Themes
Ubuntu MATE makes it easy to install additional themes on your system. One of the easiest ways is to install them is using the Welcome screen. From the Main Menu of the Welcome screen you need to click the Getting Started button.
Next, click the Updates & Extras button within the Getting Started screen.
Scroll down until you see the Additional Themes topic. Click the Install button to install additional themes and icons, such as Numix and Arc to your system. You can also install Additional Community Wallpapers on your system. Once you get them installed you can click the Change Appearance button to make changes to your current theme.
The Appearance Preferences dialog box will appear with four tabs to allow you to change the appearance of your system. You'll see Theme, Background, Fonts, and Interface tabs. We will focus on the Theme tab because this is where you change your theme. The next three pictures below shows the themes you have to choose from.
Here's a look after scrolling down.
Here's a look after scrolling down to the bottom of the list.
Here's an example of the Ambiant-MATE-Dark theme.
Here's an example of the Arc theme.
Here's an example of the Arc-Dark theme.
Here's an example of the Black-MATE theme.
Here's an example of the Numix theme.
Here's an example of the TraditionalOK theme.
You can even change or customize a theme by clicking the Customize... button.
When the Customize Theme dialog box appears you can click on four different tabs: Controls, Window Border, Icons, and Pointer. Within the Controls tab you can select different types buttons you see on your title bars.
The Window Border tab will allow you to select the appearance or look of your borders.
The Icons tab will allow you to change the look of you icons and folders on your system.
The Pointer tab will allow you to select from a variety of mouse pointers. You can use the slider to change the size of your mouse pointer.
You can select from a variety of different items throughout the different tabs to customize your system. Below is one example of the many different combinations you have to create your own custome theme.
I created the above theme by selecting Arc-Dark under the Controls tab.
I selected BlackMATE under the Window Border tab.
I selected Humanity-Dark under the Icons tab.
You also have the option to download and install more themes by clicking the Get more themes online link above the Help button in the Appearance Preferences dialog box.
It will direct you to the https://mate-desktop.org/themes/ website where you can choose between installing GTK 2.x themes or GTK 3.x themes.
I will focus on downloading and installing themes in more detail in another section.
May 27, 2020