request for enhanced support for gnome apps
brainchild0 opened this issue · 8 comments
I realize the enhancement request may not be among the most welcome for this project, but I am wondering whether it would be feasible for Mint themes to support better operation with GNOME core applications.
For example, gThumb presents with a dark background under a Mint theme for which Mint applications show with a light background (see image). If gThumb is run with a GNOME light theme selected, then the background is light.
I think you are misunderstanding some things. Some applications, like gthumb, will automatically use the dark version of the theme if it's available. This has nothing to do with how mint-y supports gnome apps. In fact, it does exactly the same thing when using Adwaita. Which is the default "gnome theme". If you want different behavior you need to take that up with the gthumb developers.
By my observations, gThumb will use the Adwaita light theme (see image) when it is referenced by the proper environment variable (e.g. GTK_THEME=Ambiance:light). In this case, the background would be light, and the other themed features of the application window also would follow the same theme, Adwaita light.
Presently, the choice is to force the Adwaita light theme in gThumb using an environment variable set specifically to the invocation, but then also to accept the additional effects of the theme, such as window decorations, versus to accept the dark background, with the other features following from the Mint theme as desired.
My thought is that Cinnamon themes might be enhanced to include the features causing gThumb to display a light background the same as it does when the Adwaita light theme is active.
The observations I have made, as best I can determine, do not support the suggestion that gThumb will use the dark version of the theme whenever it is available.
Well first off if you are using GTK_THEME=Ambiance:light you aren't using Adwaita at all. You can effectively do the same thing by using Mint-Y:light instead.
The observations I have made, as best I can determine, do not support the suggestion that gThumb will use the dark version of the theme whenever it is available
Your observations are mistaken. gthumb's code asks for it to prefer the dark variation of the theme when it is available. In short, Adwaita and Mint-Y perform the same. There isn't really anything to be done here.
Are you explaining that both light and dark are variations given by the same theme, the latter of which is selected by the system and the former by the application?
Yes. If I'm totally missing what you are trying to explain, I apologize.
Is there a setting for the environment variable to force of the light variation of whatever theme has been selected, without giving any explicit reference to the theme?
Not that I know of but there could be. Many applications actually offer this as a setting in the preferences. gthumb just happens to be one that doesn't seem to.
I understand why a change to Mint themes is not a useful request for this matter.
I personally wish that Mint applications would support client-side decorations, the only reason I currently consider using gThumb instead of Pix, as the latter adds support for dark versus light selection, but removes support for the decorations, even as an option. Unfortunately, the idea has already been rejected from concern that client-side decorations in Mint applications challenge the projects' position of seeking to preserve classic desktop look and feel, against threats such as those typified by Gnome 3+.
Even so, the actual condition that some applications included among the Mint defaults already support client-side decorations. If Pix would follow the example of Celluloid, I think the effect of offering a fuller range of choices would be beneficial, and would not dilute the integrity of project objectives.