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Fern Moss
Asked: 2013-04-26 08:06:58 +0800 CST

How to change the color of the window outline in spread and switcher?

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Staring with Ubuntu 13.04, the outline around windows when scale/spread (Super+W) and the switcher (when viewing different windows of an application using Alt+`) are invoked is red. See the pictures below. The outline stays red even when I change themes. Using the CompizConfig Settings Manager I can change the color of the outlines that appear when expo is invoked, windows are set into a grid, and windows are resized, but I can't find an option for scale/spread or the switcher.

How can I change the outline's color?

red outline - switcher

red outline - spread

unity

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    In Ubuntu 14.04 you can change the window spread highlight color by editing your theme unity.css (if it has one) For example using the default ambience theme.

    1. Browse to the directory /usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-3.0/apps/, and edit unity.css as root.

      sudo gedit /usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-3.0/apps/unity.css

      Find:

      -UnityDecoration-glow-color: rgb (221, 72, 20);

    2. Change the rgb (red, green, blue) values to your desired color! You can also use a hex value like so: 

      -UnityDecoration-glow-color: #ffffff;

    3. Save the file, and log out then back in to see changes.

      HUMOR** If your wondering why I didn’t say to back up the file before editing. It's because I'm a long time Windows user. We tend to try first ask questions later. ROFL, Seriously back up files before making any modifications, or better yet copy your theme to your home folder ~/.themes. 

      cp -R /usr/share/themes/Ambiance ~/.themes/Ambiance
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  2. I was looking to change the color, too. According to this (https://answers.launchpad.net/unity-tweak-tool/+question/228274) the color seems to be hard-coded somewhere. So no chance to change the color, unless you find the corresponding code and recompile unity :/

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  3. Just got to Screen settings and check the window color option and then make your own color or use existing colors they provided. This Screen settings you will find at top right corner of your main screen.

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