Emacs: Set Color Theme
Here's how to set emacs to use color themes. (new in Emacs 24 (released 2012-06))
Alt+x customize-themes
to set a color theme.

Alternatively, Alt+x load-theme
, then press Tab to show a list of available themes.
To clear theme, Alt+x disable-theme
. Press Tab for completion.
To find enabled themes,
Alt+x describe-variable
then type custom-enabled-themes

Set a Color Theme Permanently
To set it permanently, put this in your emacs init file.
(load-theme 'misterioso)
Here's list of emacs 24.3 themes.
- adwaita
- deeper-blue
- dichromacy
- light-blue
- manoj-dark
- misterioso
- tango
- tango-dark
- tsdh-dark
- tsdh-light
- wheatgrass
- whiteboard
- wombat
2012-10-11 Thanks to • Gabriel Saldaña [https://twitter.com/gabrielsaldana] • Torsten Wagner [https://plus.google.com/b/113859563190964307534/102520135125330850042/posts] • Steve Purcell [https://github.com/purcell] for tips.
Simple Setting of Background Color
Sometimes a color theme is too much. All you need is a mild background color.
To set background color, Alt+x set-background-color
then type “honeydew”.
Alt+x list-colors-display
to see color names.
For permanent setup, put the following in your emacs init file.
(if (display-graphic-p) (setq initial-frame-alist '( (tool-bar-lines . 0) (width . 106) (height . 60) (background-color . "honeydew") (left . 50) (top . 50))) (setq initial-frame-alist '( (tool-bar-lines . 0)))) (setq default-frame-alist initial-frame-alist)
(info "(elisp) Frame Parameters")
[see Emacs: Set Default Window Size]
[see Emacs: Font Setup]
Simple White on Black, Reverse Video

emacs --reverse-video
In terminal, emacs --reverse-video
will start emacs with white text on black background. This is useful under bright sunlight.
Emacs Customization
- Emacs init file
- Install Packages
- Install Package Manually
- Define Keys
- M-x customize
- What's Major Mode?
- What's Minor Mode?
- Set File to Open in a Major Mode
- Organize Init File
- Byte Compile Elisp
- What's Hook?
- Environment Variables in Emacs
- Set Default Window Size
- Font Setup
- Set Color Theme
- Turn Off Auto Backup
- Check OS, Version, Host Name
- Check Defined/Loaded
If you have a question, put $5 at patreon and message me.
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