# Select '''SYSTEM''' '''->''' '''PREFERENCES''' '''->''' '''APPEARANCE''', then select the "'''Background'''" tab

You now have the option to select a background, or add a background you may have created. You can also later install various "''artwork''" if you desire.  Refer to the previous menu on "'''Install Applications in Ubuntu'''" for additional help...

Just like when using MS Windows, the user can select different themes to change the behaviour behavior and characteristics of application windows.

To change a theme, you select '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> APPEARANCE ''' . When you do this a "''Appearances Preferences''" dialog box will appear. Make certain that the ''Themes '' tab is selected. Then you can select the theme that appeals to you. You can also "''customize''" your theme to select specific characteristics (i.e. "pick and choose")...

If you are interested in having various parts of your application '''<u>window behave more like Windows Vista </u>''' (eg. ''transparent '' or "''glassy''" titlebars, glowing buttons, etc...), then you should <u>install </u> the application called "'''Emerald'''" that allows the user to "tweak" those features.  Please refer to the previous menu on "'''Setup Special Desktop Effects '''"...

To set the font family and size, you select '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> APPEARANCE ''' . When you do this a "''Appearances Preferences''" dialog box will appear. Click on the "''Fonts''" tab. The section labelled "''Application Font''" will affect the type and size of the font for applications and application menus (including the top menu for "Applications", "Places", and "System". When you make a selection, the changes will quickly take effect.

If you are using the '''Gnome desktop environment''', it is not as "''intuitive''" to make simple settings like icon text colour. Although the '''KDE desktop environment ''' is considered a more "''user-friendly''" interface for these types of operationssetting icon text colour, I believe that it is <u>better </u> to work in the Gnome environment. I had used KDE for many years, but eventually came to realize that Gnome provides a "''cleaner''" interface.  That is a great thing about Linux, you can install and use many different desktop environments (such as [http://www.kde.org/ KDE], [http://www.gnome.org/ Gnome], [http://www.xfce.org/ Xfce], [http://www.enlightenment.org/ Enlightenment], [http://toastytech.com/guis/sol.html Open Windows], [http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/ Project Looking Glass], etc...).  Since Gnome was designed to work with an application called the "'''Gimp Tool Kit'''". Some settings to change the characteristic of the Gnome desktop environment are performed by editing the settings in a file contained in the user's <u>home</u> directory which is called '''.gtkrc-2.0''' . The file has a period in front of it which makes the file "hidden" from normal view (like they say "out of sight, out of mind or damage"). The "rc" after "gtk" refers that this file is a "''run-command''" file. This means that when the Gimp ToolKit application is run (normally at system start-up), it will set the environment of that application by first reading and using settings contained in this file.  Therefore, you will need to use a text editor to make changes to this file. If you try to edit this file, and it is empty, then here is a link to an existing .gtkrc file that I am using on my system. Here is the link: [ [[.gtkrc-2.0]] ] . Read the comment in the file to show you where to change the text colour. The color number is a combination of '''HEX numbers''' in pairs for '''RED''', '''GREEN''', and '''BLUE''' light intensity. Combinations of these numbers create a very wide variety of colours...   Simply <u>copy</u> and <u>paste</u> these settings into that file, and save. The changes will take effect when you logout and login to your graphical Linux environment. 

That is a great thing about linux, you can install and use many different desktop environments (such as KDE, Gnome, Xfce, Enlightenment, Open Windows, Project Looking Glass, WorkBench, Mezzo, etc.'''<u>STEPS TO EDIT OR ADD SETTINGS TO .gtkrc-2.0 FILE:</u>'''

Since Gnome was designed to work with gtk (referred to as the "Gimp Tool Kit"), We will assume that you need to make changes in a file (contained in the userare copying and pasting above link's home directory which is called .gtkrc-2.0. The contents into this file has a period in front of it which makes the file "hidden" from normal view (like they say "out of sight, out of mind or damage"). The "rc" after "gtk" refers that this file is a "run-command" file. This means that when the Gimp ToolKit application is run (normally at system start-up), it will set the environment of that application by first reading and using settings contained in this file.

Simply # Click on the link displayed above labelled [[.gtkrc-2.0]]# Select the entire contents and copy and paste these settings to the clipboard.# Click on '''APPLICATIONS -> ACCESSORIES -> Text Editor'''.# Paste the clipboard contents into that fileyour text editor window.# Click on the Save button.# In the area at the top labelled "Name:" type '''.gtkrc-2.0'''# Click on the Save button at the bottom.# Close the text editor application.# Either Reboot your system, and save. The changes will take effect when you or at least logout and then login to your graphical Linux environment.system for changes to take effect