About
PitchDark is a dark theme set for Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird aimed at users who prefer the negative color scheme (light writing on dark background). Unlike traditional dark themes, it is designed with visibility, usability, and maximum screen real estate in mind. My inspiration was the Phoenity Dark themes, which are currently outdated. (Lim Chee Aun and Tom Wilson).
Latest News & Upcoming Changes
I’m working on version 3.0.3 of PitchDark for Fx which will include some bug fixes, color fixes and addon fixes. I’m also working on the update for PitchDark for Tb which will include the compatibility for the popular calendar extension, Lightning.
PitchDark for Fx successfully went out with the launch of Firefox 3.0 and I’m now getting bombarded with emails on changes and suggestions (Thanks!). Feel free to contact me and voice your extension concerns, or even give feedback on the theme overall.
Firefox
- Color fix on “about:robots” page
- Color fix on combined back/forward button
- Color fix on the search box size adjuster
- Color fix on identity box in url bar
- Color fix on throbber
- Fix searchbar engine button (too rounded)
- Fix tab bar/tabs contrast
- Default tab icon and loading icon replaced by the same image
- White areas in the configuration dialogs
- Dropdown arrows on the navigation bar seem very small
- Dropdowns on unified buttons for Mac
- Dropdown padding (main bar and bookmarks)
- Colors messed up with OS theme
- Potential use of gray instead of white as a main color
- Enforce 16×16 favicon for bookmarks
- Addon fixes
- Adblock
- All in One Sidebar
- Facebook extension (notifications)
- Feed sidebar
- FootieFox
- Foxclocks
- MR Tech Toolkit(options menu and error console)
- SpeedDial
- Wellrounded
- WizzRSS
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Thunderbird
- Color adjustment to make unread folders and items stick out more
- Color of text formatting icons in compose screen
- Addon fixes
- Lightning compatibility
- Xnote compatibility
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Latest Builds
The lastest builds can be found at the Mozilla Addons site:
Design Considerations
While I like grays and blacks, most dark themes take it to an extreme. PitchDark, maintains the light text on dark background look, but instead tries to use a dark harmonious natural tone (birch), with black as accents. For now I’ve moved to the standard icon sets for Firefox and Thunderbird, to reduce the amount of image work required.
Donate
I’m a proponent of free software, but members of the community sometimes ask for a way to show their support. If you happen to be in a giving mood, please consider donating (securely) to me via paypal. Thanks!
Changelog
Firefox
Version 3.0.2
- Code sync and graphic update with the RC1 release
- Removed unused graphics
Version 3.0.1
- Fix for toolbar colors in Linux/OS X
Version 3.0.0
- Complete recode from Firefox 3.0 classic theme.
- Customize toolbar fix
- Graphics inherited from classic theme
- notification/progress bar fix
- tab improvements
- import screen fix
- proper handling for DOM inspector
- netError styling
Version 2.0.2
- Code sync (communicator, global, mozapps folders) with PitchDark for TB
- improved tab handling
Version 2.0.0
- Compatibility fix for Firefox 2.0
- Options Menu changes
- Addons Menu changes
- Tab bar changes
Version 1.5.6
- fixed annoying pixel jump in toolbarbuttons (caused by disabled buttons having borders)
- Console spacing changes
Version 1.5.5
- HelpfileLayout.css added
- NetError.css added
- synchronized code to latest classic.jar
- end of lines changed to just line feeds
- all images re-exported to decrease theme size
- small visibility changes
Version 1.5.4 - DROPPED
- decreased tabbox size
- modified splitter borders
- separator size/color changes
- added netError.css
- small visibility changes
Version 1.5.3
- extension compatibility - mininova menu, forecastfox, wellrounded, search bar style extensions
- download manager visibility issues
- menulist and searchbar fixes
- help toolbar fixed
- chevron color change
- tab loading throbber color change
Version 1.5.2
- numerous changes for compatibility with extensions
- improves menulist borders
- fixes searchbox for OSX users
Version 1.5.1
- improves visibility for fonts and icons and fixes glitches with menulists
Version 1.5.0
- PitchDark has been approved!
- Update for Firefox 1.5
- minor visibility improvements
Version 1.0
- Original port from Phoenity Dark for Phoenix/Firebird(Pre-Firefox 0.7)
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Thunderbird
Version 2.0.2
- Fixed header background color bug
- Re-added collapse-able header functionality
- Fixed background color on address book cards
- Fixed throbber code
- Re-added text only and icon only options in customize toolbar window
Version 2.0.1
- code trims
- bug/error fixes
Version 2.0.0
- full sync to TB2.0 default theme code
- more visibility improvements
- code trims
Version 1.5.6
- fixed annoying pixel jump in toolbarbuttons (caused by disabled buttons having borders)
- Console spacing changes
- visibility improvements for small column icons
Version 1.5.5
- icons are default/phoenity for now
- more small changes all around
- fixed group by sort headers
Version 1.5.4 - DROPPED
- ported from firefox
- fixed all major visibility issues
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March 16th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Can you make it Leopard compatible? I’ve tried to download it without success.(It could be me–I’m still learning my way around the system.) Those of us who are learning disabled really benefit from your visibility improvements. Great work! Thanks
April 6th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
how do you make it work for Mozilla after you have downloaded it as a add-on?
April 8th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Can you find a way to make PitchDark for Thunderbird play nice with Lightning? It causes a problem with the sidebars in mixed-view (Mail with Events/Calendar on the side) and with some of the side options in Task view. Basically, there are a few places where you end up with off-white text on an off-white background or black text on a gray background.
If this could be solved by me adjusting some other settings, that’d be nice to know.
Thanks!
-R
April 9th, 2008 at 12:05 am
R,
Yes, I am currently working on the update for Lightning compatibility for Thunderbird (as well as Firefox). Sorry for the delay, I know it’s a popular extension. I was concentrating on the PitchDark for Fx version update for Firefox 3.0, but now with that out of the way, I’ll refocus my efforts on PitchDark for Tb.
April 25th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Hello,
I tried the PitchDark with FF3b5 on OS X 10.4, and it does not work for me.
The default theme on which it builds is apparently different on this platform. PitchDark appears as somewhat decolored version of the default theme, it is not really dark or minimal or readable or anything.
Thanks
May 27th, 2008 at 5:52 am
[...] 1.1.9 Erweiterungen insgesamt: 35 Installierte Themes: [3] - Default 3.0 The default theme. - PitchDark 3.0.2 - Dark-colored theme. - null Installierte Plugins: (14) - Adobe Acrobat: nppdf32.dll - [...]
May 27th, 2008 at 8:53 am
There was some update to the theme, and now it works much better for me. The address bar seems OK, and it looks like the theme works overall.
There are still a few minor problems, thouhg.
The tab bar and tabs are somewhat lighter than the rest of the theme and generally bland. There is poor contrast between the active tab and inactive tabs, and between the tabs and their borders.
Not only the default tab icon but also the loading icon is replaced - by the same image. This makes it impossible to tell which tabs are loading and which are just sitting there.
There are some leftover white areas in the configuration dialogs. Especially the top bar of Tab Mix Plus configuration and some parts of the addon lists in addon configuration. The white in addon dialog fits very poorly into the overall dark theme.
Although the history dropdowns are now very well readable the dropdown arrows on the navigation bar seem very small. There is room for another button as large as the forward and backward buttons but there is no border drawn and no feedback when the pointer enters the button.
I think making the buttons like
{}
would make the down arrows much easier to find.
Actually it seems there are three history buttons that do the same in the current layout. All the dropdowns are the same.
{} v|v}
Something like {} would suffice.
Thanks
Michal
June 8th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
is there anyways to make this theme not color all popups/notifications? I use facebook toolbar and unfortunately the coloring makes the popups unable to be read
LOVE the skin other then that little annoyance
June 18th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Can you please fix the colors in The Wizz RSS 3.0 panel.
The top panel all letters are white on a white background. Thanks
June 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I really like the theme, but the menus are messed up for me. Must be a problem with another extension. What I’m getting a whitish background with few if any of the items visible, unless you mouse over them. If the menus were visible, I’d leave this as my theme. But since I can’t see the menus easily, I have to revert to the default. This has happened with both the Firefox 2.0 and 3.0 versions.
June 20th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Hey is there directions on how to install this onto my firefox? it will be much appreciated thx.
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Hey, I love this theme, I would like to make one small suggestion though and that is to use a light or medium gray for the text instead of a pure white. Other wise keep up the great work!
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 am
I’m using PitchDark 3.0.2 with FF 3.0. There are two issues I’ve found, one minor and one significant to me.
The minor one is the tabs seem to be washed out in color compared to the rest of the theme.
The other problem is there is no visible address in the address bar. If I hold my mouse cursor over it a window pops up with the address but otherwise it is dark.
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Love the visual - but - uploaded it first thing when I upgraded to FF3, and it just didn’t play nice. Sometimes the forward and backward buttons worked; sometimes I had to right-click them and use the drop-down to navigate. Sometimes the URL of the page I’m on would show in the navigation bar, and sometimes it wouldn’t. I gave it three days in case it was just me being extra stupid somewhere, and to try to identify a pattern to the on-again-off-again, but finally just uninstalled it and am no longer having those problems. MS XP 2002 sp2, if that’s any help.
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Nice job on the colors and setup. I would like
to see the pitch dark a little lighter brown
on the main body.
Thanks
JW
June 24th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
[...] PitchDark - A dark, minimalistic theme with maximum screen real-estate and readability in mind. [...]
June 25th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I second the request to make the theme play nice with popup notifications, particularly those of the Facebook toolbar. The theme renders these popups unreadable. Thank you.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
[...] PitchDark - A dark, minimalistic theme with maximum screen real-estate and readability in mind. [...]
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 am
[...] Ask Toolbar for Firefox 2.1.0.1 Erweiterungen insgesamt: 32 Installierte Themes: [2] - Default - PitchDark 3.0.2 Installierte Plugins: (6) - IE Tab Plug-in - Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U6 - Microsoft
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
With Pitchdark 3.0.2 used in Firefox 3 on a Mac, the unified back-forward button is split into 3 pieces, with extra dropdown markers between the pieces. How do I re-unify the button?
Why does this not happen with Windows?
July 6th, 2008 at 7:35 am
very nice looking theme
-prasad
July 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
[...] Erweiterungen insgesamt: 35 Installierte Themes: [3] - Default - NASA Night Launch 0.6.20080624 - PitchDark 3.0.2 Installierte Plugins: (6) - IE Tab Plug-in - Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U6 - Microsoft
July 10th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
i have Firefox 3 and it do not work how do you make ti work how can i gat pitchdark
July 14th, 2008 at 4:44 am
[...] PitchDark - A dark, minimalistic theme with maximum screen real-estate and readability in mind. [...]
July 17th, 2008 at 5:59 am
I really like your DarkPitch Theme. I use white text on black background in Firefox (i changed the colour settings). Much more easy on the eye.
But there’s a problem in FF3.
If you change the colours the text will becoming invisible when you are about to do a posting in a forum. Everything works fine except when you are about to “fill in” something, then the text will becoming invisible.
A bug in FF3? I works great in FF2.
Try to change the colour settings in FF3 yourself to see what i mean.
Keep up the good work, your theme is (by far) the best i have seen for Firefox.
Greatings from Sweden!
//Christer
July 20th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Hi again!
I have joined the Firefox forum and asked them about this bug.
Perhaps the bug is in your PitchDark theme?
When you set Firefox 3 to white text on black background the text becomes invisible when you are about to fill in something, like when you’re posting a reply in a forum. After pressing “post a reply” button, you can’t see a thing of what you’re typing.
The text is still white in FF2 (with your theme) but not in FF3.
Do you think that you can fix this bug?
August 13th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
[...] Tabs Button 3.0.3 - Update Notifier 0.1.5.4 - WOT 20080714 Installierte Themes: [2] - Default - PitchDark 3.0.2 Installierte Plugins: (6) - IE Tab Plug-in - Java(TM) Platform SE 6 U7 - Microsoft
August 27th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
i really like this theme compared to the other ones ive had in the past, however when i install it to m computer the only thing that changed is the tool bar. in the past when i put on a new theme the whole window would change its appearance is there a way to do that with this or what
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:20 am
Love, love, love this theme! One thing I would ask is that you put in an option to turn off the dropdown bookmark list in the address bar, or opt to switch it to the more usual history rather than favorites. (Actually a customize feature would be even better.)
Thanks Tim, for the greatest add-on since ad/flashblock!