# Theme selection and remove gap in Budgie Pixel Saver applet

**URL:** <https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975>\
**Category:** Budgie Applets\
**Created:** [May 14, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975 "2019-05-14T15:27:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/1 "2019-05-14T15:27:15Z")

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Currently I cannot use dark/white contrast themes with the current Budgie Pixel Saver applet, when the panel is dark/black the windows controls are not visible.  
Current theme is Plata.  
Also, it adds a small gap, when inactive, in the panel. I think it should have no gap like some applets, i.e. Window Preview.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/2 "2019-05-14T15:51:29Z")

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themes need to support pixel-saver - so if the theme doesnt have the support you’ll get quirks like as you have described.

Pixel saver basically just places its widgets in standard ways and means - it doesnt try to style anything - styling is a theme issue not an applet thing.

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/3 "2019-05-14T16:50:07Z")

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Thanks. The thing is currently used themes like plata in Solus 4 and pocillo in Ubuntu should be patched to use officially supported applets.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/4 "2019-05-14T18:09:03Z")

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Pocillo has been patched to be fully desktop compatible including things like pixel saver, lockscreen and slickgreeter which many themes dont do.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/5 "2019-05-14T19:58:28Z")

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Latest version of Adapta theme also supports pixel saver applet.

> **[adapta-project/adapta-gtk-theme](https://github.com/adapta-project/adapta-gtk-theme)**
>
> An adaptive Gtk+ theme based on Material Design Guidelines - adapta-project/adapta-gtk-theme

  
 ![budgie_desktop_2](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/2/2d0d4c2b2818d13543fc03e5ce7d0f617184a7b0.png)

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/6 "2019-05-14T23:48:13Z")

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Plata works fine if the panel is set to transparent but it becomes indistinguishable when set to solid.

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**Author:** ![Coeur-Noir](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/coeur-noir/32/4515_2.png) [@Coeur-Noir](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/Coeur-Noir)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/7 "2019-05-15T21:22:13Z")

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How do you change transparency/opacity of a panel - without changing theme ?

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/8 "2019-05-17T13:15:51Z")

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Think I may have merged one too many third-party patches!

I have reverted part of the styling removal changes to the buttons so it should be themed assuming that your theme applies styling updates in this area.

Look out for the update over the next day or so and let me know if this is better (or worse).

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/9 "2019-05-17T18:53:42Z")

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I just upgraded to the new update. Logged in again just to be sure. Still the same. I’ve also tried other themes and they too suffer from the same issue, exception being materia theme.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/10 "2019-05-17T18:56:37Z")

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Can you take some more pictures but crop to show the issues that you are referring to?

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/11 "2019-05-17T19:11:26Z")

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materia-compact works fine, shows appropriate window controls in according to surroundings  
 ![Screenshot%20from%202019-05-17%2018%3A57%3A19](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/1/1f9d93cccbc90acd16bcfc3238b43958267e0f66.png)  
plata-compact is not, note window controls are barely visible but they’re there so it’s probably recognizing the panel in “light mode”  
 ![Screenshot%20from%202019-05-17%2018%3A58%3A07](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/3/3d23d3513e7a5c633106d7315558113e1a25534e.png)  
plata-noir-compact shows proper window controls  
 ![Screenshot%20from%202019-05-17%2018%3A58%3A57](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/b/bcf7a5fdf9f8820bf390352403337c12f45ef00d.png)  
plata-lumine-compact shows proper window controls as according to surrounding panel theme  
 ![Screenshot%20from%202019-05-17%2019%3A00%3A22](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/0/0a494c5eec294d33bb354dfa78494fca8a59f635.png)  
adapta-eta suffers from same issue as plata-compact  
 ![Screenshot%20from%202019-05-17%2019%3A01%3A10](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/uploads/ubuntubudgie/original/2X/f/f8d70df182930751204c22d3b366652c6df4fd74.png)  
It shows the proper window control icons when forced to use either light or dark theme variant, but “neutral” version can’t recognize the version of window control for optimal contrast.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/12 "2019-05-17T19:13:31Z")

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Also, this is not a \*-compact theme issue. Full size versions are the same.

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/13 "2019-05-17T19:16:57Z")

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Isn’t it possible for the applet to force use dark variant when using “neutral” themes are in use system wide? At least adding the option to force either light or dark window controls manually if the applet/theme don’t recognize automatically.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/14 "2019-05-17T19:53:28Z")

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No. Not possible to recognise a neutral theme. There is no such concept in Gtk.

Certainly possible to add a light and dark theme type checkbox.

If you or someone else comes up with light and dark .svg files for the buttons I will look to add a settings checkbox. Note. I cannot accept copies of icons. They need to be designed by hand for licensing reasons.

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/15 "2019-05-17T20:11:51Z")

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By neutral theme I mean the theme that is neither dark nor light variant.

Can’t you make the applet list the themes available and manually select one so as to show the buttons of choice?

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/16 "2019-05-17T20:16:01Z")

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I wish I could help more but I have no knowledge of Gtk or svg file building. Only of basic c++ from school. Github/Gitlab is still new to me so I have very little idea on how to set projects and help out with upstream development.

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/17 "2019-05-17T20:18:53Z")

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By the way, isn’t it possible for the applet to not use any space/pixel real estate on the panel while inactive? I know I’m being demanding, sorry.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 8:22pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/18 "2019-05-17T20:22:44Z")

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Probably yes it is possible.

I will only look at resolving things as a whole not piecemeal. I need those images to begin with.

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**Author:** ![fossfreedom](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/fossfreedom/32/1405_2.png) [@fossfreedom](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/fossfreedom)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/19 "2019-05-18T12:37:59Z")

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In the absence of the icons I have added a new “Theme Styling” button option for the applet in budgie-desktop-settings. This is to toggle between the gtk-theme style for buttons (which we know is highly dependent on the theme) and the default unstyled option.

Just update on 19.04 as usual to pick up the new version.

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**Author:** ![SaucySauce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@SaucySauce](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/u/SaucySauce)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 2:22pm UTC](https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org/t/theme-selection-and-remove-gap-in-budgie-pixel-saver-applet/1975/20 "2019-05-18T14:22:25Z")

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Dude, it’s perfect. Thank you so very much.