How to create a digikam theme?

Header

Since 0.9.3 release, theme are based on pure XML format. Comments in the theme are done by using common XML markers to include comments. The header is the place where you can add some comments, give credit to yourself... Look an existing XML theme file for details.

Base Properties XML Markers

name:                              Marine
CaseColor:                         #FFFFFF
TextRegularColor:                  #000000
TextSelectedColor:                 #000000
TextSpecialRegularColor:           #658857
TextSpecialSelectedColor:          #FFFFFF

BaseColor is the background color which shall be used for the thumbnail view on the right and album/tag tree on the left. TextRegularColor is used for regular (unselected) text and TextSelectedColor is used for selected text. usually the selected region tends to be brighter or darker and the selected text needs to contrast with it. TextSpecial... are the colors which are used for rendering of some special text like the tags at the bottom of the thumbnails and the collection/date names in the left view.
The color specification is done by using standard HTML color format (RGB/hexadecimal).

Banner Properties XML Markers

BannerColor:                        #4BFF9C
BannerColorTo:                      #35B56F
BannerBevel:                        RAISED
BannerGradient:                     HORIZONTAL
BannerBorder:                       TRUE
BannerBorderColor:                  #2FA062

These specifications are used to render the banner at the top of the thumbnail view. BannerBevel indicates the type of bevel to use for the banner, possible choices are RAISED (for a raised appearance), SUNKEN (for a sunken appearance), FLAT (for a flat appearance). BannerGradient is used for rendering a gradient; the possible choices are SOLID (no gradient), HORIZONTAL (horizontal gradient), VERTICAL (vertical gradient), DIAGONAL (diagonal gradient). There are two color specifications: Color and ColorTo. If a SOLID gradient is specified only "Color" is used, for other cases the gradient is rendered from "Color" to "ColorTo". BannerBorder indicates whether a border should be drawn around the banner, using BannerBorderColor. set it to "TRUE" for rendering a border and to "FALSE" otherwise.

Thumbnail Properties XML Markers

ThumbnailRegularColor:             #E7FFF4
ThumbnailRegularColorTo:           #C4D8CF
ThumbnailRegularBevel:             RAISED
ThumbnailRegularGradient:          HORIZONTAL
ThumbnailRegularBorder:            TRUE
ThumbnailRegularBorderColor:       #769286

ThumbnailSelectedColor:            #4BFF9C
ThumbnailSelectedColorTo:          #35B56F
ThumbnailSelectedBevel:            RAISED
ThumbnailSelectedGradient:         HORIZONTAL
ThumbnailSelectedBorder:           TRUE
ThumbnailSelectedBorderColor:      #2FA062

These specifications are used for rendering the thumbnails. Regular... is used for unselected thumbnails and Selected... for selected thumbnails. The specifications are similar to that of the banner.

Listview Properties XML Markers

ListviewRegularColor:              #FFFFFF
ListviewRegularColorTo:            #FFFFFF
ListviewRegular.bevel:             FLAT
ListviewRegular.gradient:          SOLID
ListviewRegular.border:            FALSE
ListviewRegularBorderColor:        #FFFFFF

ListviewSelectedColor:             #4BFF9C
ListviewSelectedColorTo:           #35B56F
ListviewSelectedBevel:             RAISED
ListviewSelectedGradient:          HORIZONTAL
ListviewSelectedBorder:            TRUE
ListviewSelectedBorderColor:       #2FA062

These are used for rendering the items on the left treeview. again, the specifications are same as that of the banner.

Notes:

• Case sensitivity is important for specifiying the property names, but not for the property values.
• System level installation of themes is done in $(INSTALLATION_PREFIX)/share/apps/digikam/themes and user level installation in $(HOME)/.kde/share/apps/digikam/themes
• Theme names appear in the menu with the filename. Make sure to capitalize the first letter of the filename
• Its not necessary to restart digikam if you modify the theme. switch to a different theme and switch back. But if you add a new theme, you will have to restart digikam for the new theme to be recognized.

Theme editor

You can also try the theme editor include in digiKam since 0.9.3 release.