The new theme editor is bewildering, I have no idea how to use it and not sure where to find instructions.  Since Cakewalk introduced the "X" series, the long-existing color options have imploded.  Many of the options don't work, some do, but there's no way to know which ones work and which ones do not other than trial and error.  I would think that CW would want to simplify color choice options by consolidating where and how color choices are made.  It seems like a mess to me, although I see the potential in themes as so long as the one can figure out how to change colors.
 
For example, I have an instrument track (combined midi/audio for software synth) that I want to change the background and the clip color.   But the instrument track doesn't respond the same way as midi tracks, or audio tracks, so I cannot figure out how to do this without affecting midi tracks.  The old color options don't work correctly.
 
If anybody has learned how to use the theme editor please let me know.
 
Thanks,
Jerry
http://www.jerrygerber.com
 

The theme editor comes with a PDF with help. You should read up on it there and see what it says. Also there is a few themes made by fellow members in the software forum in the sticky section. I'm sure giving them a little time a video will be soon available to walk us through using it. 

You do need a graphics editor other than MS Paint which allows editing of .png files.
 
This is probably enough to put a lot of people off, me included!!

Bristol_Jonesey
You do need a graphics editor other than MS Paint which allows editing of .png files.
 
This is probably enough to put a lot of people off, me included!!

Me too. While I see the benefits of a theme editor I was hoping we'd be able to choose colors the way we did with Sonar 8.

its not as difficult as it sounds. its actually rather easy.
but I for one am with you, I would like an easier way to edit colors.
im all for easier.
Lazy is Crazy but Easy is Breeze.

Until instrument tracks are treated as peers to audio and MIDI tracks, I do not believe it will be possible to affect their display without affecting the base track type. A quick look in the theme editor shows color settings for Audio and MIDI tracks only. So the relationship between instrument tracks and the base track types has not changed with the introduction of themes and the theme editor.

I had spent three day changing the colors with the theme editor -this is very exhausting job! - ...(by trial and error)
I still do not know how to change the track colors yet..but  I am somehow happy with the results... its funny..I am spending more time in sonar; as a graphic designer...than making music...