[Mike S.]

I recall reading that the NeXT theme comes in two versions, one that captures the true look and feel with black titlebars and one that is actually readable with grey titlebars.

However, I've seen snapshots posted that shows the black titlebar that's readable (white text).

Was the theme updated so that black is readable? or did someone do some photoshop work? Perhaps taking a snapshot results in inverted colors for some reason?

I really like the theme but I want it all, true look and feel and readable titles.

Thanks for clearing up this little puzzle for me.

[swiz]

HI Mike,
My NeXT theme does have two variations you can choose from, one has gray titlebars with black titlebar text so you can always read the titlebar text in all apps; the other has black titlebars with white text which is true to the original NeXT GUI but the titlebar text color can only be altered in Carbon apps, not Cocoa so in those cocoa apps you will not be able to read the titlebar text due to the font color being unalterable.

At any rate both variations come with the theme and you just choose which you want to apply from within the ThemeChanger application.

The theme can be obtained here:
http://swizcore.com/SS/macOSX.php

[Mike S.]

Ahh, a Carbon vs. Cocoa thing, that explains a lot.

How about textured apps like Safari? Will they also be unreadable or do the same rules apply since they're Cocoa?

Do you happen to have a screen of the grey bars just so I could see what they look like before hand?

What theme app do you recommend? Duality or Theme Changer?

I've only experimented with themes once but I'm a sucker for that NeXT look as you can probably tell by my sig image ;-)

Thanks for creating lots of nice themes, same goes to all the other theme creators as well.

[bOOzo]

Originally posted by Mike S.:
Ahh, a Carbon vs. Cocoa thing, that explains a lot.

How about textured apps like Safari? Will they also be unreadable or do the same rules apply since they're Cocoa?
...

As you said, brushed apps are cocoa and therefore they also can only have black text.

I'd recommend using ThemeChanger, at least until Duality receives an update.



btw, swiz - I think TuXedo looks cool, good workarounds for the black text too!

[swiz]

Originally posted by bOOzo:
As you said, brushed apps are cocoa and therefore they also can only have black text.

I'd recommend using ThemeChanger, at least until Duality receives an update.



btw, swiz - I think TuXedo looks cool, good workarounds for the black text too!

Thanks Max, Im really taking my time with this one.

Mike- THe brushed apps have readable titlebar text because they use a gray texture instead of black. Here are some screenies:

Original NeXT look:


OSX NeXT titlebar so all titlebar text is readable:


Brushed appearance in NeXT:

[Mike S.]

Thanks for the info and pics swiz, I've got the themes downloaded and am looking at them in ThemeChanger.

I was reading the news on your site and you mentioned that you removed SystemUI Server, BootX and QuartzDisplay from your themes for safety reasons but I'm seeing some of these in your themes.

SS NeXT has SS_SystemUIServer while SS NeXT Grey titlebar has QuartzDisplay

Should I disable those resources before installing?

ThemeChanger also warned that it was made for 10.2.3 and it's safest if I not proceed.

While I find tcfix to be a good idea it wouldn't work for me since I'm running on an upgraded 8600 with a USB keyboard and mouse.

The Radeon doesn't initialize until it's driver loads which means no single user mode for me and even if I switched to the internal video I doubt the USB peripherals would work since it's a PCI USB card.

Heh, I'm playing with fire!

Speaking of those files, is it best to disable those three in any themes I decide to try or would it break the themes?

Sorry for asking so many questions but given my circumstances I need to be cautious or else I'm looking at a world of pain to get back up and running.

It's all for personal use though.

[swiz]

Originally posted by Mike S.:
Thanks for the info and pics swiz, I've got the themes downloaded and am looking at them in ThemeChanger.

I was reading the news on your site and you mentioned that you removed SystemUI Server, BootX and QuartzDisplay from your themes for safety reasons but I'm seeing some of these in your themes.

SS NeXT has SS_SystemUIServer while SS NeXT Grey titlebar has QuartzDisplay

Should I disable those resources before installing?

ThemeChanger also warned that it was made for 10.2.3 and it's safest if I not proceed.

While I find tcfix to be a good idea it wouldn't work for me since I'm running on an upgraded 8600 with a USB keyboard and mouse.

The Radeon doesn't initialize until it's driver loads which means no single user mode for me and even if I switched to the internal video I doubt the USB peripherals would work since it's a PCI USB card.

Heh, I'm playing with fire!

Speaking of those files, is it best to disable those three in any themes I decide to try or would it break the themes?

Sorry for asking so many questions but given my circumstances I need to be cautious or else I'm looking at a world of pain to get back up and running.

It's all for personal use though.

Did you download them within the past week? If so they should not have those files in them, if they do I need to put my butt in check because I could have sworn I removed them. If you did just download them go ahead and disable the SystemUIServer and BootX files if any, QuartzDisplay isnt a problem now but Im removing them anyhow for chance of them becoming a problem in the future.

[Mike S.]

Originally posted by swiz:
Did you download them within the past week?

I downloaded from your site shortly before posting the message.

[swiz]

Originally posted by Mike S.:
I downloaded from your site shortly before posting the message.

THats very odd because I did too but those files werent in the theme when I checked the download.... whoah... I'll check into it further.