Themes with clear item separation (like in Logic Pro)

[User41]

Wondering if anyone has recommendations on themes where you can more easily see splits in items and separate items, even when they are the same color.

Logic does this masterfully. I am aware of the Logic themes but prefer themes more similar to the Reaper default themes.

I just have a hard time being able to easily see whether I'm looking at one item or several when several items are next to each other (or "back to back").

Thank you in advance.

[Rednroll]

Not part of the theme. It's built into Reaper. If you right click on an item, there is a context menu selection of "item and take color" where you can change the color of items and takes and since most everything is an action in Reaper, actions can be set to a quick access toolbar buttons and assigned a keyboard shortcut.

[User41]

Originally Posted by Rednroll

Not part of the theme. It's built into Reaper. If you right click on an item, there is a context menu selection of "item and take color" where you can change the color of items and takes and since most everything is an action in Reaper, actions can be set to a quick access toolbar buttons and assigned a keyboard shortcut.

yes, I use Rodilab's color palette and also some SWS scripts for autocoloring things, including items.

I'm specifically looking for a theme where there is natural separation between adjacent items. Check out a screenshot of logic or garageband, and you can see what I mean.

I believe there is a PNG file that can be edited, so I might just give that a go myself. I've never done that so will have to learn something new, if so!

[norbury brook]

there's a preference where the item info is shown above rather than part of the item, this will then separate adjacent items/tracks.


M

[White Tie]

item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png. Curved corners can help with showing where the join is, try these from the Default 4 theme...

[User41]

Originally Posted by norbury brook

there's a preference where the item info is shown above rather than part of the item, this will then separate adjacent items/tracks.


M

That is a great suggestion. I actually previously used that preference, and I guess when I stopped using it, I didn’t realize it was making it harder for me to delineate between side-by-side items. Thank you!

[User41]

Originally Posted by White Tie

item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png. Curved corners can help with showing where the join is, try these from the Default 4 theme...

Thank you, White Tie.

Is editing these as simple as finding the PNG file, opening it in paint, and editing it?

Or in the case I want to use the ones you posted from Default 4, just replace the files with the ones you posted?

[xpander]

Originally Posted by User41

Thank you, White Tie.
Is editing these as simple as finding the PNG file, opening it in paint, and editing it?

Yes, it is. But if you have not dealt with them before, be careful with the pink and yellow lines at the corners of images. Unintentional edits to those can cause unexpected results.

And you can replace the images with the similar ones from other themes, like the ones White Tie posted above.

[User41]

Originally Posted by White Tie

item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png. Curved corners can help with showing where the join is, try these from the Default 4 theme...

I was able to use your Theme Assembler, and then replace the item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png files with the ones you attached (from Default 4).

It looks awesome... except I can no longer color the items (using SWS or Rodilab Color Palette).

Is this a limitation of those particular PNG files or is there something else that I should adjust?

[User41]

Originally Posted by User41

I was able to use your Theme Assembler, and then replace the item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png files with the ones you attached (from Default 4).

It looks awesome... except I can no longer color the items (using SWS or Rodilab Color Palette).

Is this a limitation of those particular PNG files or is there something else that I should adjust?

Does anyone know if this is a limitation to just replacing the PNG files?

Those Default 4 item styles look great. I just don't know how to use them in any theme besides White Tie Theme Assembler and, if I use Theme Assembler, I seem to lose the ability to color the items with SWS or Rodilab's script.

[JonLinnarson]

Maybe this one? Peace Theme by Ice Cold Milk: https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=265339

[Rednroll]

Originally Posted by User41

I was able to use your Theme Assembler, and then replace the item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png files with the ones you attached (from Default 4).

It looks awesome... except I can no longer color the items (using SWS or Rodilab Color Palette).

Is this a limitation of those particular PNG files or is there something else that I should adjust?

The differences are between the Default 4 and Default 6 item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png images. The Default 6 images have a transparent background area and is the reason you are able to use the custom coloring of the items where the Default 4 images have a solid coloring background.

I modified the default 4 images for you so it includes the rounded corners like you want and made the background transparent like the Default 6 images. Try these and see if it provides you what you are after.

[User41]

Originally Posted by JonLinnarson

Maybe this one? Peace Theme by Ice Cold Milk: https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=265339

Thank you. I’ve seen that theme before but never tried it. I will check it out.

[User41]

Originally Posted by Rednroll

The differences are between the Default 4 and Default 6 item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png images. The Default 6 images have a transparent background area and is the reason you are able to use the custom coloring of the items where the Default 4 images have a solid coloring background.

I modified the default 4 images for you so it includes the rounded corners like you want and made the background transparent like the Default 6 images. Try these and see if it provides you what you are after.

Wow. Thank you for this. Very kind of you.

I will try these modified PNG files and report back.

[User41]

Originally Posted by Rednroll

The differences are between the Default 4 and Default 6 item_bg.png and item_bg_sel.png images. The Default 6 images have a transparent background area and is the reason you are able to use the custom coloring of the items where the Default 4 images have a solid coloring background.

I modified the default 4 images for you so it includes the rounded corners like you want and made the background transparent like the Default 6 images. Try these and see if it provides you what you are after.

Thank you again. This works great. I've now substituted your PNG files into all of the themes I use!

[Rednroll]

Originally Posted by User41

Thank you again. This works great. I've now substituted your PNG files into all of the themes I use!

Glad they worked out!