Modding Mac OS X

Custom Themes

TOOLS YOU NEED

For working through the examples in this section, you’ll need the following application:

• ShapeShifter (http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/shapeshifter)

• Max Themes’ Eylo offering (http://www.maxthemes.com)

Although Mac OS X doesn’t natively offer themes (or "skins”) per se, you can use other solutions to skin this cat. Unsanity’s ShapeShifter (http://www.unsanity.com/haxies/shapeshifter, $20) offers one skinning solution that lets you use both built-in and third-party theme offerings. With ShapeShifter, you can change your interface by choosing themes that customize the look of your menus, buttons, and other interface items. Figure 1-23 provides a screenshot of Microsoft Internet Explorer, as skinned with Max Themes’ Eylo offering (http://www.maxthemes.com). As you can see, nearly every component of the interface changes its look from the Aqua standard.

Figure 1-23. ShapeShifter lets you customize the look of your entire interface.

ShapeShifter is relatively easy to use. Once downloaded and installed, it adds itself to System Preferences. Figure 1-24 shows ShapeShifter’s Themes preferences pane. Here’s where you can select a theme and apply it to your applications. ShapeShifter comes with two custom themes in addition to the default Aqua theme. Digital Device adds a parchment-colored cast to your windows and a graphic design–inspired look to your buttons. SimpleX ...