Quark Forums

Hi, all:

Though I am far away from the impressive post counts of migman, Linda, Erik, Michel, Greg and others (again, thank you all for your support and dedication!), I thought I post something special for my 600th post:

Revealing an Easter Egg for QuarkXPress 8

Disclaimer
Easter Eggs are non-documented features, which are also not officially supported, so please do not call tech support about this. Also, using this Easter Egg might have undesired side effects, therefore by using this you agree to use it at your own risk! Furthermore there is no guarantee that it will still work in future versions or updates.

Warning
Though it is unlikely that you will damage your system, application or data, you can actually make QuarkXPress unusable, e.g. black labels on black background. However it is easy to reset to the default color scheme by the steps provided below.

Limitations
Some parts of the palettes might not change, as they come from the Operating System and therefore cannot by changed by this file. Especially when also modifying the color scheme of the dialogs of QuarkXPress this is noticeable. Refer to the documentation of your operating system how to possibly change this too.
Also, the file does not alter the icons of the application and not every aspect of the UI can be set.

Enough said, here’s how:

Custom Color Scheme
By creating a text file and using XML tags it is possible to change the color scheme of QuarkXPress 8 (release version). If you just want to try it, it will also work with the 60-day Test Drive of QuarkXPress.

All you need to do is:
1.    Stop QuarkXPress 8.
2.    Create a text file called “XPressTheme.xml“. Best download and modify the one provided here.
3.    Use the XML formatting and tags that can be found in the example. make sure you do not break the XML.
4.    Put the file “XPressTheme.xml“ into the preference folder (where the preference folder is can be found here).
5.    Restart QuarkXPress 8.

This works under Mac OS X as well as under Windows.

The XML tags should be self-explanatory. If not, please change the values e.g. to 0/0/0, restart XPress and observe the changes.

Example
See below.

Reset
Resetting QuarkXPress 8 to its default color scheme is easy:
1. Delete the file “XPressTheme.xml“ from your preference folder.
2. Restart QuarkXPress.

Competition
As I am personally looking for some nice and interesting color schemes, which I can use for demos or as examples, I would like to call a competition:
Please post your nicest or most creative color scheme here, either as a link or as text in your post and ideally also with screenshot. Give it a name, so it is easily referenced (such as „Nightwatch Scheme“).

By posting it here you agree that I can do whatever I like with your color you created.

The best two (and I am the jury ;-) will get an iTunes Gift Voucher from me personally, worth $25 and $15. Of course you are allowed to influence my vote (by emotionally cheering for the candidates).

This Matthias Color Competition ends Aug 31, 2008.

Example: “Nightwatch”
Config:

Click here.

Screenshot:

Hi, Dave,

I tried this on three machines (two Macs and one Win) and it worked for me like a charme.

Ok, as I am not sure what happens at your end, two questions:

1. Using my XML file and copying it into the preferences folder, does that work for you or do you crash already here? If you crash, what Edition of QuarkXPress are you using? UK & Ireland? On Leopard?

2. Assuming that you probably crashed after modifying it: Did you leave the filename intact and alsothe structure as XML file (not using some funny editor that adds line breaks within the file)? I used TextWrangler.

Thanks
Matthias

I don't like it (the nightwatch theme). It looks too much like Lightroom or Aparture. Or can I play videos inside Quark now? ;-)

So, please, can you create a "classic" theme?

-scaaty

Well, here my first attempt!

Guess I will have to create an iTunes account! 

And here is the XML specifications:

<!-- Quark's Green Theme -->
<XPressTheme AffectsDialog="false" AffectsPalette="true" PaletteMargin="0">
    <BackGroundColor B="15" G="94" R="79"/>
    <FrameColor B="18" G="103" R="86"/>
    <EditBackGroundColor B="188" G="190" R="166"/>
    <TextColor B="255" G="255" R="255"/>
    <DisabledTextColor B="127" G="127" R="127"/>
    <PictureButtonTheme CornerRadius="18" RoundingStyle="1">
        <BackGroundColor B="4" G="38" R="30"/>
        <ClickedBackGroundColor B="248" G="228" R="180"/>
        <StuckBackGroundColor B="18" G="101" R="85"/>
        <FrameColor B="15" G="94" R="79"/>
        <ClickedFrameColor B="64" G="168" R="157"/>
        <StuckFrameColor B="0" G="215" R="189"/>
        <MouseOverColor B="225" G="178" R="97"/>
        <GradientProperties IncrementalValue="10" gradientType="1" startingOpacity="70"/>
    </PictureButtonTheme>
</XPressTheme>

Would be nice to know the possible values for  RoundingStyle and gradientType and their related effect.

Enjoy!

davewalsh:

My eyes!!!! My eyes!!!!

Magnificient isn't it?

Where is yours? 

Scripting_Ace:

Where is yours? 

 Here are some more for the already "nostalgic" amongst you:

Quark's 7.x Orange:

<!-- Quark's 7.x Orange Theme -->
<XPressTheme AffectsDialog="false" AffectsPalette="true" PaletteMargin="0">
    <BackGroundColor B="143" G="214" R="255"/>
    <FrameColor B="39" G="184" R="255"/>
    <EditBackGroundColor B="98" G="199" R="255"/>
    <TextColor B="5" G="21" R="105"/>
    <DisabledTextColor B="127" G="127" R="127"/>
    <PictureButtonTheme CornerRadius="18" RoundingStyle="1">
        <BackGroundColor B="75" G="152" R="247"/>
        <ClickedBackGroundColor B="43" G="113" R="255"/>
        <StuckBackGroundColor B="33" G="38" R="136"/>
        <FrameColor B="11" G="106" R="255"/>
        <ClickedFrameColor B="11" G="106" R="255"/>
        <StuckFrameColor B="11" G="106" R="255"/>
        <MouseOverColor B="11" G="106" R="255"/>
        <GradientProperties IncrementalValue="10" gradientType="1" startingOpacity="80"/>
    </PictureButtonTheme>
</XPressTheme>

and 
Quark's 6.x Blue:

<!-- Quark's 6.x Blue Theme -->
<XPressTheme AffectsDialog="false" AffectsPalette="true" PaletteMargin="0">
    <BackGroundColor B="147" G="110" R="40"/>
    <FrameColor B="148" G="111" R="49"/>
    <EditBackGroundColor B="218" G="195" R="157"/>
    <TextColor B="255" G="255" R="255"/>
    <DisabledTextColor B="127" G="127" R="127"/>
    <PictureButtonTheme CornerRadius="18" RoundingStyle="1">
        <BackGroundColor B="184" G="133" R="61"/>
        <ClickedBackGroundColor B="96" G="227" R="251"/>
        <StuckBackGroundColor B="226" G="241" R="252"/>
        <FrameColor B="148" G="111" R="49"/>
        <ClickedFrameColor B="96" G="227" R="251"/>
        <StuckFrameColor B="96" G="227" R="251"/>
        <MouseOverColor B="96" G="227" R="251"/>
        <GradientProperties IncrementalValue="10" gradientType="1" startingOpacity="80"/>
    </PictureButtonTheme>
</XPressTheme>

 Enjoy!

So far I like the gray (Dave) and the blue (Michel) best.

And Michel, thanks for reminding me that colors can hurt ;-)

Thanks
Matthias

Matthias Guenther (Quark):

And Michel, thanks for reminding me that colors can hurt ;-)

Funny you should mention this because all these colors come fomr YOUR (Quark's) application icons  

P.S. Do you have any insights on the two keys I asked about in my "Quark's Green" post? 

Scripting_Ace:

Funny you should mention this because all these colors come fomr YOUR (Quark's) application icons

True. However if nature had taken the color of my eyes (green) for my skin too, I'd look rather icky.

Or take our corporate green. It works nice as the main booth color but if the staff would wear green suits I doubt you'd be impressed. "Less is more" ;)

P.S. Do you have any insights on the two keys I asked about in my "Quark's Green" post?

I don't, but I can try to find out.

Best
Matthias