Leopard GUI Customizations

Please post information here on how to customize the Leopard GUI.

I deserve ZERO credit, I'm only the messenger.

Dock Modifications

Dark Dock

Let me begin by sharing some modifications to the Dock in Leopard. All of this information was obtained from InsanelyMac Forum: Hacking Leopard GUI. This Dock customization was labeled "Dark Dock" by macprodan.



In case you want to see what this Dock looks likes on a Desktop here is a Dark Dock Screenshot with Splash Wallpaper from InterfaceLIFT:



See the Original InsanelyMac Thread for more customizations and information concerning Leopard's Dock. Here are the basic instructions for Dark Dock:

1. Locate Dock.app (/System/Library/CoreServices/) and make a Backup.
2. Select Dock.app and (Right-Click) Show Package Contents. The files you want are in Contents --> Resources. Dark Dock only modifies 5 files: frontline.png, scurve-sm.png, scurve-m.png, scurve-l.png, and scurve-xl.png.
3. Download DarkDockFiles.zip or use Photoshop.
4. To replace the files inside Dock.app you need to first delete them. This should be OK because hopefully you've already created a Backup of Dock.app. Open Terminal.app to change the Permissions and type "sudo rm -rf " (notice the space after "-rf "). Do not type the quotation marks in Terminal. Drag one of the 5 files mentioned above into the Terminal window and Press Return. Enter your Password as prompted and Press Return again. Repeat this procedure until you have deleted all 5 files previously mentioned [Alternatively, once you've changed the Permissions, you can drag-and-drop the files].
5. Now extract DarkDockFiles.zip and copy/paste the 5 files into the Package Contents of Dock.app (Contents --> Resources).
6. The Dock will still look the same at this point. All you need to do now is kill the Dock. In Terminal type "killall Dock" without quotation marks and Press Return. Or use Activity Monitor to Force-Quit Dock.app.

2D Dock on the Bottom

Or maybe you want to enable the 2D Dock on the bottom. This information has been posted everywhere. In case you missed it, just enter this code in Terminal:

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES
killall Dock

To get the 3D Dock back just change the YES to NO.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean NO
killall Dock

Wayfarer from MacRumors created some Automator Actions to run these two scripts for you. This will allow you to switch between the 2D or 3D Dock on the bottom with ease: 2D.3D.Dock.For.Leopard.zip.

No (Clear) Dock (aka Mirror Dock)




Just found another easy, yet very nice looking Dock customization posted by ivnj on MacRumors. Bascially just follow the directions for Dark Dock to remove the files in Terminal ( Make Another Backup Too), but delete all the .PNG files inside the Dock Package Contents (Contents>Resources). Of course you can choose which PNG files to delete (For example, you can keep the Seperator as in the second image above). Or the Indicator files, etc. And you probably don't want to erase the 2D Dock .PNG files either. Note: Reflections from windows look really awkward with this modification.

Change the Dock's Color

From TUAW: How to tweak the Leopard Dock's color.



Change the Dock's Indicator

From TUAW: Triangles back on the Leopard Dock.



DockTweak

Thanks to an InsanelyMac member we now have an easy-to-use application to accomplish some of the modifications mentioned above. Use DockTweak.app to switch between 3D, 2D, Dark Dock, Mirror Dock, Grid Dock, and the default by clicking the corresponding buttons. Mirror Dock looks like Clear Dock and Grid Dock is shown below.



If you receive an AppleScript Error message that says, "No matching processes belonging to you were found (1)" re-open Dock.app in System>Library>CoreServices.

Download DockTweak.app HERE or HERE.

3D Side Dock

You can use some files from Leopard Beta (Build 9a559) to get the 3-Dimensional Side Dock back. Just download and extract these files and replace your Dock Package Contents using Terminal by first erasing the Contents directory with the "sudo rm -rf " command. After you make the changes and kill the Dock, change the Dock Position to the left or right (Apple Menu --> Dock) to see the 3D Side Dock. Here is a comparison between the 2D and 3D Side Dock for reference.

Special thanks to uphuck for the Dock files from the Beta.

I updated the 3D Side Dock with Darker scurve files. I also removed the actual curvature (look closely) because I didn't like how it looked, especially on the sides. Also I wanted to mention that you can easily change the reflectivity of the dock by increasing or decreasing the alpha of the scurve files.

New3DDarkSideDockContents.zip



Disclaimer: I am not responsible if you corrupt your OS in any way by following any directions in any thread anywhere, including this one! But we are all here to try to help you fix virtually any problems you may encounter.

 

I like...

 

You know if you make the dock black, the yellow tint of the MBP won't be as noticeable...

All kidding aside, that does look really neat. I'll have to try it when I switch to a lighter wallpaper.

 

Interesting GUI customization, it will really look nicer on some wallpapers.

Now, why didn't Apple allow this customization right in Leopard in the first place? If there's one main thing I "dislike" about OS X, its that you can't really customize its look unless you use third party.

 

Change the Login Wallpaper

The default login wallpaper is the Purple Aurora background provided by Apple. If you want to change that go to /System/Library/CoreServices/ and replace DefaultDesktop.jpg.

A few places to get new Wallpapers (and More):
InterfaceLIFT
deviantART
Desktopography


Modify the Menu Bar

LeoColorBar
LeoColorBar adjusts your desktop picture on Mac OS X 10.5 so it doesn’t bleed through the transparent menu bar. It also lets you round the edges of the menu bar and display the whole image (so none is covered by the menu bar).

Disable the Translucent Menu Bar
MacOSXHints has provided the command that will make your Menu Bar opaque. However, they also make clear the risks involved, "Before you try this, realize it (a) requires a restart, and (b) is modifying a system-level variable, and may cause bad things to happen."

Code:

sudo defaults write /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer 'EnvironmentVariables' -dict 'CI_NO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE' 1

They also suggest Menu Bar Tint to change the gradient. I happen to like the transparency of the Menu Bar so I will not be trying this one myself. Please read the comments on MacOSXHints and MacRumors for feedback before you attempt this.

 

Update
An InsanelyMac member has created an application called DockTweak.app that will automatically change your Dock's appearance between 3D, 2D, Dark, and normal by simply clicking a button! See the original post for more information including download links.

Update
DockTweak.app has been updated with more features: Mirror Dock and Grid Dock. Mirror Dock looks similar to No (Clear Dock) and an image of Grid Dock is above. Download links have been updated with the new version.

Update
The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) posted some information today about modifying Leopard's Dock:
How to tweak the Leopard Dock's color
Triangles back on the Leopard Dock

 

Awesome thread. I'll be doing this as soon as I get Leopard (in a few days).

 

Thanks fabarati!

Update
Added 3D Side Dock to the original post. This feature was removed from the Retail Version of Leopard that was included in the Beta. The files for this modification (provided above) are from the last Beta before the GM (Build 9a559).

 

Eluzion: where have you taken this wallpaper?

 

Eluzion's wallpaper is from InterfaceLIFT: Cloud Cover by Lyle Krannichfeld.

 

InterfaceLIFT seriously has awesome wallpapers and icons.

 

Thank you.

 

Thought I'd add this link for several custom docks

 

Yep, InterfaceLIFT ftw!

Here's another cool 2D dock theme:
http://macthemes2.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=16782319

 

Eluzion, I really like that one. Nice find! I really don't like the default 2D Dock at all. Fortunately it's just as easy to change as the 3D Dock. Except no one has been able to figure out how to change the opacity for the 2D Dock.

I got rid of the 2D Dock's white border are rounded corners. The files will work on both sides and the bottom if you use the 2D Dock on the Bottom code in the original post.



2D.Squared.zip

 

Folders Before Files

DAddYE over at InsanelyMac figured out a really useful hack to show directories first in Finder. Just check out the step-by-step guide to see for yourself: Finder, order directory before files.



Original InsanelyMac Thread: Finder Hacked!, View like XP!!!

 

Xander, I tried to do this with Tiger, and unfortunately it doesn't work(maybe after restart?). This may be one of the things that pushes me towards Leopard sooner rather than later...

 

I did black triangle mod. Very happy with it over the default blue balls.

 

Does everyone hate the new Leopard "application-open-light" that much? I thought it looked okay...the black triangle doesn't look that great to me.

 

Yeah, I tried the Finder trick in Tiger too. It's a no-go. Disappointing. Thanks for pointing that out.

I like the default indicator for the 3D Dock. The only thing I've changed was the color. The 2D Dock's indicator is another story.

 

Black triangle does not look great, but now that I know where the files are, I can make any indicator I want.

To me, the blue balls did not look that great, but more importantly, they were just kinda hard to notice and therefore, did not work all that great.

It was not a huge deal, but, I did notice that I just did not like them all that much, so I'm happy that I could swap them out.

The dock in general seems clunkier actually. Not fast and fluid like under Tiger. It pops up too slow for my taste.

 

This is for OS X 10.4 Tiger

There was an older trick that I just noticed to make Finder sort Folders before Files like we've already accomplished in Leopard. I know at least one person is interested in this. Read carefully...

Source Article: Macworld


And in case you're still not happy with your Dock in Leopard check out LeopardDocks.com (Obviously NOT for Tiger).

 

Use iTunes 7 & iPhoto 08 Scroll Bars for Everything

Leopard has some inconsistencies with the look of scroll bars. iTunes 7 and iPhoto 08 use new different-looking scroll bars than everything else. Thanks to MacThemes you can change the look of scroll bars in Leopard to be consistent with the new UI in iTunes 7 and iPhoto 08. The following images illustrate the differences.

Before (Aqua scroll bars in Leopard, WTF?)


After (New scroll bars!)


See Readme.rtf inside the zip file for directions.

EDIT: The files have been updated. Sharebee: iTunes7ScrollBarsExtras.zip

 

Aqua scroll bars in Leopard? That's silly!

By the way, did they ever name Leopard's new theme? I remember it was rumoured as "Illuminous", but did they officially state that? Or are they still calling it Aqua?

 

Hate to say it, but Leopard's "transparency" looks like an after thought. The menu bar and the drop down menus look like poo.

I do like the more uniform look overall, esp the single title bar, the some of these transparent gimmicks don't look all that great.

The drop down menus in particular have me all riled up of late...

 

Thank you so much!! I was hoping there might be a fix for this. It worked perfectly. I have been so annoyed that Apple changed every aspect in Leopard UI for the better and left those ugly aqua scroll bars.

 

I wonder why Leopard didn't get rid of the aqua scroll bars, buttons... They seem to have unified every window so why couldn't they spend a couple of hours to work on this?

 

Apple should make the buttons look like this...



or maybe like this...

 

Yeah, its overjoyed that you try to maximize it, happy that you're minimizing it and mad that you're trying to close it .

 

Stacks Overlays



The source article is in Japanese, but you can read an English post that describes this customization HERE.

MegaUpload: DRAWER_icon_#1.zip

MegaUpload: DRAWER_icon_#2.zip

All you need to do is download the files above, extract the archive, and copy the Drawer icon into the corresponding Stack. I also had to kill my Dock to get the icons to appear properly. Just open Terminal and type "killall Dock" without quotation marks and press Return.

Additional Stack Drawer Icons (and More)



NOTE: These additional icons may need to be edited with the "touch" command so that their modified date will keep them in the front of your Stack (by default the Downloads Stack is sorted by modified date). The following is an example of the command pertaining to the " Box black" icon (notice the space at the beginning of the file name). This code assumes your icon is on the Desktop. This changes the modified date to January 1, 2020.

Code:

cd ~/Desktop
touch -mt 202001010101.01 " Box black"

 

Super Mario Time Machine

OK, admittedly this tip is not very useful, but I thought it was amusing. InsanelyMac member "sadiekiller" orginially wanted to use the Time Machine background as a wallpaper, moving stars included. While that goal has not yet been achieved, sadiekiller was able to replace the stars in Time Machine with Mario-themed icons.



You can change the icons to whatever you want to. Go to System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Resources/ and replace the Normal*Star.tiff (where * indicates the color). sadiekiller notes that your images should be sideways and have black borders to be rendered properly by Quartz. The files are attached. And if you want a Time Machine Wallpaper, here you go.

 

More Special Effects for iChat & Photo Booth




This information comes from MacRumors. I'll just link to the same posts that MacRumors does instead of posting all the files for this one. I feel lazy right now! Let me know if the links are broken and I can upload the files if necessary.

Hologram Effect
Invisible Effect
Hologram Upside-Down Effects

Installation Instructions

Edit: Another MacRumors user reports that all you need to do is drop the .qtz file into the /Library/Compositions/ folder to get the new effect in both Photo Booth and iChat. Hey, whatever works!

For more iChat Effects check out:
QuartzFX.com
MoreIchatEffects
(They even include some "Fake Mouth" Effects!)

Note: This will not work in Tiger.

 

Thanks for the great info! Let's keep this going...

I wonder why Apple ommited some of the special effects of iChat from their commercial release of Leopard?

 

Stacks Drawers are awesome, i would love to be able to work with them myself however, anyway to get .png's or take the icon from them as a .png?

 

circa86,

As you may have discovered the Drawers are simply folders with modified icons. You can just copy the folder icon from the Get Info window in Leopard. Then open Preview.app and select File>New From Clipboard and save your image as a PNG. For some reason this doesn't work in Tiger; perhaps due to the alpha level? You can find the "Clear" PNG on the Japanese optica optima site (the original source). Hope this helps!

 

awesome man, good find, exactly what I was looking for, I just wanted to make one for my projects folder that I have.

right now I have a projects folder, a regular leopard folder with アンドル written on it as a project folder, might as well make a nice project shelf also.

and I want to play around with color as well.

thanks again.

 

Opaque Leopard Menu Bar Solved



Opps! I forgot to give notice about the Opaque Menu Bar update I posted earlier; check the first page or click here. You'll probably see this one on most of the Apple-related sites as many people have been complaining about the Menu Bar. TUAW posted an article this morning so check it out too, Opaque Leopard menubar solved. More people have reported successfully restoring the transparency after trying this tip by deleting the plist entry. Also, by using a scaling factor of 0.62 in the code (instead of 1) you will be able to achieve a more desirable gradient without using Menu Bar Tint.

Edit: OK I tried the Opaque Menu Bar hack. It works as advertised. Here are my before and after screen shots (with 0.62 set as the scaling factor). By the way, my wallpaper is Motion Stripes from InterfaceLIFT.

Before


After (0.62)

 

I hate to double post, but The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) put up a really good Tutorial today about how to make custom Stack Drawer icons. They also posted a way to use a Smart Folder to quickly access recent items from the Dock. Wait a second, I think I've already triple-posted in this thread!

TUAW Tutorial: Custom Stack Drawer Icons



TUAW Tip: Put a Recent items Stack in your Dock

 

I like the translucent menu bar much better than opaque. I don't know what everyone is making such a big deal about it for? The one thing I like is the top of the active window is now easier to see because the menu bar is not as opaque and it blends in nicely with the desktop wallpaper.
I thought that there were a lot of youthful people on this forum but it seams like it's nothing but OLD farts that can deal with change.

 

LOL! Yeah, I like the translucent Menu Bar better too, hldan. I already changed back to it.

 

I can't get the translucent one... Go FX5200 doesn't support it. What annoys me is that Apple didn't say this until after people complain.

 

I actually like the translucent bar too - it's not anywhere near as bad as it used to be.

Now if only Apple would offer anti-aliasing in QuartzComposer and Coverflow...

Jagged edges just ruin half the effect

 

I am fan of the translucent menu bar as well especially when certain wallpapers really show behind it. I like it because it doesn't interact with the active window anymore, it's just subtle now like it should have been from the beginning, it was too much in the way before. Apple knows what they are doing.

Anyways, it's a shame that people like you who want the translucent menu bar can't get it based on your Macs specs and some people who have it don't even want it, go figure.

 

What's een more ennoying is that on early builds, the FX5200 supported transparency,

 

CandyBar 3 Released (Leopard-Only)

CandyBar is NOT freeware. TUAW summarizes the features here.

Panic's Official CandyBar Website



CandyBar 3 Screenshots (Click for Full Size)



From TUAW: Take a CandyBar 3 Video Tour

<object width='425' height='355'><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OFE0ZSJ4kQg&rel=1&border=0"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OFE0ZSJ4kQg&rel=1&border=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width='425' height='355'></embed></object>

 

This is wonderful; but the price is a bit too high. ($29)

 

I bet a lot of people have been waiting for this. Those who complain all seem to hate the new Leopard folders.

 

Quick Look Plugins

Folder Plugin



ZIP Plugin



FLV Plugin



EPS Plugin



QLPlugins.com has MORE!

 

Well, you don't have to use Candy Bar to change the folder look...you can go to places like InterfaceLIFT, and simply replace the folders with images you want. That's what I did.

 

Yeah, you can change icons in Leopard in the same way that you change icons in Tiger. However icons in Leopard are bigger (512x512).

Mac 101: Change Your Icons