# Change UI colors?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Tags:** windows\
**Created:** [February 22, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289 "2024-02-22T00:53:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/1 "2024-02-22T00:53:06Z")

</div>

As I’m working to make RH8 Ui get close to what I did in RH7, most of the changes in the Advanced settings do not work. Here is what I’m trying to do.

In 7 I was able to change the color of the tabs at the top so they contrasted with selected tab. Deep teal vs the selected gray.

 ![Save7_01](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/d/0/5/d0508a4341778f5c9c78e050ab808db320ebdf3c.png)

To get that I edited “Rhino.Options.UiPaintColors.InactiveTabBackground” That does nothing in RH8

 ![Background_02](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/8/4/2/8428a4989af15f18b0c1f376d7a37b2b6775d34e.png)

Similarly, In 7 I edited “Rhino.Options.UiPaintColors.PressedStart” to get

 ![Save7_02](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/5/a/6/5a63905d962c7d2a4e8da4841962fe70eedbe0cf.png)

But doing the same in 8 has no result.

 ![Background_01](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/6/7/9/6791b28f3538557e883b636bb54b9af90f2d00f0.png)

Is there a way to make these changes in RH8?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/wim/32/747482_2.png) [@wim](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/wim)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/2 "2024-02-22T07:06:48Z")

</div>

Hi -

> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> […] most of the changes in the Advanced settings do not work.

Rhino 8 uses `Rhino.UI.ThemeSettings.xxx` settings for the UI colors.  
-wim

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lander](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/lander/32/511244_2.png) [@lander](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/lander)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 7:09am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/3 "2024-02-22T07:09:09Z")

</div>

> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> most of the changes in the Advanced settings do not work

> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> Is there a way to make these changes in RH8?

ikr, darkmode is cool but the colors don’t really work 😭

> [@wim](#):
>
> Rhino 8 uses `Rhino.UI.ThemeSettings.xxx` settings for the UI colors.

what 😅

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gijs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/gijs/32/769882_2.png) [@Gijs](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Gijs)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 8:09am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/4 "2024-02-22T08:09:18Z")

</div>

In this thread I listed most of the colors that you will likely need.

> [@Appearance Window Colors in WIP8?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/appearance-window-colors-in-wip8/162863):
>
> Anybody able to tell me where these badboys are in the newest WIP8? Thx -Alan

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Charles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/charles/32/747625_2.png) [@Charles](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Charles)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 9:12am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/5 "2024-02-22T09:12:37Z")

</div>

> [@Mousewheel regression](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/mousewheel-regression/165494/7):
>
> > [@Mousewheel regression](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/mousewheel-regression/165494/5):
> >
> > `Rhino.UI.ThemeSettings.Frame.Tab.Checked.Background = red`
> > 
> > But now I have a red window titlebar and a red menu.
> 
> [RH-77058](https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-77058) Tab colors affect titlebar colors

Until this is fixed, the tab color setting is nearly useless.  
In the **meantime** black works quite well:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/f/8/f/f8f4be3dda0b48e278c68b27004a93099ec14c8f.png)

The color can also be specified here:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/7/7/9/779f8a9585d7f707b819ca4c40de545e0ee86725.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lander](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/lander/32/511244_2.png) [@lander](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/lander)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/6 "2024-02-22T23:43:20Z")

</div>

black looks good, I’ll try that 🍻

I’ve been wondering if a windows OS setting controls the text…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShynnSup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/shynnsup/32/767220_2.png) [@ShynnSup](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/ShynnSup)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/7 "2024-02-23T00:15:44Z")

</div>

No, all settings are in Rhino Options\> Advanced tab.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/8 "2024-02-23T00:16:13Z")

</div>

I’ve gone there and tried making changes but no go. I can live with most of it currently assuming this will be better at some point. But can you give me the exact advanced key which will allow me to change the button press backgrounds of Ortho, SmartTrack, Gumball, etc.? I can do without the rest for now.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lander](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/lander/32/511244_2.png) [@lander](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/lander)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 12:23am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/9 "2024-02-23T00:23:57Z")

</div>

> [@ShynnSup](#):
>
> all settings are in Rhino Options\> Advanced tab

I’m not seeing where to change the menu active/inactive text color…

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/9/7/1/9719a04a686778e33f56f84c323d7a1a18fd1dc0.jpeg)

maybe this?

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/5/4/f/54fedbfc4c6129eba0b9225dff342d2e281e523f.png)

nope didn’t work…

I mean it kinda worked… 😅

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/a/6/8/a684196dbadad455f89f39f340f056cb4ec59f2f.jpeg)

That’s pretty cool but I need to find the other texts 😊

Now, I’d like very much to figure out how to make all the other text’s green 😁:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/4/d/0/4d05db5353e8903cbc32fd12952769b65df026ef.jpeg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShynnSup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/shynnsup/32/767220_2.png) [@ShynnSup](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/ShynnSup)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/10 "2024-02-23T01:28:48Z")

</div>

Yes you have to try every possible combination. I have struggled with this too multiple times. Similar discussions here.

Here

> [@V8 interface colors - I don't get it](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/v8-interface-colors-i-dont-get-it/171790):
>
> I was trying to play around with the interface colors to see which entry did what. Mostly interested in the toolbar button background color. I wanted it darker than default light, but I am not interested in dark mode. The thing is, nothing I seem to do has any effect. I am using a custom theme and so I thought I would first reset everything back to defaults - there appears not to be a global switch to do that, so I did it item by item… Starting here: All (modified) set to default…

Here:

> [@How do I change layer panel interface color?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/how-do-i-change-layer-panel-interface-color/166198):
>
> Hi. I noticed this panel is unnecessarily dark. I did not find the option to change its color not even in advanced. Probably I missed it.

Hopefully in some time things will be easier for the user… 🤞

> [@How do I change layer panel interface color?](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/how-do-i-change-layer-panel-interface-color/166198/10):
>
> I was just talking about this today. The theme settings are vast now and very unclear. I’ll put something together that hopefully makes the theming process easier within an 8.x service release. Hopefully sooner than later. [https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-77480/Create-a-new-UI-theme-editing-panel](https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-77480/Create-a-new-UI-theme-editing-panel)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ShynnSup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/shynnsup/32/767220_2.png) [@ShynnSup](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/ShynnSup)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 1:33am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/11 "2024-02-23T01:33:35Z")

</div>

> [@CalypsoArt](#):
>
> I’ve gone there and tried making changes but no go. I can live with most of it currently assuming this will be better at some point. But can you give me the exact advanced key which will allow me to change the button press backgrounds of Ortho, SmartTrack, Gumball, etc.? I can do without the rest for now.

This one?

rhino.ui.themesettings.frame.button.checked.background

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/3/5/5/355a5414f437f063ab2460fbbfeabbb2072d4f62.png)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![CalypsoArt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/calypsoart/32/770614_2.png) [@CalypsoArt](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/CalypsoArt)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/change-ui-colors/176289/12 "2024-02-23T02:04:34Z")

</div>

Gracias!