Download this file: http://www.mediafire.com/?wugxanmdy0m
Extract the file. This has two files: Compiz.profile and Theme.emerald
Setting up Compiz (Works with Compiz 0.7.5 or later)
Goto System->Preferences->Advanced Desktop Effects Settings (known as CCSM)
Press Preferences button (bottom left)
Press Import button and select the Compiz.profile file.
This would import a fairly good looking compiz animation profile which works on almost all configurations.
Setting up Emerald
Goto System->Preferences->Sessions and press the Add button. Type in the Name as Emerald. Type in the Command as emerald –replace and press the OK button. Close the sessions window.
Now, press Alt+F2 and type in emerald –replace and press Enter.
Now goto System->Preferences->Emerald Theme Manager and click the Import button. Open the Theme.emerald file. You will find a new entry in the theme list
Just click on this theme to apply it. Close the emerald theme manager.
More emerald themes:
http://www.gnome-look.org/?xcontentmode=103
http://www.gnome-look.org/?xcontentmode=102
Wallpaper Selection
You can find nice wallpapers here at:
http://www.interfacelift.com/
http://www.dual-display.com/pages/wallpaper.php (Dual display wallpapers)
Icons
Here are some good looking icon sets:
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/AER-OS-XK?content=49990
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/CrashBit?content=71140
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/Vista-Inspirate?content=31585
Or choose from here:
http://www.gnome-look.org/index.php?xsortmode=high&page=0&xcontentmode=120×121
I use a AER-OS-XK + NuovoXT.2.2 + Crashbit icon fusion.
Panel Background
Download this: http://www.mediafire.com/?xgjysmkmisd
Extract the Panels.rar file. It would have 7 png files enclosed.
Now right click on any panel, select Properties and click the Background tab. Click on Background Image and click on the box below to select one of these 7 png files.
Menu
This would install USP (Ubuntu System Panel).
http://code.google.com/p/ubuntu-system-panel/wiki/Installation
Follow the instructions on the page.
To add USP to the panel, right click on a panel and select Add to Panel and from the list, add Ubuntu System Panel
Screenlets (Widgets)
Goto Applications->Accessories->Screenlets to start the Screenlets daemon. You can add any screenlet by clicking on Launch button. You may also set it to auto start on boot by checking the Auto start on Login checkbox.
Login Screen (gdm)
Using this, you can use custom gdm themes.
This is one of my favorites: http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Avio-GDM?content=37395
You will get .tar.gz files from this ^^^ link.
After downloading, goto System->Administration->Login Window
Click on Local tab and press Add button. Find the tar package you just downloaded there and press Install.
Note: If you just downloaded the package to your desktop and you cannot find it there in the Login Window’s file selector (it would be displaying root’s desktop), just click on File System on left panel, and goto /h
ome/username/Desktop to find the file.
After you set the file, click on the Avio-GDM entry to select it.
Click on the Theme drop menu and select Selected Only. (Do this step even if it already has Selected Only on it).
If the theme does not come in the gdm, then again perform the previous step. (Seems to be a bug, dunno if it is fixed yet)
Also, select the Background Color on the Login Window Preferences to a grayish (Code: #ACACAC) or whatever you think matches with the theme.
Lock Dialog
You can lock the screen by pressing Ctrl+Alt+L
To change this key combination, you can goto System->Preferences->Keyboard Shortcuts
To change the Unlock Dialog theme that appears, download a lock dialog from here: http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php/lock-dialog-turbolence?content=67573
Extract the file. Now press Alt+F2 and type in gksudo nautilus and press Enter. Now using the newly opened Nautilus window, copy the 4 enclosed files (inside the downloaded tar file) to /usr/share/gnome-screensaver
CAUTION: gksudo nautilus will launch the File Browser with root/superuser/administrative privileges. You can harm your system by deleting any system file. You should not use this unless you know what you are doing.
Now close the root nautilus window and press Alt+F2 again, and type in gconf-editor
Expand apps and click on gnome-screensaver. In the right column, double click the lock_dialog_theme and change the Value to turbolence and press OK. Close the gconf-editor.
Specific operations using Ubuntu Tweak
Goto Applications->System Tools->Ubuntu Tweak to launch the application.
You may perform these actions:
1. To display Computer, Home and Trash on desktop:
Expand Desktop and click on Desktop Icons and check whichever icon you want to be on the desktop.
2. To add a shortcut to “Set as Wallpaper” on right click menu for pictures:
Expand System and click on Nautilus and check Nautilus with wallpaper under Nautilus Extensions and press Apply button adjacent to it.
Configuring Firestarter
You do not need an antivirus on your Ubuntu. Firestarter is a firewall configuration utility. Open firestarter and go through the simple processes to configure it.
Note: At beginning, firestarter is set to block all incoming connections to your computer. You have to click on the Events tab of firestarter, right click on a specific connection from a specific IP address and select Allow connections to add it to the Allowed list.
Font Smoothing
Goto System->Preferences->Appearance->Fonts tab and select Subpixel Smoothing, Full hinting and RGB hinting.
