Debian is asking artists to propose a visual theme for its next stable release, Forky. Anyone can take part, but the work must use a free licence and cover a set of standard desktop and boot screens.
What has Debian actually announced?
Ars Technica reports that the Debian project has opened a call for artists to submit work for its next release, codenamed Forky. Debian is one of the oldest community-run Linux distributions, and many other systems are built on it. Each stable release gets its own visual identity: the desktop wallpaper, the login screen, the boot menu background and the installer graphics. Debian does not hire a design agency for this. It asks the community for proposals and picks one as the default theme. This article does not give the exact closing date or the full selection timetable for this round. Check those on Debian’s own announcement and wiki pages before you start work.
What is Forky, and how does it fit into Debian’s release cycle?
Forky is the codename for the Debian stable release that follows Trixie. In the usual numbering, that makes it Debian 14. Debian has long named its releases after characters from the Toy Story films, and Forky follows that tradition. A new stable version usually appears roughly every two years. Before release, it spends a long period in the “testing” branch. During that time, developers freeze packages, fix bugs and finish elements such as the artwork. The call for artwork comes early so that the chosen theme can be packaged, tested and translated into the formats the system needs before release. No firm release date for Forky has been published in the material this article draws on.
Who is allowed to submit a theme?
In principle, anyone can submit. You do not need to be a Debian developer, a professional designer or a long-time Linux user. Previous calls have been open to anyone who could follow the technical and licensing requirements and publish their proposal in the agreed place. Groups and individuals have both taken part. You will usually need an account on the Debian wiki, or another way to publish your files publicly, so that the selection team and other contributors can see your proposal. It helps if you are willing to answer questions and make revisions. A chosen theme often needs adjustments before it is shipped. Submitting does not guarantee selection, and only one theme becomes the default for each release.
What pieces of artwork does a complete proposal usually include?
A Debian theme is a set of matching graphics, not a single image. Past calls have asked for:
- a desktop wallpaper
- a login screen background
- a boot screen for the GRUB bootloader
- a banner for the Debian installer
The wallpaper usually has to work in several aspect ratios, such as widescreen and older 4:3 displays, without important elements being cropped or stretched. Proposals often also show how the theme looks with the release name or the Debian swirl logo placed on it. Read the Forky call itself for the full list, because requirements can change between cycles. A proposal that covers only one element is less likely to succeed than one that shows a consistent design across all the required screens.
Why does the licence matter so much?
Debian only ships software and content that meets its Free Software Guidelines. Artwork is held to the same standard as code, so your theme must use a free licence. That licence has to let anyone use, change and redistribute the work, including for commercial purposes. Licences such as the GNU GPL and Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike have been used for Debian artwork before. Licences that ban commercial use or modification are not acceptable. You also need to own the rights to everything in your proposal. If you use fonts, textures, photographs or brushes made by other people, their licences must be compatible too. If any part of the work has a restrictive licence, the whole proposal can be disqualified, however good it looks.
Which file formats and source files should you provide?
Debian prefers editable sources to flattened images. Scalable vector graphics (SVG) are usually the preferred source format, because they can be re-exported cleanly at any resolution. Debian also prefers free tools, such as Inkscape, for creating and editing them. If you work in raster software, keep your layered source files as well. A PNG on its own makes later changes difficult. The free-software principle applies here too: other people should be able to change your work, not just view it. Name and organise your files clearly, and say which file belongs to which screen. Give the licence in a text file or in the file’s metadata. Some calls list exact pixel dimensions for screens such as the bootloader. If the Forky call gives sizes, follow them.
Where and how do you actually submit?
In earlier cycles, artists submitted by creating a page on the Debian wiki in the artwork section for the coming release. They gave the theme a name, uploaded preview images and linked to the source files. The proposal page normally includes a short description of the idea, the licence and the author’s contact details. Some artists also post their designs on Debian’s desktop or artwork mailing lists, where other contributors may give feedback. Ars Technica’s report does not say whether the Forky process differs from earlier ones, so go by the current call. Publish early rather than at the last minute. That gives reviewers time to point out technical or licensing problems you can still fix before the deadline.
How is the winning theme chosen?
Debian’s desktop team has usually run the selection. In previous cycles, eligible proposals were first checked against the requirements. Some cycles then held a vote or survey among project contributors before the final decision. The criteria have generally included more than appearance. The theme has to be readable at different screen sizes, look consistent across all the required elements, have a valid licence and be practical to package. Art that looks good as a single image may not work well behind login boxes or boot menu text. The exact method and timetable for Forky are not given in the reported material. Check the official call to find out whether there will be a public vote this time.
What happens to your artwork if it is selected?
The chosen theme becomes the default look of the release. Packagers turn it into Debian packages, so it appears automatically on fresh installations and on the installer media. Your files will be copied, adapted and redistributed under the licence you chose, possibly for many years. Derivative distributions may use them too. Debian normally credits the theme’s author in the package and on the wiki. You keep your copyright, but the free licence means you cannot later stop others from using the work within its terms. You may also be asked to make small changes, such as moving elements to fit text or providing extra sizes, before the release is finalised.
What practical steps improve your chances?
Start by reading the full call and any older artwork pages on the Debian wiki. They show what earlier submissions looked like and where some fell short. Make the design simple enough to stay legible at low resolutions and behind interface elements. Test it on a real desktop, login screen and boot screen if you can. Use only material you made yourself, or material with compatible free licences, and record where each part came from. Provide clean vector sources and clear previews for every required screen. Finally, stay involved after you submit. Proposals whose authors answer feedback quickly are easier for the team to consider. Ars Technica’s report does not mention any payment or prize, so do not count on either.
Sources and further reading
- Ars Technica: report on Debian’s call for artwork submissions for the Forky release
- Debian project wiki: artwork and desktop theme pages for current and past releases
- Debian Free Software Guidelines: the project’s rules on acceptable licences
- Debian desktop team mailing lists: discussion and feedback on theme proposals
Surfaced from the rss:arstechnica signal “Linux distribution artwork call”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
