Hi all, recently started my linux journey with Fedora 40 KDE and just have a couple of questions around installing themes.
Found a nordic theme on the kde store (2146574) but after installing it, my desktop does not look like the screenshots. For example the top panel is not there. The bottom panel is still the same as before i installed the theme and there is no dock.
So my questions are:
Should my desktop look like the screenshots after installing a theme?
Does theming set panels and install docks?
In that link above do i need to pay attention to suggested settings?
In the files section there are 2 files. Which one do i choose/need?
Well um, you didn’t choose a straightforward desktop environment in terms of theming.
First of all, I checked the “theme” to see if it’s okay. It is.
Now. That theme is a Kvantum theme. It means that you can’t use it ( or hardly) with the default Breeze application style. You’ll have to install Kvantum first.
The theme consists of several parts. And they all need to be placed in the correct directory.
the colorscheme needs to be in ~/local/share/color-schemes
the plasma theme goes into ~/local/share/plasma/desktoptheme
Once Kvantum is installed, the kvantum theme goes in ~/.config/kvantum
the aurorae theme ( the window decorations) go in ~/.local/share/aurorae/themes. You might wanna create that directory.
Once all that is done, you open the kvantum manager and set the theme to be used. All the rest is done in system settings. Choose the application style (Kvantum), the plasma theme, the window decoration and the color scheme.
Again, a “theme” as which you are referring to is made up of several parts. The plasma “theme” covers the panels, desktop widgets and the main menu.
And no, a “theme” doesn’t set a desktop wallpaper. You’ll have to put that in the directory where you usually put your wallpapers and apply it as such.
This is what the same colorscheme would look like with the default breeze application style ( instead of kvantum). I will say this though. I got the files from the KDE store and there’s something wrong with the references. Because the link to the aurorae ( window decorations) theme gives you regular Nord ( brighter). Maybe the file on Github has the proper files. In either case, I ran the decoration svg through Inkscape to match the overall colors.
So just to check. When i installed that theme. The default panel at the bottom stayed there, there was no panel at the too with the application launcher, global menu and system tray and there was no dock/bottom panel that look like a dock. Do i have to set those up?
??? Yes. You can’t expect a theme to change your entire setup. That would be nuts. Noone would ever install a “theme” if it would change their entire setup/workspace/layout.
I strongly suggest you look up some on what does what exactly in terms of kde ui customization. Colorscheme, application style, window decoration etc… This is not android where you can switch from, say, square launcher to niagara launcher or whatever.
On a sidenote. I think kvantum is not a good way to learn how all the stuff kinda works together. Kvantum comes with a fixed theme and often a matching plasma theme. Both don’t adapt to the colorscheme in a way, for example, breeze or lightly do. With the latter, changing the colorscheme will change both window decorations, windows, plasma color etc…
For example ( never mind the icons or wallpaper), here’s a change of colorscheme with Lightly application style and an adaptive plasma theme.
Thank you, think it might be best i stick with breeze, really all i would like to achieve is the top panel with an application launcher, global menu and system tray and a dock at the bottom that auto hides and then the nord colors. Basically the pantheon desktop look with nord colours
Hi dzon, got a fair bit further, just a few questions if you dont mind. in that theme i found, there is a link called “folders” what is that for? I have now gone through appearance settings and a couple of things i still dont have “nordic darker” for is icons and application style, but unsure what bits those are in the global theme that i downloaded.
Folders is probably the icon set. But um…I know for a fact that Nordic folders takes a bit since there are so many. I believe I even came across a nordic color script for folder nord colors. I’d have to check.
So yeah, the link I posted does the folder icons. ONLY the folder icons. That’s not a problem an sich, but you’d need to edit the index theme. In short, It would use most of the default breeze icons EXCEPT the folders. Those would be…well, nordic. The provider of those nordic folder icons also states that he created another theme which uses the Zafiro icon set but with modified folders. Personally I don’t think it’s a good match. But that’s just me of course. Anywho…here’s the link: https://www.gnome-look.org/p/1891042
I know for a fact there are better Nord icon sets around. In either case, if you go to, for example, the kde store and type in nord in the searchbar you’ll find a bunch that are nord-ish like. A full icon set would then go in ~/.local/share/icons, to be applied in system settings. I’m just curious what the name was for that one set I came across once which had this rounded corner apple like style icons. It was properly done.
Here’s one such icon:
Hi dzon, another question, just playing around with non kvantum themes and styles, I am looking at this https[:]//www[.]pling[.]com/p/2152208/ and after applying that theme, my own top panel that I set up is no where near as dark as the one in this screenshot. How can i change the color of a panel? or what style determines that?
How come you can’t post links. Anywho…think you’re talking about that zafiro plasma theme? If you are, the color of that plasma theme is determined by your color scheme since it’s an adaptive theme. You can tell by the small color thingie icon.
I have to say though. The guy who designed zafiro and some nord/nordic stuff has uploaded his stuff in a really messed up way. Plasma themes are under global themes, there’s stuff for plasma 5 and 6 mixed up etc…
Since I’m on plasma 5 I did what I could so this is zafiro plasma, nord dark color, nordic window decorations and zafiro nord black icons. And still I have no idea why certain stuff is labeled black or dark or whatever.
I guess you’ll have to find out what works for you.
