Arc-Darkest Complete Desktop [GS-3.36 version added]

GTK3 Themes arc arc-dark blue dark icons

Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): https://github.com/rtlewis88/rtl88-Themes/tree/Arc-Darkest

23
Score 88.8%
Description:

Arc-Darkest is a flat, dark-mode theme with transparent elements, for GTK, xfwm4, openbox-3, GNOME-Shell, and Cinnamon desktop environments. Arc-Darkest also has two varieties of matching Icons and Folders.

This is the matching desktop theme.
FOR ICONS & FOLDERS CLICK LINK BELOW DEFAULT IMAGE AT TOP OF PAGE.

Arc theme is 2019's most popular theme, as it has been for the past couple of years, according to major sources: (August 2, 2019) https://www.ubuntupit.com/top-15-best-gnome-shell-themes-gnome-desktop/.

The well-embraced standard Arc theme has always been available in the three variants of Arc, Arc-Dark, and Arc-Darker; but, at last, a fourth and measurably even darker dark-Arc has arrived on the GTK+ scene. Even at it dimmest, the earlier Arc variants have never quite satisfied those who need the lights turned down real low, but this fourth variant should fix all of that.

The forth Arc desktop theme darkens only six elements, on the whole, but where it happens makes all the difference. Significantly, keeping the official Arc hues, contrasts, and structure wholly intact was foremost in this project's objective. Thus, nothing is altered one tiny bit in those crucial areas - as the existent, intact, Arc hues are pragmatically darkened.

Moreover, the signature Arc-Blue hue is not darkened or altered in any way via the new Arc-Darkest variant. The goal was invariably to keep Arc as we know it, while merely darkening the elements necessary to align with the brightness values more associated with what heavy users demand from dark themes. We hope we achieved that for you.

Special thanks to horst3180 at: https://github.com/horst3180/Arc-theme, for initially advancing Arc, and for inspiration. Further thanks to NicoHood at: https://github.com/NicoHood/arc-theme, for keeping Arc alive and great, more currently.

Both the Suru++ and the Numix icons and folders have been carefully crafted to match the new Arc-Darkest desktop scheme, but they can surely compliment other desktop themes that sport matching color hues.

Special thanks to the Numix team for their inspiration, expertise and contributions at: https://github.com/numixproject/numix-icon-theme. The Suru-grounded icon set was initially designed and developed by Sam Hewitt - under GPL3. The original Suru icon set and concept was created by Matthieu James - Canonical Design Team. Core developers are Andrea Bonanni (original author) and Gustavo Costa . Devices icons are inspired by La Capitaine created by Keefer Rourke - under GPL3/MIT. Emoji icons are derived from the Twenoji created by Twitter Team - under MIT. Some icons are based on Numix mimetypes icons created by the Numix Team - under GPL3. Devices and places icons and several apps icons are inspired by Papirus icons created by Alexey Varfolomeev - under GPL3. Numberless icons are from Gravit Designer, under GPL3/MIT.


Manual Installation Is Easy:

For themes: 1) Extract the "tar.xz" file into your "~/.themes/" folder - to install for current user only - or into the "/usr/share/themes/" folder - for the theme to be applied globally. 2) Use the GNOME Tweak Tool or an equivalent app to enable it for your desktop.

If installing manually, make sure to install the dependency: "Murrine theme engine" if you do not already have it; and update your GTK+packages if you have not.

For icons: 1) Extract the "tar.xz" file into your "~/.icons/" folder - to install for current user only - or into the "/usr/share/icons/" folder - for the icons and folders to be applied globally. 2) Use the GNOME Tweak Tool or an equivalent app to enable them for your desktop.

Logging out and then logging back in may be necessary on some operating systems to fully implement themes and icons.
Last changelog:

18-05-20: Version 1.8.1 14 days ago

This update sees functional enhancements for 3.36 variant. Here, GNOME-Shell slider and scrollbar elements receive coloring vis-a-vis theme-flavor's base hue (where they were they used to be white/gray). For other variant, these enhancements were performed during previous update. Commit: 481222

58 comments
 Comments

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6

redfred84

11 days ago

6 6 okay

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10

nicklestrange

13 days ago

10 10 the best

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10

nicklestrange

13 days ago

Loving this theme.

Just only little problem on Ubuntu 20.04. The Ubuntu Software (app store) has an invisible UI. I am noticing this across all non-native themes. Would there be a possibility of a fix?

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C S2

rtl88

13 days ago

I haven't had the testers run across that one, but sually, trying the other version helps with those sorts of issues.

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10

nicklestrange

13 days ago

Got a reply off of another theme. If the themes are installed in /usr/share/themes instead of ~/.themes then it causes this issue with the Ubuntu Software which is now a Snap application.

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C S2

rtl88

12 days ago

Thanks, that's important to know.

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10

chavarriaf

14 days ago

10 10 the best, I'm upping the rating form the 9 I had here a long time. You all have done so much to keep this theme current and awesome. Thanks!

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10

ryuk

30 days ago

10 wow !! it looks really cool on my opensuse !! Nice job!!

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peppermint

2 months ago

Very nice, except for the dotted lines in the scroll earea's. Personally I find them very ugly and don't understand the use.

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C S2

rtl88

2 months ago

Hi, peppermint, thanks for the comment. All GTK3 have the dotted lines; its built in. Perhaps a non-GTK (Qt-based) theme would suite you better.

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peppermint

2 months ago

I know. In this video it's explained how to remove them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghxKvCU2oi0

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10

linuxoed9

4 months ago

10 10 the best

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10

bealsc

5 months ago

10 Great work. I am using this theme while working in a very dark environment and the contrast is great. A+ Thanks!

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C S2

rtl88

5 months ago

That is really good to hear, bealsc. It seems like, with every update of this theme, my OCD kicks in on securing the tiniest improvement in definition. I think it is because, though I loved the original Arc-Dark, it was never dark enough - and the definition was somewhat muddled vis-a-vis my eyesight, at least. Arc-Darkest came on the scene to address all of that; so, I'm thinking it has to be perfect or what's the point.

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10

sengchanh-46

6 months ago

10 Thanks you for white word!!! You makes the big change of new white texts. Love for you brother!!

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yolifromcc

6 months ago

Okay rtl88, you guys should start paying me for coming to your rescue but I have the new Ubuntu 19.10 ‘Eoan Ermine’ that just came out and this them looks proper. I dont know how to show you a screensot but it would looki like yours not the guy with the funky screenshot. Just sayin, I dont see how it is your problem. Go relax your theme is perfect!

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10

accessibilitydoc

6 months ago

10 10 the best
This is the only Arc I have seen that gets a seal of approval for accessibility. The other ones are just too muddled for contrast and clarity. Its not their fault, I know, it is just how it was designed... strictly for good eyes. Thank you for producing an Arc the others can use. I did read the normal variant is very popular, and the color is also amazing on the normal variant, that is why some hated not being able to use it. Blessings to you!

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7

eh8t

6 months ago

7 7 good The shell dialogs remain in dark text, rendering many fields illegible

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C S2

rtl88

6 months ago

Hah, well if I thought you really had 3.24 in your computer, it would be explained. But, you actually have 3.34. Nevertheless, I cannot any of get the rpm based machines, where I'm at now, to produce a bug, but I'll check with someone with Debian I can get with.

In the mean time, make sure your not actually running your rig with 3.24 ;)

Take care.

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C S2

rtl88

6 months ago

sorry, "get any of the rpm" rather.

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7

eh8t

6 months ago

No worries, thank you guys for the prompt help and the awesome looking theme.

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C S2

rtl88

6 months ago

Well, here's what we come up with 3.34 on Debian (screenshot). We just can't make it mess up like the example shows - it still looks terrific. Later, I'll run it on that new Ubuntu though.

https://cn.opendesktop.org/img/a/6/1/f/78f61941a1aebbbefd4d3341cbac419eaf94.png

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7

eh8t

6 months ago

I checked to see if issues persisted with stock 19.10 Ubuntu by wiping my partition and reinstalling the distro. Unfortunately the shell text remains strangely dark :(

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rjungman

6 months ago

Hello eh8t, I noticed you started your profile just to comment on this theme, so I wanted to get right to you. I am a co-developer of it, and I wanted to thank you for trying the theme. The dark text on those elements is per Arc specs. We get complaints on the dark text sometimes, but when we change it, it becomes something different than Arc. See, the blue hue, value, and saturation are unchanged from original Arc, so that dark text shows up identical versus the original too. Both GNOME and Cinnamon shells have been re-tested since your comment, and they perform as expected. Anything you don't like is ether a personal preference or how your equipment renders it. On HD screens for example things look different versus standard, etc. Good luck with your theme search!

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7

eh8t

6 months ago

Allow me to attach images of the issue I am experiencing so as to better illustrate my point: https://imgur.com/a/AsGq0vN

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18-05-20: Version 1.8.1 14 days ago

This update sees functional enhancements for 3.36 variant. Here, GNOME-Shell slider and scrollbar elements receive coloring vis-a-vis theme-flavor's base hue (where they were they used to be white/gray). For other variant, these enhancements were performed during previous update. Commit: 481222

19-04-20: Version 1.8 1 month ago

This update sees a complete reconstruction, and addition of new variant. Modifications include 423 changes and additions, across all platforms, save for GTK2. This exhaustive upgrade was due to major shifts in the ecosystem, namely the arrival of GNOME 3.36. Since most users are still on earlier versions, the original variant will still be retained, and refreshed, for the foreseeable future. Commit: 5b308a

11-03-20: Version 1.7.6 2 months ago

This update sees more functional enhancements. Here, GNOME-Shell search window text-elements receive coloring vis-a-vis theme-flavor's base hue (where they were previously gray). Commit: b1ac455

28-02-20: Version 1.7.5 3 months ago

This update sees functional enhancements. Here, GNOME-Shell slider and scrollbar elements receive coloring vis-a-vis theme-flavor's base hue (where they were previously white and gray). Commit: 032baa

11-02-20: Version 1.7.4 3 months ago

App-indicators and other functional elements see the classic arc hue added this update, vis-a-vis the GNOME-Shell. Commit: 24156b

26-01-20: Version 1.7.3 4 months ago

Thus update showcases notable modifications to the GNOME-Shell, including better functionality vis-a-vis menus, as well as, a few hue and saturation adjustments, to line up the 'selected' elements with its GTK-2/3 counterparts. GTK-2 text was also modified to improve elemental definition and readability. Finally, Plank saw minimum modifications, which primarily keep it integrated with evolving theme standards.

09-12-19: Version 1.7.2 5 months ago

38 color modifications were applied to gtk-3.0, gtk-2.0, and plank. These adjustments improve visibility of assets utilizing the Arc-Blue hue; and definition vis-a-vis radio and other non-principle buttons.

01-12-19: Version 1.7.1 6 months ago

This update embraces multiple color tweaks, to include: 7 changes to xfwm4; 10 dash & dock changes; 1 plank change; 1 openbox-3 change; 3 metacity changes; 1 gtk-3 change; 6 gtk-2 changes; and 6 cinnamon changes. The intention, here, was to add more elemental definition vis-a-vis text and scroll/selection components.

15-11-19: Version 1.7 6 months ago

79 modifications to Arc-Darkest across most platforms . Due to user requests, the Arc's traditional 'selected' text is no longer a dark value. When scrolling over most applicable elements, the text color will now be an off-white hue and value. Other minor color tweaks also apply to this update.

07-11-19: Version 1.6.2 6 months ago

Assets adjustments and color tweaks. Namely, the close buttons have been altered to better match values present in this measurably darker variety of Arc.

27-10-19: Version 1.6.1 7 months ago

Assets adjustments, tweaks, and re-coloring (namely close buttons) totaling 16 - including: 3 changes to xfwm4, 6 changes to gtk, 1 change to plank, 3 changes to metacity, 1 change to gtk3, 1 change to gnome-shell, and one change to cinnamon. Unaffected complimentary products' version numbers adjusted to match suite.

18-10-19: Version 1.6 7 months ago

Fresh Build

11-10-19: Version 1.5 7 months ago

Dialog Button Tweaks

01-10-19: Version 1.4.4 7 months ago

Assets Adjustments

24-09-19: Version 1.4.4 8 months ago

Border Adjustments

15-09-19: Version 1.4.3 8 months ago

Gtk-2 Adjustments

07-09-19: Version 1.4.2 8 months ago

Assets Adjustments

30-08-19: Version 1.4.1 9 months ago

Shell Text Color Adjustment

20-08-19: Version 1.4 9 months ago

Shell-Menu Color Tweaks, Suru Icons Resolution Adjustments

12-08-19: Version 1.3 9 months ago

App-Grid Tweaks, Icon Color Tweaks

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product-maker redfred84 May 22 2020 6 okay
6 okay
product-maker nicklestrange May 20 2020 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker chavarriaf May 18 2020 10 the best
10 the best, I'm upping the rating form the 9 I had here a long time. You all have done so much to keep this theme current and awesome. Thanks!
product-maker ryuk May 02 2020 10 the best
wow !! it looks really cool on my opensuse !! Nice job!!
product-maker linuxoed9 Jan 26 2020 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker bealsc Dec 09 2019 10 the best
Great work. I am using this theme while working in a very dark environment and the contrast is great. A+ Thanks!
product-maker sengchanh-46 Nov 15 2019 10 the best
Thanks you for white word!!! You makes the big change of new white texts. Love for you brother!!
product-maker accessibilitydoc Nov 06 2019 10 the best
10 the best This is the only Arc I have seen that gets a seal of approval for accessibility. The other ones are just too muddled for contrast and clarity. Its not their fault, I know, it is just how it was designed... strictly for good eyes. Thank you for producing an Arc the others can use. I did read the normal variant is very popular, and the color is also amazing on the normal variant, that is why some hated not being able to use it. Blessings to you!
product-maker eh8t Nov 06 2019 7 good
7 good The shell dialogs remain in dark text, rendering many fields illegible
product-maker timbowman23 Oct 29 2019 10 the best
This is a terrific idea! They're still well defined enough, you guys definitely know what your doing over there!
product-maker gavinzimmerman3 Oct 09 2019 10 the best
Thank You!
product-maker zordan Sep 26 2019 9 excellent
9 excellent
product-maker fenyx Sep 12 2019 9 excellent
Great work, thanks a lot for sharing it with us. Anyway I don't use it yet on my Ubuntu 19.04 because of incompatibility with my very favorite file manager (Double Commander aka. doublecmd-gtk, installed through apt, not by snap or appimage). I don't understand what makes a dark theme work with this application or not but I see that Starlabs and Adwaita-dark are theming it perfectly. I don't know the difference with a theme like yours nor which files should be included or modified, sorry to be of no help. Do you think that this issue with Double Commander could be fixed? I would be glad to use this theme as I really like it. Here's a concrete example: Ark-Darkest > https://i.imgur.com/aR5ibCC.png StarLabs Dark > https://i.imgur.com/FGDgJHI.png I've posted a message on application's forum to get more informations about the files to customize but nobody answered for now > https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5769
product-maker amkinser7 Aug 21 2019 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker redix Aug 21 2019 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker gemco-dl Aug 14 2019 9 excellent
9 excellent
product-maker trudeaux26 Aug 13 2019 10 the best
Thank you
product-maker hryan Aug 13 2019 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker lurking-undeads Aug 13 2019 7 good
7 good
product-maker jcrump04 Aug 13 2019 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker grokew Aug 08 2019 9 excellent
9 excellent
product-maker crainium Aug 06 2019 10 the best
This is by far the nicest traditional Arc theme I have ever come across. Fantastic work!
product-maker jimhooper-04 Aug 06 2019 10 the best
Perfect! Thank you!
product-maker dzat Aug 06 2019 10 the best
your my hero
product-maker michaelromo04 Aug 05 2019 10 the best
10 the best
product-maker sdmf Aug 04 2019 9 excellent
9 excellent
product-maker tdupnick01 Aug 04 2019 10 the best
10 the best I always wondered why arc darker was lighter than arc dark... thank you!
product-maker ioflarity Aug 04 2019 9 excellent
9 excellent
product-maker MeaCulpa Aug 04 2019 8 great
8 great
product-maker tevens219 Aug 04 2019 10 the best
Finally, thanks a million! :)
product-maker Base: 4 x 5.0 Ratings
nicklestrange
May 20 2020
rey6190
May 19 2020
chavarriaf
May 18 2020
woozbr
Apr 21 2020
bealsc
Dec 09 2019
sengchanh-46
Nov 15 2019
eh8t
Nov 07 2019
yolifromcc
Nov 07 2019
accessibilitydoc
Nov 06 2019
timbowman23
Oct 29 2019
gavinzimmerman3
Oct 09 2019
mikeflatt
Oct 03 2019
zordan
Sep 26 2019
fenyx
Sep 12 2019
amkinser7
Aug 21 2019
hryan
Aug 13 2019
lurking-undeads
Aug 13 2019
jcrump04
Aug 13 2019
crainium
Aug 06 2019
jimhooper-04
Aug 06 2019
dzat
Aug 06 2019
tdupnick01
Aug 04 2019
tevens219
Aug 04 2019
File (click to download) Version Description Downloads Date Filesize DL OCS-Install MD5SUM
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S2 product-maker
rtl88
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license
Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike
version
1.8.1
updated May 18 2020
added Aug 03 2019
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