I've used Sonar since v2, always at its top tear level. But since x3 changed to its current product line iteration (Artist, Professional, Platinum) I moved to the middle tear because the main difference is a lot of plugins that I already had earlier versions of or didn't care about.
 
These last few versions have shaved the color schemes down to the point that they're not really terribly useful. Mainly, I want to get back to a lighter (as in "more bright") version of a theme. I strongly dislike the black(ish) background of the clips in the track view. I hate how dark and murky Sonar has become, w/ no way to substantially change it. I want the default clip background to be pale white, or light gray. It drives me nuts that there is no way to change this.
 
I don't care about changing bitmaps/png backgrounds, button states, et cetera. But I would love a theme that didn't look a melted box of brown & black crayons. 
 
I don't really want to spend the $200 or whatever just to get the ability to make a "light" theme that, you know, is actually based on a lighter color scheme (rather than just brightening the clip foreground color). But, say that I did. Can I actually make a lighter theme with the editor? Can I change every aspect of the GUI, or just the same ones I have access to with the color picker? Or, even better, can someone make a lighter theme and share it with those of us w/ Professional? If I don't care about background images, or most of the features I'm seeing in the videos for the editor, are there more varied themes coming for the rest of us? 

The best option for X series SONAR is Duckbar a free utility (registration required to download). The themes created by the theme editor will not work in version prior to SONAR 2016.06.
 
 
WRT the theme editor, it goes beyond the color picker in preferences, it exposes many of the images used in SONAR. However, It is not a trivial matter to create an entire new theme and it helps to be familiar with an image editor. The theme editor requires a third party image editor to edit images. The most recent uploads at the Cakewalk Youtube site discuss the theme editor.

Did you read what I wrote?
 
I'm not looking to update an earlier version. I'm wondering if a theme created in the theme editor (which can only be used in Platinum) can be used in Professional (or Artist)? 
 
I don't care about editing the backgrounds. I want to know if I can change clip background colors. And, actually, the track view background to something not murky would swell.
 
As I said, I did watch the videos but they did not specifically address my questions.

Yes but I did tire out somewhere in the middle. There is no SONAR Producer ATM. I guess that is what confused me about your post. The current product line is SONAR Artist/Professional/Plantinum. The last version of SONAR Producer was SONAR X3 Producer.
 
There was a recent post about clip colors here http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3455137

I saw that post but it does not answer the questions that I asked. 
 
I edited my post to reflect the most current nomenclature of the various Sonar products. You're right, I did call it the wrong thing; however I would have thought the context, as well as my first sentence, would have made it clear.
 
Here's the tl:dr version
 
Can a theme created in the theme editor be used in Professional  (most recent version) version?
Can the clip background colors be changed?

If the version you have does not have a "themes" option under preferences I think you are out of luck. If it does, you should try and D/L one of the users modified themes and see for yourself.

puffer
I saw that post but it does not answer the questions that I asked. 

we aren't paid support users

puffer
Did you read what I wrote?

 
im sure you are just curious but a little kindness goes a long way.

This ain't my first dance at this rodeo.
 
I'll wait until some people post their themes and give it whirl. 
 
I'll let you all know and lurk on the forum for answers.
 
::thumbs up::

 

puffer
Did you read what I wrote?

scook
Yes but I did tire out somewhere in the middle.

 

Apologies puffer, but I just couldn't let scooks perfectly measured response to a brusque reply go unappreciated. 

Mercury is a lighter default theme...