Creating a global theme package

First, install the sonic-theme-sdk package, which gives you the Global Theme Explorer. The package name may differ between distributions. If your distribution doesn't list the Global Theme Explorer in the application launcher, start lookandfeelexplorer from a terminal and its window opens.

Once the Global Theme Explorer is open, the steps are straightforward:

1. Click the menu button.
2. Click New Theme….
3. Fill in all the fields and click OK.

This creates a global theme based on your desktop's configuration under ~/.local/share/plasma/look-and-feel/. It doesn't save the splash screen. It may also not create a metadata.json file for you.

Here is a basic template for a global theme's metadata.json:

{
    "KPackageStructure": "Plasma/LookAndFeel",
    "KPlugin": {
        "Authors": [
            {
                "Email": "X",
                "Name": "X"
            }
        ],
        "Category": "Plasma Look And Feel",
        "Description": "X",
        "EnabledByDefault": true,
        "Id": "X",
        "License": "X",
        "Name": "X",
        "ServiceTypes": [
            "Plasma/LookAndFeel"
        ],
        "Version": "X.X",
        "Website": "X"
    },
    "X-KPackage-Dependencies": [
        "kns://aurorae.knsrc/api.kde-look.org/INSERTNUMBERIFAPPLICABLE",
        "kns://colorschemes.knsrc/api.kde-look.org/INSERTNUMBERIFAPPLICABLE",
        "kns://plasma-themes.knsrc/api.kde-look.org/INSERTNUMBERIFAPPLICABLE",
        "kns://icons.knsrc/api.kde-look.org/INSERTNUMBERIFAPPLICABLE",
        "kns://wallpaper.knsrc/api.kde-look.org/INSERTNUMBERIFAPPLICABLE"
    ]
}

Choose the theme in System Settings' Global Theme module.