Linux offers countless possibilities of customizing how it looks and feels. Ubuntu is no exception and I am sure you will enjoy applying different themes and be amazed by the effects and animations.

As Windows user I always felt limited somehow in terms of watching still the same themes. Surely it is possible to customize Windows and even apply new themes, but the procedure is much more complicated, whereas in Ubuntu it is pure fun. When you get into it, you will be able even to create your very own themes like I did myself. Don’t hesitate and feel free to download and use the Emerald themes I’ve created.

In the video I’m explaining how to change preinstalled themes (also called Metacity themes) and customize panels. Then I move to more advanced customization replacing Ubuntu’s default theming manager with Emerald. You will also need to install CompizConfig Settings Manager (Compiz is Ubuntu’s compositing window managers that uses 3D graphics) to be able to apply new settings and you can play with it and change the effects and animations of windows or desktop.

You can download very nice Ubuntu theme packages from Bisigi Project

Simply enjoy and leave comments!

(The best you’ll enjoy the video in HD.)

Compiz can use Emerald window themer which themes contains sets of pictures for different state of window buttons (like maximize, minimize or close button) and bunch of settings for window borders. You can edit all of these in Emerald itself and it will generate final theme file for you. Incredibly easy!

The only thing that is up to you is create the pictures (and edit settings). I decided to create them in free vector graphics editing application called Inkscape. You can surely use also Gimp or anything that suits you better. However in this article I won’t show you how to create such themes or pictures with Inkscape. This post is for those who want to download my themes and use them on their system as they are free.

The tutorial on how to tweak Compiz settings and install Emerald theme will be possible to find in Computers – Linux category soon.

All these themes I created have several common features:

• Although look is Mac-styled, the feel is kind of Windows affected as the main buttons are in the top right corner, making it easier for Windows users to get used to
• All themes uses this color scheme for buttons:
  • RED = close button
  • ORANGE = minimize button
  • GREEN = maximize button
  • PURPLE = help button
  • GRAY/BLUE = shade/menu button

Please feel free to download and share:

Download Themas Mc’Winlin (AllRound)

Download Themas Mc’Winlin (Glass)

Download Themas Mc’Winlin (Flat)

Stay tuned for more!