, copy and paste this file on your Desktop.

2. Go back to the GTK2-Runtime folder, and double click to open the folder: share and the double click to open:C:\Programs\Program Files (x86)\themes. Here you will see some Themes that comes with the program. Download this 58 Themes from my Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wz4j93h79zi4 ... QFXha?dl=0 go back to "gtk2 themes folder", and pour all 58 themes inside this folder. You can always add New Themes from: https://www.gnome-look.org/browse/cat/268/ .

3. Open any folder and make sure there is a Sub-folder name "gtk-2.0. Open the Sub-folder, there it should be a bunch of png images and the main gtkrc (procedure file).

4. Now, Press Ctrl and A, to Select All the folders and Copy all these folders. Go to: C:\Programs\Program Files \GIMP 2\share\themes, and first, delete all the themes, if there is any. Paste the copied Themes in this folder.

5. Like I stated before in Step 2, if you have a new Theme, you must place the theme folder in your: C:\Programs\Program Files (x86)\GTK2-Runtime\share\themes and copy the same folder to your: C:\Programs\Program Files\Gimp 2\share\themes folder.

6. Go to your Desktop and double click the gtk_prefs and you will have the Themes selector. From here you can set the themes you want and you can change the Font size and thickness you preferred.

7. Click OK, and press Yes, to overwrite the previous theme. Start Gimp, and you enjoy your new Theme.

8. If you Update to a newer version of Gimp or If your: C:\Programs\Program Files \GIMP 2\share\themes gets Overwritten, Copy the Themes from: C:\Programs\Program Files (x86)\share\themes and Paste them to the new version folder, C:\Programs\Program Files \GIMP 2\share\themes.

Wallace · **Posted:** Mon Nov 26, 2018 7:46 pm **(#2)**

I've installed gtk2-runtime-2.24.10,
but as you can see from my screenshot.
There isn't a file named gtk2_prefs.
For me to select, copy and place on the desktop.

It seems that I'm stuck on step number 1.
Is there some other action required,
that I need to do,
to have this file appear?

Also,
as for step number 2.
The folder named themes.
does not appear to have any theme folder within it,
or at least none,
like what you show in your screenshot of this folder.

I must be doing something wrong?

Pocholo · **Joined:** Jul 28, 2018 **Posts:** 1196

Wallace wrote:

I've installed gtk2-runtime-2.24.10,
but as you can see from my screenshot.
There isn't a file named gtk2_prefs.
For me to select, copy and place on the desktop.

[ Image ]

It seems that I'm stuck on step number 1.
Is there some other action required,
that I need to do,
to have this file appear?

Also,
as for step number 2.
The folder named themes.
does not appear to have any theme folder within it,
or at least none,
like what you show in your screenshot of this folder.

[ Image ]

I must be doing something wrong?

I am so sorry for the inconvenience, Wallace, I forgot to include that you have to download also the second download from the top gtk2-themes-2009-09-07-ash.exe - GTK+ Themes installer
https://gtk-win.sourceforge.io/home/index.php/Main/Downloads

Download from my Dropbox the 58 Themes that I showed on my tutorial from here and pour the themes inside the gtk2 themes foder: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wz4j93h79zi4 ... QFXha?dl=0

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:55 am **(#4)**

Pocholo wrote:

I am so sorry for the inconvenience, Wallace, I forgot to include that you have to download also the second download from the top gtk2-themes-2009-09-07-ash.exe - GTK+ Themes installer
https://gtk-win.sourceforge.io/home/index.php/Main/Downloads

Download from my OneDrive the 63 Themes that I showed on my tutorial from here and pour the themes inside the gtk2 themes foder: https://1drv.ms/f/s!Aj4sc4EuqRe9giEk4YayNQREBe3S

Thanks for amending this for us.

The gtk2-themes-2009-09-07-ash.exe - GTK+ Themes installer,
does not provide any of the other file shown in your screenshot.
For the themes that were added by the installer.
Only the gtkrc file is provided by the installer,
for each theme and none of the other files are present,
in any of the themes added by the Theme Installer.

However,
the Theme Installer,
does provide the gtk2_prefs file.

We would need to install,
or replace the theme file,
added by the Theme Installer,
with your theme files.
In order to have the other file within each theme's folder,
shown in your screenshot.

Also,
I selected all the theme file in your OneDrive link,
but can't seem to download them all?
How do we download all the theme file you provided in the link?
Without having to download each file individually?

Pocholo · **Joined:** Jul 28, 2018 **Posts:** 1196

Hi Wallace. Yes, some of the Themes folders are going to have a gtkrc only for all graphical user interfaces. The setting are stored in a plain text format and contains settings that set the appearance of interface components. For the folders with the pngs: the setting in the file uses colours and calculations to draw windows, whereas a lot of home-made themes use the pixmap engine which just uses pictures for its theming.

Now, make sure that You have the Main folder with the themes name. Inside this folder, there is Sub-folder name gtk-2.0. Inside this Sub-folder are some with the gtkrc only or the gtkrc with the images pngs.

Now try this link and let me know if it let you download the whole folder, instead of downloading each single files. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wz4j93h79zi4 ... QFXha?dl=0

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 3:37 pm **(#6)**

Pocholo wrote:

Hi Wallace. Yes, some of the Themes folders are going to have a gtkrc only for all graphical user interfaces. The setting are stored in a plain text format and contains settings that set the appearance of interface components. For the folders with the pngs: the setting in the file uses colours and calculations to draw windows, whereas a lot of home-made themes use the pixmap engine which just uses pictures for its theming.

Now, make sure that You have the Main folder with the themes name and inside, the Sub-folder name gtk-2.0. Inside of some them there it should be a gtkrc or the gtkrc with the images pngs.

Now try this link and let me know if it let you download the whole folder, instead of downloading each single files. https://1drv.ms/f/s!Aj4sc4EuqRe9giGiHBvurfYihc5B

Just so you know.
All the theme folder added by the Theme Installer.
Only contain the gtkrc file inside them.

* * *

I tried to download the theme files using your new OneDrive link .
I select the file,
that says it has 64 themes in it,
click the download button and get nothing.
I also tried selecting the file,
right-clicking on it and selecting Download,
but still can't download the files.

Edit
I was finally able to download the file and this it what it had inside.

I'm not sure,
if this is what you intended?
As the downloadable theme files?

Pocholo · **Joined:** Jul 28, 2018 **Posts:** 1196

Wallace wrote:

Pocholo wrote:

Hi Wallace. Yes, some of the Themes folders are going to have a gtkrc only for all graphical user interfaces. The setting are stored in a plain text format and contains settings that set the appearance of interface components. For the folders with the pngs: the setting in the file uses colours and calculations to draw windows, whereas a lot of home-made themes use the pixmap engine which just uses pictures for its theming.

Now, make sure that You have the Main folder with the themes name and inside, the Sub-folder name gtk-2.0. Inside of some them there it should be a gtkrc or the gtkrc with the images pngs.

Now try this link and let me know if it let you download the whole folder, instead of downloading each single files. https://1drv.ms/f/s!Aj4sc4EuqRe9giGiHBvurfYihc5B

Just so you know.
All the theme folder added by the Theme Installer.
Only contain the gtkrc file inside them.

* * *

I tried to download the theme files using your new OneDrive link .
I select the file,
that says it has 64 themes in it,
click the download button and get nothing.
I also tried selecting the file,
right-clicking on it and selecting Download,
but still can't download the files.

Edit
I was finally able to download the file and this it what it had inside.

[ Image ]

I'm not sure,
if this is what you intended?
As the downloadable theme files?

Darn it!

Sorry Wallace, that is not what intended. I had a little problem with One Drive. Here is the New link from DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wz4j93h79zi4 ... QFXha?dl=0 You should be able to download the whole folder. Gee, hopefully this time we'll make it.

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:45 pm **(#8)**

Pocholo wrote:

Darn it!

Sorry Wallace, that is not what intended. I had a little problem with One Drive. Here is the New link: https://1drv.ms/f/s!Aj4sc4EuqRe9qzUdEXs1u99pPVK6 You should be able to download the whole folder. Gee, hopefully this time we'll make it.

Sorry about this,
but I can't seem to download the multiple folders,
which is down to about 54 folders in total,
10 less than originally.

I select them all,
click the download button,
or link and nothing happens.

Mr Ed · **Joined:** Jul 03, 2018 **Posts:** 38

How do I use this in portable gimp?

Kimba · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 4:59 pm **(#10)**

Wallace wrote:

Pocholo wrote:

Darn it!

Sorry Wallace, that is not what intended. I had a little problem with One Drive. Here is the New link: https://1drv.ms/f/s!Aj4sc4EuqRe9qzUdEXs1u99pPVK6 You should be able to download the whole folder. Gee, hopefully this time we'll make it.

Sorry about this,
but I can't seem to download the multiple folders,
which is down to about 54 folders in total,
10 less than originally.

[ Image ]

I select them all,
click the download button,
or link and nothing happens.

Onedrive probably only lets you download one folder at a time. The same happens in Google Drive.

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 5:10 pm **(#11)**

Kimba wrote:

Onedrive probably only lets you download one folder at a time. The same happens in Google Drive.

I tried numerous times,
by selecting all the folders and clicking the download button.
Without any results.

I just now attempted to download the folders again,
using the same method and lo and behold,
I was able to download the 54 theme folders.
:yes

So there must be another issue,
which is causing the download to fail.

Mainah_Ayuh · **Joined:** Oct 12, 2016 **Posts:** 377

I am able to view & download 64 files from the 1drive link provided by Pocholo.

I had to download in 2 steps. The first zip file contained 38 theme files.

I then downloaded the additional 26 files individually.

Wallace · **Posted:** Tue Nov 27, 2018 6:13 pm **(#13)**

Mainah_Ayuh wrote:

I am able to view & download 64 files from the 1drive link provided by Pocholo.

I had to download in 2 steps. The first zip file contained 38 theme files.

I then downloaded the additional 26 files individually.

[ Image ]

I'm not sure what the issues is,
but this is what the download looks like now.
However I can't get it to download.

Pocholo · **Joined:** Jul 28, 2018 **Posts:** 1196

I Decided to change the Download from DropBox and I reduce the folder total to 58. You should be able to download the the whole Themes folder all at once. From now on I'm using Dropbox. Sorry to you all, again for the inconvenience.

Mr Ed · **Joined:** Jul 03, 2018 **Posts:** 38

How do I use this in portable gimp?

Wallace · **Posted:** Fri Nov 30, 2018 10:21 pm **(#16)**

Mr Ed wrote:

How do I use this in portable gimp?

I don't think the Theme Selector can be used with portable Gimp,
but I could be wrong about that.

However,
I do have Gimp Portable 2.10.2,
which was obtained from PortableApps.com.

I did a search for any Theme folders,
that might be present.
Within my portable Gimp's file location on my F:\ Drive.
There are 2 location that I found,
where theme files can be stored.

The first one was located at:
F:\Gimp Portable\GIMPPortable\App\gimp\share\gimp\2.0\themes

The other was located at:
F:\Gimp Portable\GIMPPortable\App\gimp\share

I just copied a few Theme folders and pasted them into the first location mention.

These Themes show up in the Theme Folder,
within preferences.
I select a theme from this list and it changes to the selected theme.
Without having to install the Theme Selector software.

Mr Ed · **Joined:** Jul 03, 2018 **Posts:** 38

It works, thanks for the tip Wallace.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Dec 05, 2018 4:11 pm **(#18)**

Mr Ed wrote:

It works, thanks for the tip Wallace.

You're welcome,
I'm glad it worked out for you.
:bigthup

mackenzieh · **Posted:** Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:23 pm **(#19)**

This process seems long. Is there an easier way to download and install the theme selector?

mackenzieh · **Posted:** Wed Oct 23, 2019 4:43 pm **(#20)**

I have the theme working and I like it however some themes give me fatal errors and shut down. Trying out every theme now. Will post which themes have the fatal errors.

It's just these two themes with the fatal errors: They are Mint Ocean and Wood Mint

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