The perfect font and theme setup :)

[blackpaw]

This is all very subjective of course But for me, I actually quite like the look of the widgets in ubuntu/gnome, I find the text exceptionally clear and readable, contrast is good and the widget look soothing. The default KDE setup I find to washed out, low in contrast and the fonts so so.

I've done a fair bit of digging in ubuntu and have come up with the following setup. Of course all options are subject to individual preference but I feel the font setup will appeal to just about everybody.


Install Bitstream Sans Vera:

sudo apt-get install ttf-bitstream-vera

• May already be installed

System Settings|Application Appearance|Fonts

• Anti Aliasing:enabled
• Use Sub Pixel Rendering:True
• Hinting Style:Slight
• Force Fonts DPI:96 DPI (probably not necessary)

Fonts:

• Set all fonts to Bitstream Sans Vera 10 except Fixed Width
• Set Fixed Width to Monospace 10
• Set Window Title to Bold

Workspace Appearance|Desktop Theme

• Install and set Active the "Caledonia" theme
• This can be found and installed from the "Get new Themes" button on this screen

Workspace Appearance|Icon Theme

• the Kfaenza icon theme has a fantastic detail to it
• Install and set Active the "Kfaenza" icon theme
• This can be found and installed from the "Get new Themes" button on this screen

Workspace Appearance|Colors

• LuckyEyes or LuckyEyes Dark has a nice soothing darker feel to it, less white glare for those sensitive eyes
• Install and set Active the "LuckyEyes " Color theme
• This can be found and installed from the "Get new Themes" button on this screen

Then restart X - rebooting is probably easiest. You should now have a nice clean medium contrast easy on the eye KDE look.

[whitepine]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Well done. I especially liked the Caledonia theme! Add the Kfaenza icon set and you have a really beautiful desktop.

[notabug]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Your suggestions for configuring/setting up fonts helped me. Thank you. I don't like the Caledonia theme, but that's personal taste. I returned to the Oxygen theme, what I'm used to.

[dibl]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Not bad, blackpaw!

I don't know whether I'll stick with caledonia, as it renders my panel jet black with no transparency, but I'll try it this way for awhile. Otherwise I agree it looks good.

[blackpaw]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

That Kfaenza icon set is sweet!, I'll add it to the post as an option.

Something else I should mention is the LuckyEyes color scheme. One of my favourites.

[Jonas]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Nice. I used to run a dark desktop but have lately gone over to a lighter one, most greyish and slight brown/yellow(slightly reworked "Honeycomb"). I agree that KFeanza is probably the best work on a icon theme, that and the default KDE. I however have trouble to get over that it's to much Mac over it, I prefer a GNULinux desktop over a Mac look-alike

I use KaWoken icon set that have almost all icons there is, and URW Gothic as font style.
With the Plasma theme "Seamless", it is what it's named - no borders at all, leaves more room for background image

Thanks for sharing

Jonas

[SteveRiley]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

I've done a fair bit of digging in ubuntu and have come up with the following setup. Of course all options are subject to individual preference but I feel the font setup will appeal to just about everybody.

Would you mind posting a screenshot?

[blackpaw]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Would you mind posting a screenshot?

Sure!

Heavily compressed, so a bit blurry but I can post higher res if desired.

[Bolly]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Not bad, blackpaw!

I don't know whether I'll stick with caledonia, as it renders my panel jet black with no transparency, but I'll try it this way for awhile. Otherwise I agree it looks good.

Agreed- thanks! Changed my panel background to 'Air' but all the rest is your suggestions

[SteveRiley]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Hey, that looks pretty cool. Thanks.

[blackpaw]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Changed my panel background to 'Air'

How do you do that?

[bsniadajewski]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Choose your theme.

[blackpaw]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Choose your theme.

Ah, I knew that. I thought you meant changing an individual part of a theme.

Thanks

[blackpaw]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

D'oh! And you can in the "Details" tab. Thanks.

[dagring]

Re: The perfect font and theme setup

Interesting how you have got your fonts so nicely drawn. I have tried the bitstream sans, but I think the fonts are very thin and not very well drawn on the screen.

I have ordinary Ubuntu installation in addition to kubuntu, and the fonts look much nicer in the Ubuntu installation. Both in programs generally and in Firefox. I cannot understand why.