Sorry for my English, I had google translate this.
Hello
I recently switched from XFCE to Cinnamon.
I don’t want dark applications, so I chose a corresponding theme (Adapta).
This works well for some applications, e.g. nemo, thunderbird, others remain dark.
Remains dark, e.g.:
file-roller, xreader, dconf-editor, pix, system-config-printer.
These are just a few that I found, there are probably more.
What can you do to get these applications to also get the light mode?
You should probably pick another theme than Adapta, because Adapta was designed to automatically adapt to different color schemes. You will probably want something that is only in a light color. 
Note 1: Cinnamon is gtk-based, but there are also qt-based applications in the repositories (and the AUR). qt is the widget toolkit that KDE Plasma, LXQt, Deepin Desktop Environment et al are based upon, and qt colors and theming are configured separately.
In this case however, the applications you cite are not qt-based. I am mentioning the discrepancy between gtk and qt just for your information. 
Note 2: Applications installed as Snaps or Flatpaks do not follow the system theme, because they run in a containerized environment. You will commonly find that such applications also do not have full access to the underlying filesystems.
Thank you for your answer.
I have now chosen the Mint-L (L = Light?) theme, actually, xreader now also has a light design. But the others remain dark, e.g. xreader and dconf-editor.
My configuration:
Mouse pointer = Bibata-Modern-Classic
Applications = Mint-L
Symbols = AdwaitaLegacy
Desktop = Adapta-Nokto-Maia
I still have the option of choosing a simplified display, if I do that a page appears where I can’t click on anything, so it doesn’t work.
There are three points to see here:
Appearance: Mixed - dark - light
But as I said, I can’t choose, I can’t click on anything.
If this information isn’t enough, I could also insert screenshots
Note: this is a fresh installation, I have (deliberately) not installed any Flatpaks or Snaps
It appears that you still have the Adapta theme set for desktop.
For consistencies sake I’d recommend choosing the same theme setting for apps and desktop, perhaps the icons/symbols as well.
(in “system settings” → “themes”)
There is also a “Settings” button on the right (“Themes” is on the left) where you can select “prefer light mode”, “prefer dark mode” and “let apps decide”.
The “simplified settings”, where you should be able to choose between mixed, dark and light, don’t work for me as well.
It can’t be used, is irresponsive, nothing happens there.
But, with the same theme for apps and desktop (Mint-L for both) - dconf-editor is … light.
My installation is pretty much default - I used the minimal image - and had to explicitly install dconf-editor to test this, because it was not part of the default minimal installation.
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I have now set both to Mint-L, but the dconf-editor still remains in dark mode. Also the Print Settings (system-config-printer) and file-roller.
But … pix was dark and is now light.
Well, it has gotten a little better.
I give up.
Cinnamon is not very stable, the desktop has crashed several times. Then the problems with the themes. I suspect that since it is a community version, it is not very well maintained.
First problems with XFCE, then more problems with Cinnamon.
No, I don’t like it anymore. I’m going back to an official version = KDE.
I hope it will get better then.
I’m certain that this suspicion is just that.
I have had no problems with either one - but some with KDE instead.
But mainly because of the obscurely placed and way too many configuration options.
Happy trails!
You must also change the settings in the Control Panel > Themes then Settings tab
Your Options Are;
Prefer dark mode
Prefer light mode
Let applications decide
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Thanks for the tip!
How could I have missed that, sorry. I set the switch to “light” and everything is OK. So I will continue testing Cinnamon.
I tested it in a virtual machine, I hope it works in a real installation too. But I think so.
I hope the desktop doesn’t crash anymore.
I actually mentioned this:
The picture made it more clear …
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I have a tutorial on running Cinnamon on a VM if this helps any. It is best to run Cinnamon in a VM in Virt-Manager.
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I know Virtual Machine Manager (KVM/Qemu), but I quickly installed gnome-boxes in my “old” XFCE, it’s very simple and is sufficient for my purposes, at least for the moment.
But I’m considering installing VMM for Cinnamon.
Thanks for the link to these excellent installation instructions.
Boxes is a (very) simplified version of Virtual Machine Manager.
The same thing, actually, - minus the “configurability”
decent enough … and very easy to use
Yes, Boxes is good enough for most distros, as @Nachlese points out, but with Cinnamon, you have to get the video right or you will get “Software Rendering” message, just not a good experience.
Good luck though, learning is most of the fun.
-John
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