GIMP Version: 2.8.8
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: Windows 7
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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Hi!

I've been searching here and on the Interwebs for more than two hours for assistance on this, but I'm not finding much that is helpful.

The problem (a very minor one): I've tried out dozens of themes, and I've found a couple that I really like ... except for a minor thing here or there. Usually that thing pertains to font styles; I'd prefer more contrast between menu items that are selectable, and those that aren't. And I'd prefer that, what is selectable, stands out from the background.

A couple of themes in particular have the non-selectable menu items emboldened (which seems counter-intuitive); others place black text on a dark gray background. And in another theme, the non-selectable stuff is barely discernible from everything else.

I've figured out that adding .txt a theme's gtkrc file allows me to open it up and to make changes. I also know that I can change out the .png files easily. But if I merely want to change font colors, I'm not sure which changes to make.

So ...

1) Is there a way to quickly and easily tweak fonts in that gtkrc file without breaking things?

2) How do folks create these themes in the first place? Because if there was a tutorial out there which can teach me how to code my own GIMP themes from scratch, I'd definitely be interested!

The truth is that I may be too nitpicky; but if I could write my own GIMP theme, then I could turn a character weakness into a strength!

Hi,
I didn't answer this as I don't have much knowledge in this subject just my own experience of playing around...I was hoping that someone would have jumped in by now.
From the little I know, in regards to colors, your are looking for this section in the gtkrc file

Just make a copy of the gtkrc file so you can revert back to the original if you mess it up or don't like your changes.
As for creating your own theme from scratch, I can't help you there.
If you don't understand the color code values ie (#e5e5e5), When you open Gimp, in the Color selection dialogs, the hex codes are shown there.
Hope that helps you a bit.

Hi fluffy!

Via a lot of trial and error, I was able to get what I wanted. In case anyone's curious ...

1) GTKRC files (on my machine) don't have a file extension. Tacking on a ".txt" lets you open it up in MS' default Notepad. Then, you're greeted with an incomprehensible wall o' text. NOT putting the ".txt" at the end and using Notepad++ results in something that's formatted and decipherable.

2) After finding the section that looks like what is in fluffybunny's post, I started substituting hexadecimal colors. Then, save, close GIMP, restart it, and checking the results. Rinse and repeat as necessary. I'm still not completely sure what "PRELIGHT" means!

3) I altered and, with another theme, exchanged some of the .png files. Franken-theme is ALIVE!!!
//maniacal laugh

Once I learn what I'm doing, I'll be quite dangerous!

Thanks for checking back.

Yes I agree Notepad++ is a great tool.
I too have experimented with more failures than successes.
Simple color changes seem to work OK, but only through a lot of trial and error.

Glad you are making progress and enjoying yourself.
In the end I found a theme that I liked and then re-focussed my efforts in learning Gimp rather than theme writing and understanding GTK2.

Regards

Hi you guys. Pretty old this thread but I am working on exactly the same kind of problem which NFiorentini describes. See attached thumbnail. Inactive items in the menu are better readable than normal active ones. I am fiddling around with gtkrc of the theme but I dont find the property which sets this damn white indent shadow. If there is a way to fix this please let me know.

All the research I've done has seen people complaining about it for years and that it is hard coded into GTK+ and cannot be changed.

Kevin

edit: Except maybe by using a different rendering engine: http://www.gimpchat.com/viewtopic.php?f ... 53#p103499