https://developer.chrome.com/docs/webstore
Animation
https://developer.chrome.com/blog/loaf-has-shipped?hl=en
chrome theme reference
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jt9vdUY9O5IMm6Zoi2Kz0LWFfFZpvP69qjy6PoGsEoA/edit
Chrome Theme Reference
This guide was made with Windows XP and Chrome 6.0.453.1.
Anything that has a dark red background like this was correct in the old guide but seems to no longer be the same or is just acting funny with this release.
Image Elements
Image elements are defined under the "images" section in the manifest.json file.
| Number | Element | manifest.json Notation | Description | Recommended Size (WxH) | Repeats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frame | "theme_frame" | The frame of the chrome browser/the area that is behind the tabs. | Height – 41min to cover behind tabs, usually around 100 ? | Horizontal |
| 1.1 | Frame | "theme_frame_inactive" | The same area as above, only that this represents the inactive state. | ∞ x 41, check frame ? | Horizontal |
| 1.2 | Frame | "theme_frame_incognito" | The same area under the incognito mode, when the window is active | ∞ x 41, check frame ? | Horizontal |
| 1.3 | Frame | "theme_frame_incognito_inactive" | The same area but in the incognito mode, when the window is inactive. | ∞ x 41, check frame ? | Horizontal |
| 0.0 | Frame | "theme_frame_overlay" | This is the image that appears at the top left and over the frame | Can be anything, check frame | None |
| 0.0 | Frame | "theme_frame_overlay_inactive" | Same as above but displayed when window is inactive | Can be anything, check frame | None |
| 2 | Tabs | "theme_tab_background" | This is the area that covers the tabs that are not active | Height – At least 26 ? | Horizontal |
| 2.1 | Tabs | "theme_tab_background_incognito" | The same thing as above, but used for the incognito mode | Height – At least 26 ? | Horizontal |
| 2.2 | Tabs | "theme_tab_background_v" | (Not yet confirmed) The tab background for something! | Height – At least 26 ? | Horizontal |
| 3 | Toolbar | "theme_toolbar" | This represents both the current tab and the toolbar together | ∞ x 120 ? | Horizontal & Vertical |
| 4 | Buttons | "theme_button_background" | This is the area that covers the toolbar buttons | 29 x 27 | Horizontal & Vertical |
| 5 | NTP | "theme_ntp_background" | This is the theme's inner background-the large white space is covered by this | Recommended Minimum Size for images 800 x 600 | Specified in ntp_background_repeat |
| 0.0 | NTP | "theme_ntp_attribution" | This is the image that will be displayed in the 'theme created by' section | ||
| 6 | Controls | "theme_window_control_background" | The background for the window control buttons (close, maximize, etc.,) | Height – around 17 ? | Horizontal & Vertical |
Color Elements
Color elements are defined under the "colors" section in the manifest.json file.
Colors are entered as RGB values, some elements can contain opacity value also. e.g. "ntp_section" : [15, 15, 15, 0.6]
Number Element manifest.json Notation Description 10 Frame "frame" The color of the frame, that covers the smaller outer frame 10.1 Frame "frame_inactive" The color of the same element, but in inactive mode 10.2 Frame "frame_incognito" The color of the same element, but in incognito mode 10.3 Frame "frame_incognito_inactive" The color of the same element, but in incognito, inactive mode 11 Tabs "tab_text" The color of text, in the title of current tab 12 Tabs "tab_background_text" The color of text, in the title of all inactive tabs 13 Toolbar "toolbar" The color of the toolbar background (visible by pressing Ctrl+B) 14 Buttons "button_background" The background color of all the toolbar buttons 15 Bookmarks "bookmark_text" The color of the bookmark element's text 16 NTP "ntp_background" The theme's inner background color 17 NTP "ntp_text" The color of all the text that comes in the inner background area 18 NTP "ntp_link" The color of the links that appear in the background area 19 NTP "ntp_link_underline" The color of the underline of all links in the background area 20 NTP "ntp_header" The color of the section frames when mouse over 21 NTP "ntp_section" The color of Recently closed tabs area's bg and frame of quick links 0 NTP "ntp_section_text" The color of text in the section 0 NTP "ntp_section_link" The color of the links that appear in the section area 0 NTP "ntp_section_link_underline" The color of underline of links in the section area 0 Controls "control_background" Unconfirmed yet-The color of the window control buttons (close, maximize, etc.)
Tint Elements
Tint elements change the hue, saturation and luminance of images.
Tint elements come under the "tints" section in the manifest.json file.
| Number | Element | manifest.json Notation | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frame | "frame" | The color tint that can be applied to the frame of chrome |
| 1.1 | Frame | "frame_inactive" | The color tint that is applied when the chrome window is inactive |
| 1.2 | Frame | "frame_incognito" | The color tint to the frame-in incognito mode |
| 1.3 | Frame | "frame_incognito_inactive" | Same as above, but when the window is inactive (and in incognito mode) |
| 2 | Tabs | "background_tab" | The color tint of the inactive tabs in incognito mode |
| 4 | Buttons | "buttons" | The color tint that can be applied to various buttons in chrome |
NTP Property Elements
Property elements come under the "properties" section in the manifest.json file.
| Number | manifest.json Notation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | "ntp_background_alignment" | The property that tells the alignment of the inner background image |
| 0.0 | "ntp_background_repeat" | This property specifies if the above background should be repeated |
| 0.0 | "ntp_logo_alternate" | This lets you select the type of google chrome header you want |
These are the elements that google chrome allows a user to theme, but it's the user's wish to decide what elements are going to be edited. The things that you don't need changed can be left alone (in case of which those elements will have their default value/image). Remember that each element goes into it's own section in the manifest file – color elements should be listed under "colors", image elements under "images" and so on.
Images
theme_frame
"theme_frame" : "images/frame.png"
This is an image, this image represents the area behind the tabs. There is no strict dimensions for this image, the rest of the area in the frame that is not covered by this image is covered by the color element frame. It would be helpful to know that this image by default repeats along the x-axis. Hence if you create a small square image, it will be automatically repeated along x-axis-which means you can create patterns if you use short sized images.
Remember this image doesn't repeat along-y, hence make sure it is long enough to cover the toolbar area-anything over 80px height is good, usually with grading alpha transparency at the bottom so that the image blends with the "frame" color. You can create a large sized frame image, that extends and covers the frame borders too.
Else you might see a small separation to the extreme top left of the frame, when the window is in restored mode due to the wrong size of the image.
Alternatively one can decide to create an image with loooong width-long enough that the image repetition is not seen-this method allows you to create one continuous design for the frame-but this method might slow down the loading time of the theme since large resolution screens require image of larger width (or else you'll see the repetition of the image). Note that if you don't include this image, the default frame of chrome-the blue one is displayed, the color element "frame" doesn't override this.
theme_toolbar
"theme_toolbar" : "images/toolbar.png"
This is an image that covers the area of the current tab and the toolbar below it.
Make sure this image is over 119px in height because the find bar (which appears when you press Ctrl+F) shares the tool bar image, the width is up to you. Similar to the
theme_frame, this image also tiles along the x-axis so you have the option to create pattern or create a looong width image for the toolbar. Remember that the toolbar contains some buttons and when the bookmarks are visible (CMD+B or Ctrl+B), they too occupy space in the toolbar:
So don't make the design too much crowded, or else the toolbar will not be visually appealing. Usually for the toolbar, a square, tiling image is preferred, which might be a gradient or just plain color.
theme_tab_background
"theme_tab_background" : "images/tab_background.png"
This is an image, this represents all the inactive tabs.
Usually a less saturated image of theme_toolbar is used for this. You may also design something else, but make sure that the design enables the user to distinguish the inactive tabs from the active one! This image also tiles default in x-axis and the height of this can be around 65px , the width is up to you.
theme_ntp_background
"theme_ntp_background" : "images/ntp_background.png"
This is the image that is displayed at the large white space in the browser, in the new tab page, it can contain a background image that contains alpha transparency (the default page that contains various quick access elements-see the help image). Note that the notation ntp represents new tab page, hence all elements which contain ntp in the notation will correspond to some element inside the new tab page.
There are two ways you can create the inner background for the browser-use a large image without repetition/tiling or use a small image that repeats in x-axis and/or y-axis.(see ntp_background_repeat).
There is also option for you to select the alignment of this image, by default the image is center aligned, but you may choose to align it the way you want (see ntp_background_alignment).
theme_frame_inactive
"theme_frame_inactive" : "images/frame_inactive.png"
This is an image, representing the area behind the tabs, when the chrome window is out of focus/inactive.
All that is applicable to theme_frame, applies to this. Usually to avoid making the theme heavy, you can go for frame_inactive tint, to show that the window is inactive-it's efficient than creating a whole new image. But it's up to the designer to decide, if it's going to be an image separately for the inactive state or there is going to be a color tint when the window is inactive.
theme_frame_incognito
"theme_frame_incognito" : "images/frame_incognito.png"
This is similar to the theme_frame, but this image represents the frame of a window in incognito mode. You may choose to redesign the image specially for the incognito mode or ignore this, so that whatever you made for theme_frame will be tinted (see frame_incognito) and used in incognito mode (it's by default that it gets a dark tint in incognito mode).
theme_frame_incognito_inactive
"theme_frame_incognito_inactive" : "images/frame_incognito_inactive.png"
This is also an image, similar to theme_frame_inactive, but this image is for the inactive frame of a window in incognito mode. (see frame_incognito_inactive)
theme_tab_background_incognito
"theme_tab_background_incognito" : "images/tab_background_incognito.png"
This is an image, that represents the inactive tabs, in the incognito mode. Alternatively one can use the tinting background_tab, to effect inactive tabs in incognito mode, but there is a slight problem that some may want to avoid – even if you tint the inactive tabs of the incognito window, the inactive tabs are made transparent (by default). Hence they'll show the area behind them. i.e. the frame. If you want to avoid this, you can include this image.
theme_tab_background_v
"theme_tab_background_v" : "images/tab_background_v.png"
Until now, the role of this image is a mystery, that someone needs to unlock!
theme_frame_overlay
"theme_frame_overlay" : "images/frame_overlay.png"
This is the image that will be displayed at the top left corner of the frame, over the theme_frame image. Also this image doesn't repeat by default. Hence this image may be used in case you don't want the frame area design to repeat. Similar to the theme_frame, anything over 80px height is good, usually with grading alpha transparency at the bottom so that the image blends with the "frame" color.
theme_frame_overlay_inactive
"theme_frame_overlay_inactive" : "images/frame_overlay_inactive.png"
This is similar to theme_frame_overlay, but will be displayed when the browser window is inactive. If you do not include this image, theme_frame_overlay image will be darkly tinted and used by default-to denote the inactive frame.
theme_button_background
"theme_button_background" : "images/button_background.png"
This image specifies the background for various buttons (stop, refresh, back, forward, etc.) in the toolbar. This image is optional, if you do not include this image, the color element button_background overrides the button's background color.
Whatever image you give for this, the browser leaves off two pixels at top and left of the image and maps a square 25px image to the buttons as background. And the icon/symbol of the button (stop, refresh, back, forward, etc.) is displayed at the center, check the image below for more details…
theme_ntp_attribution
"theme_ntp_attribution" : "images/ntp_attribution.png"
This is the image that is displayed at the bottom right corner of the new tab page. Chrome automatically puts a heading "Theme created by" and below that displays whatever image you give as theme_ntp_attribution.
A good practice is to create a small png file enough for an author name (and contact if needed) with alpha transparency background. Making large and more color intense image will attract view, but will make the theme a bit heavier (the file size of the theme may increase with bigger png file) but it's your choice anyway.
theme_window_control_background
"theme_window_control_background" : "images/window_control_background.png"
This image specifies the background for the window control buttons (minimize, maximize, close and new tab). This image is also not necessary until you desperately need to change the control button background. If the image is included, the browser leaves off 1px at the top and left of image and maps a 16px height button from it, the width varies according to buttons though.
If this image is not included, the control buttons assume the background color specified in the color element button_background.
Colors
Frame
"frame" : [ 77, 139, 217 ]
This color element specifies the color of the frame area of the browser (the area behind the tabs + the border). It occupies the area that is not covered by the theme_frame image. The format to specify this element in the manifest.json file is : "frame" : [R,G,B]
Frame_inactive
"frame_inactive" : [ 152, 188, 233 ]
This color element specifies the color of the frame area of the browser but when the window is inactive/out of focus (the area behind the tabs + the border). It occupies the area that is not covered by the theme_frame image. The format to specify this element in the manifest.json file is :"frame_inactive" : [R,G,B]
Frame_incognito
"frame_incognito" : [ 83, 106, 139 ]
This is a color element similar to "frame" ,but under the incognito mode.
Frame_incognito_inactive
"frame_incognito_inactive" : [ 126, 139, 156 ]
This is a color element similar to "frame_inactive" ,but under the incognito mode.
toolbar
"toolbar" : [ 210, 225, 246 ]
This is a color element that specifies the background color of the bookmarks bar, that is visible only in the new tab page, when you press the shortcut keys Ctrl+B or CMD+B. And it contains a 1px border whose color is defined by ntp_header. Also this element can contain an opacity value that effects transparency of this bar. Note that opacity value are float values that ranges from 0 to 1, 0 being fully transparent and 1 being fully opaque.
The format to specify this element in the manifest.json file is : "toolbar" : [R,G,B,opacity]
Eg. "toolbar" : [25, 154, 154, 0.5]
Note that this element also specifies color value of the background for floating the status bar (in the bottom of page). It's found that using opacity values for this element makes the status bar transparent, but the text inside it will contain a opaque background of same color-hence area without the text will be transparent. Also specifies the color of the download bar and the color of the separators in the toolbar/bookmarks.
tab_text
"tab_text" : [ 0, 0, 0 ]
This color element specifies the color of the title text of the current tab (tab title name of current tab), the text in the status bar and the close cross on the downloads bar.
tab_background_text
"tab_background_text" : [ 64, 64, 64 ]
This color element specifies the color of the title text of all the inactive tabs/out of focus tabs.
bookmark_text
"bookmark_text" : [ 18, 50, 114 ]
This color element specifies the color of the text of bookmarks in the toolbar and the text for the download bar that appears at the bottom. Note : During a download, the text color indicating the number of MB downloaded is not configurable
ntp_background
"ntp_background" : [ 255, 255, 255 ]
This color element specifies the color of the background of the new tab page (covers all areas that is not mapped by theme_ntp_background). Usually if a alpha transparency is employed in the image element theme_ntp_background, make sure that ntp_background is such that it matches that image element.
ntp_text
"ntp_text" : [ 0, 0, 0 ]
This color element specifies the color of all the text that appears in the new tab page (tips, quick access labels, etc.).
ntp_link
"ntp_link" : [ 6, 55, 116 ]
This color element specifies the color of all the links that may appear in the new tab page. Currently the links under list view and links of tips that appear at the bottom of new tab page takes it's color from this.
ntp_link_underline
"ntp_link_underline" : [ 6, 55, 116, 0.33 ]
This color element specifies the color of the underline of all links in the new tab page (the color of underline of the ntp_link element).
ntp_header
"ntp_header" : [ 75, 140, 220 ]
This color element specifies the color for the frame of quick link buttons, when one hovers the mouse over it. It also specifies the 1px border color of the toolbar element, the ntp_section element and the color of three small buttons in the new tab page-thumbnail view, list view, change page layout.
ntp_section
"ntp_section" : [ 229, 239, 254, 0.4 ]
This color element specifies the color for the border of the quick link buttons (see help image) and also the background color for the recently closed bar that appears above the tips area. Similar to the toolbar element, this can also contain opacity value.
ntp_section_text
"ntp_section_text" : [ 0, 0, 0 ]
This color element specifies the color of all the text that appears in the section area (currently only the text "Recently closed" derives it's color from this).
ntp_section_link
"ntp_section_link" : [ 6, 55, 116 ]
This color element specifies the color of all the links that appear in the section area. Currently all the links in the "Recently closed" bar take their color from this.
ntp_section_link_underline
"ntp_section_link_underline" : [ 6, 55, 116, 0.33 ]
This color element specifies the color of underlines of all the links that appear in the section area (underliection_link element).nes the ntp_s
control_background
"control_background" : [ 0, 0, 0 ]
This should specify the color of the control buttons of the window-minimize, maximize and close. But it doesnt, so use theme_window_control_background
button_background
"button_background" : [ 0, 0, 0 ]
This color element specifies the color for the background of all the buttons in the toolbar area (back, forward, bookmark, etc.). This element too can contain opacity values like the toolbar, which will affect the opacity of the window control buttons (minimize, maximize, close).
NTP Properties
ntp_background_alignment
"Tints
The following are tint elements. The tint element buttons is the most common one, but you may include other elements too. Before moving on to those, one must know how the tints work. The tint elements are used to assign color tints to certain elements of the browser area. The value of the tint is in floating values ranging from 0 to 1 or -1.
Eg, "buttons" : [0.3,0.5,0.5]
The values range from 0 to 1, hence even 0.125 or 0.65 represent a color.
If the value is -1 then the value from the original picture is used, or in other words no change is made to this value.
The tints values are arranged as [ Hue, Saturation, Luminance ]
Hue Here the first value represents the hue value,for which 0 means red and 1 means red (confused?? see image below)
Saturation Next is the saturation value that lets you set the vibrancy of the tint. Here 0 means completely desaturated (no color, grey) and 1 means fully saturated.
Luminance The last value is lightness/brightness. Here 0 means make it black (no light) and 1 means most bright (white) with 0.5 being neutral.
buttons
"buttons" : [ -1, -1, -1 ]
This tint element is used to specify a color tint for icons inside all the buttons in the toolbar (back,forward,refresh,etc.,).
frame
"frame" : [ -1, -1, -1 ]
This tint element is used to specify a color tint for the frame area. Whatever image you've created for the frame area will be tinted with a color that you specify here.
frame_inactive
"frame_inactive" : [ -1, -1, 0.75 ]
This tint element is similar to the tint element frame, but the tint is applied when the window is inactive/out of focus.
frame_incognito
"frame_incognito" : [ -1, 0.2, 0.35 ]
This tint element is used to specify a color tint for the frame area in incognito mode. Whatever image you've created for the frame area will be tinted with a color that you specify here.
frame_incognito_inactive
"frame_incognito_inactive" : [ -1, 0.3, 0.6 ]
This tint element is used to specify a color tint for the frame area in incognito mode, but when the window is inactive/out of focus.
background_tab
"background_tab" : [ -1, 0.5, 0.75 ]
This tint element specifies the color tint of the inactive tabs in incognito mode.
ntp_background_alignment" : "center"
This property element is used to control the alignment property of the image element theme_ntp_background. The value for this element is entered as follows…
"ntp_background_alignment" : "VALUE"
In the place of VALUE, you can enter either "top", "bottom", "left" or "right". Further you can use combinations like "left top", "right bottom", etc. The difference is that using only "left", aligns the background image to the left center of the new tab page, while using "left top" aligns the image to the top left corner of the new tab page.
Eg, "ntp_background_alignment" : "left bottom" (Note that the default alignment of the background image is center).
ntp_background_repeat
"ntp_background_repeat" : "no-repeat"
This property element is used to control the repetition of the image element theme_ntp_background.It is specified as…
"ntp_background_repeat" : "VALUE"
In the place of VALUE you can enter either "repeat", "no-repeat", "repeat-x" or "repeat-y". Depending upon the image you've created as the background you can choose to repeat the image along x-axis or y-axis or turn repeat off, since repeat is on by default!
ntp_logo_alternate
"ntp_logo_alternate" : 0
This is a property element that specifies what header of Google chrome you want for your theme. It is specified as follows…
"ntp_logo_alternate" : VALUE
Note that this element's value should not be entered in double quotes! In the place of VALUE you can enter 0 or 1. Choosing 0 will give you a colorful Google Chrome header logo inside the new tab page, choosing 1 will give you an all white Google Chrome header logo inside the new tab page.
Example/Useful Themes
Empty base theme with no values set, but all the sections are there ready to be filled. Just copy the example line for the element into its correct section and set its value.
A theme for each element that makes them red (the screenshots in this tut were taken using them), except the ntp_logo_alternate which is 0 or 1 to see if its working again yet.
This theme is the default Grey Blue Theme. It uses the images that google use so you can see what they use.
The old classic blue theme.
Useful Links
Waha's manifest syntax highlighters, add syntax highlighting to notepad++ and gedit.
http://www.chromeplugins.org/google/plugins-development/manifest-syntax-highlighting-9275.html
Images used in Chrome….
http://src.chromium.org/viewvc/chrome/trunk/src/chrome/app/theme/
….where to get the files used in the default theme.
Default theme values….
http://src.chromium.org/viewvc/chrome/trunk/src/chrome/browser/browser_theme_provider.cc
….contains the the default values used in the default theme.
Forums
http://www.chromeplugins.org/google/chrome-themes/
http://valorsolo.com/index.php?page=forum
http://chrome-themers.deviantart.com/
Few tips….
https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1BhKCj5Cx4-QF4WLkmcguhoPgCKHsPE9hqE8MsfWlsI8&hl=en
The original doc
http://code.google.com/p/chromium/wiki/ThemeCreationGuide
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