Text too dark in Application Launcher & Calendar

[lrussell887]

Some time ago I noticed that my name became too dark in the Application Menu and the date too dark in the calendar widget. On a dark enough screen it can look like it’s not showing at all. I believe it happened after an update, but I didn’t notice right away so I can’t be sure.

I’ve tried switching themes, and in the light theme it does appear normal, but if switch back to dark theme the text color stays dark. The rest of the system colors seem fine. I’m using Breath2 Dark as the Plasma style and Breath2 for Colors to get a two-tone dark UI/light application effect, which worked in the past.

I restored all the defaults I could find under Appearance settings, and the issue is persistent between reboots. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thank you!

[omano]

You’re using the Breeze-dark Global theme? It seems so, here is my choice and I have no inconsistencies in colors/theme:

Global Theme: Breeze Dark
Plasma Style: Breath2
Colors: Breeze Dark

Problem is your colors I think, you have light theme colors on a dark theme I guess.

//EDIT: also, for Application Style => Configure GNOME/GTK Application Style => Adwaita

This way all is consistent.

[lrussell887]

My settings are this –

Global theme: Breath2
Plasma Style: Breath2 Dark
Application Style: Breeze
GNOME/GTK Application Style: Breath
Colors: Breath2

I compared those theme settings against my Manjaro ARM Pinebook, and they’re the same as my desktop, but the Pinebook doesn’t have the issue. For fun I did try the Breeze Dark theme, which doesn’t have the color issue, unlike Breath2. But to be honest I don’t like the color scheme as much.

My desktop with the issue:

My laptop without the issue:

[omano]

I applied you settings and yes I don’t have your issue.

Maybe you have outdated/corrupted file somewhere in one of these (colors? theme?)

//EDIT: try to find what changes this text color, switch between things (not the GLOBAL THEME as it will set everything to the global theme defaults), try other style or colors and find when it changes the problematic text color, then we can go further and find the issue when you can tell what setting ‘fixes’ the issue.

[lrussell887]

Out of all the dark Plasma Styles (Breath Dark, Breath2 Dark, Breeze Dark, & Oxygen), only Breeze Dark has the correct color scheme. The others have the same dark text on a dark background problem. The light styles are fine too, but that’s surely because dark text on a light background works anyway. Changing settings under Colors only has an effect on applications.

[omano]

So the issue seems to be from the Styles, right? We can investigate then on this side, maybe compare the files, or reinstall them?

[lrussell887]

I’d be okay with reinstalling the styles / themes to fix them since it seems to be an isolated issue. Is there a way to do that? I suppose I just find it strange that this would happen though, since I haven’t really messed with the styles since installing Manjaro.

I did find a Breath2Dark.colors file under ~/.kde4/share/apps/color-schemes/. Could this be where it’s set?

[ColorEffects:Disabled]
Color=56,56,56
ColorAmount=0
ColorEffect=0
ContrastAmount=0.65
ContrastEffect=1
IntensityAmount=0.1
IntensityEffect=2

[ColorEffects:Inactive]
ChangeSelectionColor=true
Color=112,111,110
ColorAmount=-0.95000000000000007
ColorEffect=0
ContrastAmount=0.10000000000000001
ContrastEffect=0
Enable=false
IntensityAmount=0
IntensityEffect=0

[Colors:Button]
BackgroundAlternate=224,223,222
BackgroundNormal=41,47,52
DecorationFocus=26,188,156
DecorationHover=26,188,156
ForegroundActive=155,89,182
ForegroundInactive=130,148,163
ForegroundLink=76,107,138
ForegroundNegative=231,76,60
ForegroundNeutral=230,126,34
ForegroundNormal=255,255,255
ForegroundPositive=52,152,219
ForegroundVisited=145,61,136

[Colors:Complementary]
BackgroundAlternate=62,71,78
ForegroundInactive=67,76,84

[Colors:Selection]
BackgroundAlternate=54,215,183
BackgroundNormal=26,188,156
DecorationFocus=26,188,156
DecorationHover=26,188,156
ForegroundActive=96,55,113
ForegroundInactive=222,222,222
ForegroundLink=0,98,218
ForegroundNegative=231,76,60
ForegroundNeutral=168,88,23
ForegroundNormal=255,255,255
ForegroundPositive=37,116,165
ForegroundVisited=145,61,136

[Colors:Tooltip]
BackgroundAlternate=62,71,78
BackgroundNormal=41,47,52
DecorationFocus=26,188,156
DecorationHover=26,188,156
ForegroundActive=155,89,182
ForegroundInactive=130,148,163
ForegroundLink=126,178,230
ForegroundNegative=231,76,60
ForegroundNeutral=230,126,34
ForegroundNormal=247,247,247
ForegroundPositive=52,152,219
ForegroundVisited=145,61,136

[Colors:View]
BackgroundAlternate=62,71,78
BackgroundNormal=33,37,41
DecorationFocus=26,188,156
DecorationHover=26,188,156
ForegroundActive=155,89,182
ForegroundInactive=130,148,163
ForegroundLink=76,107,138
ForegroundNegative=231,76,60
ForegroundNeutral=230,126,34
ForegroundNormal=255,255,255
ForegroundPositive=52,152,219
ForegroundVisited=145,61,136

[Colors:Window]
BackgroundAlternate=62,71,78
BackgroundNormal=41,47,52
DecorationFocus=26,188,156
DecorationHover=26,188,156
ForegroundActive=155,89,182
ForegroundInactive=130,148,163
ForegroundLink=76,107,138
ForegroundNegative=231,76,60
ForegroundNeutral=230,126,34
ForegroundNormal=255,255,255
ForegroundPositive=52,152,219
ForegroundVisited=145,61,136

[General]
ColorScheme=Breath2Dark
Name=Breath2Dark
shadeSortColumn=true

[KDE]
contrast=4

[WM]
activeBackground=41,47,52
activeBlend=41,47,52
activeForeground=255,255,255
inactiveBackground=41,47,52
inactiveBlend=41,47,52
inactiveForeground=130,130,130

[omano]

Ah!

Maybe you have files in your home that overrides the ‘official’ files? I think if you have files with same name for example for applications .desktop files in the appropriate folder in your home, it will override the official file and the system will use the file in your home for your user. This is probably the issue if you have theme files in your home, maybe probably not sure

//EDIT: maybe rename the .kde4 folder (to keep it for safe measure in case) and reboot?
//EDIT2: this folder contains also some setting for the desktop, but just try anyway you could still reboot after replacing the folder later.

[lrussell887]

Removing the .kde4 folder and rebooting had no effect on anything it seems. It didn’t even bother to recreate the color-schemes folder.

[lrussell887]

I’m sorry for bumping the thread, but does anyone know what might be causing this? I’ve yet to find a solution.

[omano]

Try to create a new user and see if issue occurs on new user too.

[lrussell887]

Wow, I should’ve thought of that sooner – no, the problem isn’t there with a new user account. I suppose I can just clear out my directory and setup again from scratch. I wonder what’s causing it though.

[omano]

You have something overriding the themes somewhere in your home as I suggested earlier. I don’t recommend wiping your home it is not proper way to deal with that. Find the overriding files.