**GUIDE** - Desktop Customization -

*** I've created this thread to be a guide for anyone who sees all the fancy desktop stuff, and wonders how to copy it. ***

*Always make sure you back-up before altering system files - who knows what might go wrong.*

This thread covers:
• GeekTool
• BowTie
• 'Kohbens icons and the transparent dock' look - Leopard and Snow Leopard specific instructions for step 1
• Finder Backgrounds
• System fonts

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GeekTool:



GeekTool is what most people use to add the clock, calendar, day etc to their desktop.
I suggest using version 2.1.2. It's the most stable and is what the rest of the guide will be based on.
Info on how to use it can be found here:

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BowTie:



Ever wondered what that super cool thing that displays what's playing in iTunes is? More often than not its BowTie. You can download it here
More themes can be downloaded here.

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Long black dock

Now for the gritty stuff....

The idea to make this thread came to me when I saw a post asking how to create the long black dock with the icons with words. It can be quite a tricky process, so here we go, an idiot-proof (I hope) guide to creating this:


YOU WILL NEED:
Download theses bits, but don't install them yet. Read on...
GeekTool, CandyBar(not required...but saves a lot of time), Mirage (Leopard only), Mirage2 (Snow Leopard only) , Kohbens icon set OR Gill Text Icons and some patience.

**NOTE**
•Extension packs for the Kohbens icons can be found here (also google, there are loads out there)
•You can use either the Kohbens icons or the Gill Text icons, but they don't really work together.
•CandyBar is only a free trial
•Make sure you keep Mirage as it contains the unintaller - in case you want to be able to see your dock again!

1a) Make the dock transparent with Mirage. LEOPARD ONLY
- Open the Mirage installer. Select yes to everything. Password etc etc. Let it do it's thing.
- Close the installer.
- The dock has disappeared!! Yup.


1b) Make the dock transparent with Mirage2 SNOW LEOPARD ONLY
- Download Mirage2 (Snow Leopard only link above)
- Open Mirage2 and select the first two tick boxes (just like the picture on the download page).
- Click Install. Sorted
Thanks to aresinferno for pointing out the recent release of Mirage2.


2) In GeekTool create a black bar, and place it at the bottom.
- Install GeekTool and open it up in System Preferences.
- Select New Entry and set the drop down menu at the top to Shell.
- A dark blue box should appear at the top left of your screen.
- Click this box and drag it into position where your dock would go.
- Use the arrow on the bottom right of the box to resize it to what you want.
- Click the Colors and Font tab in GeekTool.
- Select Bkgd (background) and set it to the background colour that you want.
- Also change the opacity of the bar with the slider, to suit your needs.


- Quit GeekTool.


3a) Use CandyBar to replace your current icons.
- Install and open up CandyBar
- Also open the folder containing your icons.
- If you're using the Kohbens icons, open the .icontainer file. This will install the icons into CandyBar.
- If you're using the Gill Text icons, make a new folder in CandyBar and drag the icons into the folder.
- In CandyBar, select the second tab at the top, and wait for it to load your applications.
- Once your applications have loaded, simply drag from the new icons at the bottom, onto the current application icons at the top.
- When you're done click Apply Icons and let it do it's magic.
- Some icons may not change, and the application may need to be exited then re-opened, or may need you to log out then in again.
- Now, click the tab on the far left at the top, and change the Finder and Trash icons. Apply the changes.


3b) Use Finder to change application icons.
If you have already exhausted the CandyBar free trial, and don't want to pay for it, there's another way you can change your application icons. It's a bit more long winded, but just as effective.
- Open the folder with the new icons you want to use, and also open your Applications folder.
- Copy one of the new icons (Command+C or Edit > Copy)
- In your Applications folder, right click on the application that you want to give the icon you just copied. Select Get Info.
- At the top left of the Get Info window is the current icon. Click this. It should now have a blue border.
- Click Edit > Paste (or Command+V).

- The new icon should now show up.
- Relaunch the application if it was running, for the changes to take effect.


4) Sit back and enjoy your awesome new dock.
- To make it even nicer, consider adding some GeekTool scripts found on the other thread. Or adding a BowTie theme.
- You could add another GeekTool box beind the main one to make a nice border. (GeekTool also has some border options)
- The template to make your own icons is included in the download, so if there are any that you need that aren't in the pack or online, then it's very simple to make your own.


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Finder Backgrounds

Changing the Finder background:
*This only works if you have the view set to Icons*

1) Open a new Finder window.
2) Right click inside the window and select View > As Icons
3) Right click again and select Show View Options
4) Part way down the Options pop-up you'll see a section called Background:
5) Use the options in this section to either set the background to a solid colour, or to a picture of your choice.
6) The changes you make will only apply to that Finder window unless you select Use As Defaults


System-wide Themes
There is an application called Magnifique, that allowed very easy swapping in-and-out of system-wide themes, however development and support for the application has been stopped, and it is no longer available as a download from their website.
Feel free to try and download the application elsewhere, but DO NOT USE IT ON SNOW LEOPARD, it causes serious problems that may not be reversible!

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System Fonts

To change system fonts, download the application TinkerTool

1) Open and install TinkerTool
2) Click on the Fonts tab.



Changing the fonts in here will have many different effects.
The System font will change things like the font of the clock on the top right of the menu bar, some emails in Mail and Spotlight results. Also, applications which use this font, many of which use it for the header text - the text on the same row as the minimize/maximize/close buttons etc. The contextual menu (right click menu) in many applications is also affected.
Just explore the different options available.

They won't change the font of the menu bar however (File, Edit, View menus etc).


OK
Good thread idea? Bad thread idea?
Please comment on bits to add and bits to change.
Also, sorry about the poor background choice for the first few screenshots. Kind of hard to see the dock.

Transporteur said:

Very good thread idea!
I've been Mac user for more than 5 years now and I never touched the look of my systems. I think it's time for a change.

I'd like to see how you can change the finder colours, like from silver to black.

Click to expand...

what do you mean by the finder colours? like, the actual theme ?

jessica. said:

Thanks for your post, you should finish it and get it published under the MR Guides.

Click to expand...

thanks. that part took me quite a while, so I'm going to do some work then I'll come back to it.

Transporteur said:

Yes. I know that you can change it from blue to graphite in the system preferences, but that does not change the colour of backgrounds and menu bars. They remain silver/grey.
Would be nice if that's changeable.

Click to expand...

Ohh I see. Yeah that's definitely possible, and not too hard. I'll add it in when I get a chance.

Foreverwontcome said:

Ok - So I think I hit a snag. The installer for "mirage" keeps erroring out. I went on the site and saw it is for Leopard only not Snow Leopard. Maybe I am an idiot..but I've messed with stuff like this before and never had an issue. idk... thoughts?

btw, thanks for the thread it is nice. also - can you link the bowtie theme you use - the very minimalistic one?

Click to expand...

You're absolutely right, I'm sorry. I forgot that Mirage isn't SL compatible!

It can still be done, just without the automated installer. I'm updating the instructions right now.

Foreverwontcome said:

you are da bomb! also - if you can PM me that bowtie theme or just link it

Click to expand...

Ok, I updated the instructions.

Here's the BowTie theme.

sammich said:

Just wondering how the Khobens 'icon' style works in the command-tab viewer for you. When I tried it, I had so much trouble reading the darn 'icon' text that I gave up.

Or do you rely on dock clicking and expose to switch apps?

Click to expand...

I don't tend to use cmd-tab much...but yeah, use the Gill-Text icons. There's more of them in the pack, and they're easier to read.

Glad it's helped people!

Melrose said:

Just thought I'd add the Adium Kobhens icons. I made these myself a while back; I think there are other Kobhens Adium sets out there, but here ya go anyway: [Adium Kobhens Set]

...and in case not everyone wants to pay for CandyBar or get trapped with a totally awesome dock after the trial expires: The old "App (right click), Get Info > Paste Icon" still works

Click to expand...

Thanks Melrose, I'll add this to the original post.

petrucci666 said:

How do I get the geektool to just appear on the desktop, I got everything arranged to show the time, date etc. but it is going over my Safari, iTunes and other windows while they are open...how can it just be on the desktop?

I'm new to this stuff so thanks for any help!

Click to expand...

On GeekTool under the Command tab there is a tick box that says "Always On Top". Make sure that's not ticked.