Thread: Customising Visuals in Linux

I would like to know a few thinks about how i can

1) change my resolution
2) Install new themes

Changing resolution

In my monitor resolution settings system-->preference-->Screen resolution . i am able to change my resolution only to a max of 1024*768 .... But i want to change it to still higher settings , but there are no such options ....

But in my Nvidia x-server settings system-->Administration-->Nvidia X-Server settings i am able to change the settings to still higer like say 1152*864 or higher ..... But these settings last only upto that session , if i turn off or restart the computer the settings revert back to 1024*768

I do not have this problem in xp .

Installing new themes
I found some new themes in the Deviantart website . But the themes are for Metacity window manager , i use Compiz obviously . So are these themes[for Metacity] compatible with compiz manager ?

And i would appreciate a step by step guide for installation .

PS: OS= Ubuntu Ibex

Resolution changing is a mystery to me.

Installing Themes

Go to this page: GNOME-Look.org and download a theme file.

Create a folder (eg: Themes) in Home Folder and copy the downloaded ".tar.gz archive" file into it.

System -> Preference -> Apperarance

Click Install -> Browse to the "Themes" folder and select the ".tar.gz" file -> Click Open -> Select the theme.

If you need extra settings like mixing toolbars from another theme or something, click Customize after selecting the main theme.

Check my theme.

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex



[Click the images to see in fullscreen]

what if i wanted this theme

Graphite Suite 2.0 by ~Lokheed on deviantART

is it similar [installation] ?

yeah yeah i saw ur theme

Thats not the theme ...i want this one

http://danrabbit.deviantart.com/art/...acity-81244519

Lemme Check.

I tried installing the same way but it didn't work.

I will try again.

try the second one

Both of them showed me this error.

2009-01-19_173647.png

And only the Title bar changed.

Everything else remained the same as the old theme.

to have x-server session values permanently...do this

when ur logging-in u've an option below...session...choose xgl...as the default one and then login...

I reinstalled Windows XP and lost Ubuntu. :52:

restore grub archie

yeah had the same prob ... solved it :lol:

Originally Posted by mahehellraiser

restore grub archie

I will try that.

Originally Posted by ShAdOwCoN

yeah had the same prob ... solved it :lol:

What problem ?

Grub vanishing after xp re installation problem ..... I also solved that resolution problem of mine

opened xcon.org and edited it

now gonna try some themes

Originally Posted by Archer

Resolution changing is a mystery to me.

Installing Themes

Go to this page: GNOME-Look.org and download a theme file.

Create a folder (eg: Themes) in Home Folder and copy the downloaded ".tar.gz archive" file into it.

System -> Preference -> Apperarance

Click Install -> Browse to the "Themes" folder and select the ".tar.gz" file -> Click Open -> Select the theme.

If you need extra settings like mixing toolbars from another theme or something, click Customize after selecting the main theme.

Check my theme.

Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex



[Click the images to see in fullscreen]

following these steps am getting the error "xxxx is not a valid theme"

This one ...
Avio-GDM GNOME-Look.org

^ i mistook login screen themes to be window themes ... solved

I installed the themes correctly ... but my task bar is not changing ... all the windows and icons chaned correctly .... do i have to install something else for that ?? .... like maybe Emerald ?

I am using Mandriva 2008 X86-64, as compiz is embedded on to it, so you just need to enable it to use it. Compiz is working smooth for me, the cube desktop and the rain effects are just marvelous.
This might seem stupid but is emerald a part of compiz now or do I need to install it otherwise. And If I need to install it, please tell where to get it, and more importantly how to install it on Mandriva. And I have gone through the emerald documentation but its not working for me.

If possible suggest some more theme managers which I can use.

Do I need to install any more drivers for emerald?

My system specs:
AMD 64 Athlon
2.5GB DDR 400
7600GT 512MB DDR2
SATA
VIA chipset

Another off topic question, how can I overclock my graphics chip in LINUX?

Are there any gizmos for linux like google sidebar and yahoo widgets used windows ?

to install emerald..you have to check mandriva's repostries if its supported/available...and yes you can install widgets and sidebars...better use kubuntu its more flexible

Originally Posted by mahehellraiser

to install emerald..you have to check mandriva's repostries if its supported/available...and yes you can install widgets and sidebars...better use kubuntu its more flexible

Well , but I used kubuntu ,SuSE 11.1 and some 2-3 more types but the graphics driver in mandriva perfectly matches to my gfx card and gives me supurb performance, no other linux distro was able to give me the amount of flexibility as Mandriva powerpack.
Only thing I need now is to use emerald or some other window decorator with compiz.SuSE 11.1 was close but the graphics driver was not that much compatible.

Originally Posted by puchu

Well , but I used kubuntu ,SuSE 11.1 and some 2-3 more types but the graphics driver in mandriva perfectly matches to my gfx card and gives me supurb performance, no other linux distro was able to give me the amount of flexibility as Mandriva powerpack.
Only thing I need now is to use emerald or some other window decorator with compiz.SuSE 11.1 was close but the graphics driver was not that much compatible.

I could not find the emerald package in mandriva repository. Can it be installed from tar balls ?