Customizing Gnome

[kulturloseramerikaner]

I've been trolling a bit on Gnome-Look for themes, backgrounds, etc., getting everything configured the way I like, except for two things:
1) There are a lot of guys that have some slick-looking skins on their top and bottom panels. I've looked, and might simply be a little slow, but I can't find them.
2) There is a clear bar containing the quick-launch icons that I'd like to have, and again, I might just be a little slow, but I haven't found it either.
Could you point me in the right direction? Thanks

[devils casper]

1) There are a lot of guys that have some slick-looking skins on their top and bottom panels. I've looked, and might simply be a little slow, but I can't find them.

Right Click on Panel -- Properties -- BackGround TAB -- click on BackGround Image and select Image.

2) There is a clear bar containing the quick-launch icons that I'd like to have, and again, I might just be a little slow, but I haven't found it either.
Could you point me in the right direction?

Right Click on Panel -- Add to Panel.
add application s from Application Launcher list, Applets from default list or click on Custom Application Launcher to add application not listed in Application Launcher's list.