2010

User interface themes for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux define the OS-wide look of window frames, buttons, scrollbars, and the like. Preference settings enable users to tune color schemes to taste. For Java applications, changing the theme also sets colors for pre-defined java.awt.SystemColor objects that indicate the color of buttons, text, and more. In principal, applications may use these colors to customize their user interfaces to match the current theme. In practice, there are quite a few problems with doing this.

This article begins a series that discusses Java's SystemColors and their use and problems on different OSes. Series articles also provide color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for SystemColors for each of the standard themes on the Mac, Windows, and Linux. The color swatches provide a resource for comparing theme colors and creating custom Java components that match the themes.

Linux's KDE defines themes that set the color scheme and style for window frames, tabs, buttons, and other components drawn by KDE's Qt user interface toolkit. For Java applications, changing the theme should set colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize their user interfaces to match the current theme. Unfortunately, there are some problems here.

This article discusses SystemColor problems with KDE, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for the default SystemColors on Linux.

Linux's Gnome defines themes that set the color scheme and style for window frames, buttons, scrollbars, and other components drawn by Gnome's GTK user interface toolkit. For Java applications, changing the theme should set colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize their user interfaces to match the current theme. Unfortunately, there are some problems here.

This article discusses SystemColor problems with Gnome, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for the default SystemColors on Linux.

Both Mac themes and all eight user-selectable highlight colors set the color scheme for window title bars, buttons, check boxes, and other user interface components. For Java applications, changing the theme also sets colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize their user interfaces to match the current theme.

This article discusses SystemColor problems on Macs, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for all SystemColors for the standard Mac theme and highlight colors.

Each Windows XP theme sets the desktop image, screen saver, and color scheme for window frames, buttons, scrollbars, and other user interface components. For Java applications, changing the theme also sets colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize user interfaces to match the Windows theme.

This article discusses SystemColor problems on Windows XP, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for SystemColors for each of the standard Windows XP themes.

Each Windows Vista theme sets the desktop image, screen saver, sound set, mouse pointer shapes, and color scheme for window frames, buttons, scroll bars, and all other user interface components. For Java applications, changing the theme also sets colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize user interfaces to match the Windows theme.

This article discusses SystemColor problems on Windows Vista, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for all SystemColors for each of the standard Windows Vista themes.

Each Windows 7 theme sets the desktop image, screen saver, sound set, mouse pointer shapes, and color scheme for buttons, scroll bars, window frames, and so forth. For Java applications, changing the theme also sets colors in Java's java.awt.SystemColor objects, which applications may use to customize user interfaces to match the Windows theme.

This article discusses SystemColor problems on Windows 7, and provides color swatches, RGB/HSV values, and downloadable color lists for all SystemColors for each of the standard Windows 7 themes.