[Gutsy] When using non-default themes some apps get ugly

[Jean-Paul]

This is more an "eye-sore" problem than a functionality problem.
When I use a theme other than Human (for example, the T-ish theme), the controls used in some windows get ugly (for instance, the Login Windows Preferences window).

I don't know what is causing this (maybe an "incomplete set" of nicely defined controls/widgets?), but perhaps something can be done about it?

[Mackenzie Morgan (maco.m)]

That's not really an Ubuntu-specific bug. You could mark it as a bug against a specific theme (if it's an included theme) or report it to the theme's author.

[Nanley Chery (nanoman)]

Adding to what Morgan said, could you be a tad more specific? maybe a screenshot?

[Jean-Paul (jeanpaul145)]

Added is a screenshot of my desktop with the clearlooks theme, and the Login Windows Preferences window opened

[Jean-Paul (jeanpaul145)]

And one with the t-ish theme (with the "ugly" controls absolutely not fitting in with the rest of the theme).

[John Asay (johnasay)]

I don't know how to fix the problem, or even if I would call it a problem, but I believe the reason this is happening is that the Login Windows Preferences windows is being run by root and so follows the theme for root not necessarily your user theme. I assume that the root theme tries to mimic your theme and that's why it works for human and clearlooks (which are globally installed in /usr/share/themes) and not for T-ish (locally installed in ~/.themes). Try running other root-level programs (Synaptic, Users and Groups, Network, etc.) with the t-ish theme and compare with user-level programs.

One reason it might not be considered a problem is that using the root theme gives you a visual clue that the program you're using could has elevated privileges and *potentially* could be harmful if used incorrectly.

A possible workaround might be to install the theme (basically copy/paste) to /usr/share/themes.

[Jean-Paul (jeanpaul145)]

Yes, copying the theme to /usr/share/themes does seem to fix my problem :-)
Thank you!