Thank you for giving Mirkwood a try. It has been produced for the Kaleidoscope control panel, created by Gregory D. Landweber (greg@math.harvard.edu) and Frederick J. Bass. If you don't have Kaleidoscope, it can be downloaded from Greg's website at http://www.kaleidoscope.net. You can find almost every color scheme ever made, including all of mine, at The Kaleidoscope Scheme Archive (Eric Reid, Webmaster, http://www.kaleidoscope. net/schemes). The Mirkwood folder contains two color schemes, one with and one without icons, and a desktop pattern produced specifically for the scheme.
After installing Kaleidoscope in your Control Panel folder, simply drop Mirkwood in the Kaleidoscope Color Schemes folder and put that in your Extensions folder. Then open the Kaleidoscope control panel and select Mirkwood. To install the desktop pattern, open your Desktop Pattern control panel and drag the Mirkwood pattern onto the open window.
Please note that Mirkwood looks best on computers capable of 1000s of colors. I find that it is not possible to achieve the results I aim for in the more limited 256-color palette.
Mirkwood is opinionware; if you have strong feelings about it, send them along via E-mail. As a dedicated Mac-type, I am committed to the pursuit of quality in all things, so let me know what you think -- I can't improve if I don't know what I'm doing wrong!
Too many words about aesthetics: Many of the color schemes you have probably seen provide a cool, understated, elegant visual environment, an environment which, if not altogether neutral, at least retires quietly to the background. It is easy to understand the appeal of this type of color scheme. Sometimes I pop Scot Lewis'Ephemerol on the turntable and float gently down the stream myself. But most of the time, as I perform the mundane tasks of everyday life at the computer, I enjoy a more robust give and take: a play of rich hues and color contrasts and an eye-pleasing detail or two.
All of my color schemes have been conceived as evocations of emotional states, usually triggered by memories of places I have been, certain times of day, or climatic conditions. Mirkwood was inspired by my recent rereading of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy. It conjures for me dangerous treks through the gloomy forests of my own gloomy mind. The mood is lightened, perhaps, by enchanted elven runes and magical jewels ; but don't let me try to tell you what to feel (as if I could). Take a look; if you like Mirkwood, use it, enjoy it. If not, you know where the Trash Can is.
The Small Print: All artwork in this color scheme is copyrighted. Please do not use it for any purpose, without my prior approval. It may be freely distributed as long as it is not altered and this docu mentation accompanies it.
