How to Change the Default Theme in SLiM (Login Manager)

Archbang and a few others use SLiM, the Simple Login Manager, by default, which keeps things lean because SLiM does not have the dependency requirements of GDM or KDM. Actually the only dependencies are X11, libpng, libjpeg and freetype. It´s a great manager for desktop environment/window manager independent login, but does not support remote login functionalities. Themes however are supported and several are included from the start.

So what to do if after a while in ArchBang the standard login picture is getting a bit boring. There is no graphical theme chooser like in the big boys. Go to /usr/etc and locate slim.conf. Find the entry current_theme  somewhere far down the file. It is most likely set to default. Change the entry to any theme you like that you have under /usr/share/slim/themes. Most of these themes will already be in your folder, except perhaps some distribution specific ones. If you´re running ArchBang, why not change to the Arch Linux theme?

You can change to your own background picture by simply copying it over into the theme subfolder and renaming it like the original. Nice for when you want your login screen to gently blend into your desktop background. For example I don´t particularly care for the Lake and Rainbow backgrounds and have replaced them with my own pictures. Nothing else needed. Or go create your own theme.as per the Themes HowTo.