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Description
The screenshot above is for the Aero version. The archive contains BOTH Aero and Basic versions!

UPDATES
8 Dec, 2011: Added an Aero version! Also numerous changes to the Basic version (new Title Bar colour scheme and rock texture on menus).

IMPORTANT: INSTALLATION
For the theme to display as intended, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL (to avoid ugly stretching) that you set BOTH the total number of apps on the Start Menu (left side) to 8 or lower AND the number of items on the Places List (right side of Start Menu) to 9 or lower.
These both can be easily adjusted by: RIGHT clicking the Start orb --> Properties --> Start Menu tab --> Customize --> "Number of recent programs to display" and "Don't display this item" for Places List entries.
If you have apps pinned to the start menu, you will need to subtract them to keep the TOTAL number of displayed apps at exactly 8.
I have included a LOTR themed font that is used by the Aero version on the Start Menu and that you can optionally use for your Icons, Title Bars etc (accessible from the Personalization panel).
This theme does NOT require FullGlass or replacing aero.msstyles, and is easily installed following the instructions included in the archive. It can be activated/deactivated simply using "Personalization" in the control panel, so you can instantly switch to other themes.

DESCRIPTION
"Gollum" is a dark (but retains light backgrounds for apps) Windows 7 Basic theme based on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. It was built on the basic framework of my "YADS" theme [link] , so similarities are not coincidental. The idea for the theme was born from messing around with different ways of using transparency on the Start Menu and seeing what was possible; somehow I don't think this is what Microsoft intended .
The fantastic Wallpaper art is not by me, but I found it suited the theme nicely. If anyone lets me know who the original artist is I'll obviously add some credit.
"Gollum" should be fully compatible with both 32 and 64-bit Windows 7, including SP1.

KNOWN LIMITATIONS
1. You must have no more than a total of 8 apps on the Start Menu in order to avoid stretching of the image. Be sure to keep the TOTAL at 8 only.
2. In a handful of apps the toolbar text is black, and therefore almost impossible to read. However, if the app is skinnable (and a lot of modern apps are) this issue can be easily addressed by applying an appropriate skin to the app.

If you find any bugs or items that need fixing please let me know! Suggestions to improve the theme are also welcome.

Description
The screenshot above is for the Aero version. The archive contains BOTH Aero and Basic versions!

UPDATES
8 Dec, 2011: Added an Aero version! Also numerous changes to the Basic version (new Title Bar colour scheme and rock texture on menus).

IMPORTANT: INSTALLATION
For the theme to display as intended, it is absolutely ESSENTIAL (to avoid ugly stretching) that you set BOTH the total number of apps on the Start Menu (left side) to 8 or lower AND the number of items on the Places List (right side of Start Menu) to 9 or lower.
These both can be easily adjusted by: RIGHT clicking the Start orb --> Properties --> Start Menu tab --> Customize --> "Number of recent programs to display" and "Don't display this item" for Places List entries.
If you have apps pinned to the start menu, you will need to subtract them to keep the TOTAL number of displayed apps at exactly 8.
I have included a LOTR themed font that is used by the Aero version on the Start Menu and that you can optionally use for your Icons, Title Bars etc (accessible from the Personalization panel).
This theme does NOT require FullGlass or replacing aero.msstyles, and is easily installed following the instructions included in the archive. It can be activated/deactivated simply using "Personalization" in the control panel, so you can instantly switch to other themes.

DESCRIPTION
"Gollum" is a dark (but retains light backgrounds for apps) Windows 7 Basic theme based on the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. It was built on the basic framework of my "YADS" theme [link] , so similarities are not coincidental. The idea for the theme was born from messing around with different ways of using transparency on the Start Menu and seeing what was possible; somehow I don't think this is what Microsoft intended .
The fantastic Wallpaper art is not by me, but I found it suited the theme nicely. If anyone lets me know who the original artist is I'll obviously add some credit.
"Gollum" should be fully compatible with both 32 and 64-bit Windows 7, including SP1.

KNOWN LIMITATIONS
1. You must have no more than a total of 8 apps on the Start Menu in order to avoid stretching of the image. Be sure to keep the TOTAL at 8 only.
2. In a handful of apps the toolbar text is black, and therefore almost impossible to read. However, if the app is skinnable (and a lot of modern apps are) this issue can be easily addressed by applying an appropriate skin to the app.

If you find any bugs or items that need fixing please let me know! Suggestions to improve the theme are also welcome.