To enter the current Debian release artwork contest, prepare a concept for Debian 14 (code name Forky), create a proposal page under DebianArt/Themes, and add that proposal to the submitted-proposals section of the Debian 14 Forky artwork page. The operative submission deadline is November 26, 2026. You may submit a single wallpaper or another image instead of a complete theme.
Your proposal needs a short concept description, a clear copyright and distribution-license statement, and a thumbnail link. If selected, the artwork must be practical to integrate without patching core software, remain visually clear during long-term use, and have editable source files that can be modified with free software.
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What the current Debian Forky call requires
The contest is for the artwork shipped with Debian 14, whose code name is Forky. The call accepts coordinated themes and focused contributions. A full theme can span boot screens, installer graphics, login imagery, desktop wallpaper and promotional artwork, but a contributor can submit only a wallpaper or another individual image if that is the work they want to develop.
| Item | Current requirement or status |
|---|---|
| Release | Debian 14, code name Forky |
| Submission deadline | November 26, 2026 |
| Initial submission | A proposal page under DebianArt/Themes, listed on the Forky artwork page |
| Proposal information | Theme name, one-line description, thumbnail image link, concept explanation, copyright and license |
| Permitted scope | A complete theme, a wallpaper, or another individual image |
| Expected voting period | Estimated at one to three weeks after submissions close; no fixed voting date is established |
The deadline supersedes the July call’s earlier date of September 12, 2026. The later September announcement and the current Forky materials use November 26, so use the current release page rather than an old copy of the call when planning your work.
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Choose the right submission scope
Decide how much you can realistically deliver before you create the proposal page. The selection decision does not require every eventual asset to be finished, but you should understand the size of the theme you are proposing and be willing to produce the remaining pieces if Debian selects it.
Focused image contribution
A focused contribution can be a desktop wallpaper, a login image, an installer graphic or another single artwork item. This is the smallest practical entry and is appropriate when you have a strong visual idea but do not intend to maintain an entire visual system. Explain which asset you are offering and show how it can be adapted to Debian’s required formats and aspect ratios.
Coordinated full theme
A full theme proposes a consistent visual language across boot, installer, login and desktop surfaces. It may also include CD or DVD labels, website, blog or wiki banners, T-shirts and stickers. You do not need to finish all of those assets before the selection, but your proposal should identify the intended family of deliverables and the work needed to complete them.
| Approach | What to show initially | Main obligation if selected |
|---|---|---|
| Single image | A finished or near-finished image, its intended use and crop behavior | Supply production files in the required format and resolve any integration issues |
| Small set | A consistent pair or group, such as wallpaper plus login image | Keep composition, color and branding coherent across the set |
| Full theme | Representative mock-ups and a map of planned asset types | Create the remaining assets and provide editable source files |
Step-by-step: submit a Forky artwork proposal
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Read the artwork requirements first
Start with Debian’s artwork requirements page and the current Debian 14 Forky artwork call. The requirements define image sizes, color depths, file formats, gamma treatment and the expectations for source files. Reading them before designing prevents a proposal that looks good in one mock-up but cannot be converted for the boot loader or installer.
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Develop a single, explainable concept
Build the proposal around one visual idea rather than a collection of unrelated images. Write one or two lines that explain the concept, the visual motif and how it expresses Debian. The explanation should tell a reviewer what to look for in the thumbnail and why the idea can work across the surfaces you intend to support.
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Create the proposal page under
DebianArt/ThemesMake an individual proposal page in the DebianArt/Themes area. Give it a clear theme name and place the concept explanation near the top. Include the author identity, copyright statement, distribution license and links or embeds for the preview images and source material that reviewers need to evaluate the idea.
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Add the proposal to the Debian 14 Forky artwork page
The Forky release artwork page has a submitted-proposals section. Add your proposal there using the page’s requested template fields: the theme name, a one-line description and a thumbnail image link. A proposal page that is not listed in the release page’s submitted section can be missed during review, so complete both parts of the workflow.
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Check the thumbnail and page permissions
Open the thumbnail link as a reader who is not editing the wiki. Confirm that it loads, represents the actual proposal and is large enough to remain legible in a list of submissions. Check that the proposal page and any preview files are visible to the Debian community rather than restricted to your personal account.
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Follow the discussion channels
Follow the Debian Desktop mailing list and the
#debian-desktopIRC discussion. The call directs contributors there for feedback, discussion of concepts and selection updates. Monitor those channels after posting in case maintainers request clarification or identify an integration concern.
Information your proposal should contain
Concept statement
Use one or two direct lines to explain the idea. Describe the subject, shape language, color strategy or other defining element, then connect it to Debian’s identity. Avoid a purely promotional description; reviewers need to understand the design decisions and the intended visual system.
Copyright and license
State who owns the work and under which license Debian may distribute it. The requirements show the following format as an example: Copyright: year, your full name <email@domain>, License: GPL-2.0+. That is a formatting example, not a license you should copy automatically. Select a license that actually applies to your artwork and write the complete attribution Debian will need to publish it.
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Editable source files
Keep the original vector, layered raster or other source files and identify the free-software tools needed to open them. Final artwork should be modifiable using free software so Debian can adapt it for future releases, revised screen layouts or accessibility fixes. A flattened preview alone is not an adequate hand-off for a selected theme.
Preview and scope notes
Show the artwork in the context where it will be used, not only as an isolated crop. If you are proposing a full theme, list the asset types you plan to create and mark which are already drafted. If you are proposing one image, state that clearly so reviewers assess it against the correct scope.
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Technical specifications to plan for
The following values describe the eventual theme assets. They are planning targets, not a demand that every file be complete at proposal time.
| Asset | Required specification | Practical preparation note |
|---|---|---|
| GRUB 2 boot screen | 640 × 480 pixels, 24-bit PNG | Design at this small fixed size and test that the logo and any text remain readable. |
| Isolinux | 640 × 300 pixels, 4-bit color (16 colors) | Reduce the palette deliberately; gradients and subtle texture may disappear during conversion. |
| Syslinux | 640 × 300 pixels, 16-bit color PNG | Keep important edges and contrast stable at the lower resolution. |
| Plymouth | SVG, or separate PNGs for scene elements and background at minimum | Separate layers make animation or composition changes possible without rebuilding the entire image. |
| Debian Installer | 800 × 75 pixels, 16-bit color | Use a shallow composition with a clear focal area; a matching GTK theme may also be considered. |
| Desktop wallpaper | SVG recommended; should crop to 5:4, 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9 | Keep the subject and quiet areas positioned so none of those crops removes the visual focus. |
| Login-screen image | Similar crop requirements to wallpaper; SVG recommended | Make the transition into the desktop wallpaper feel deliberate rather than like two unrelated screens. |
| Other possible deliverables | CD/DVD labels, website, blog or wiki banners, T-shirts and stickers | Treat these as extensions of the theme, not prerequisites for posting an initial proposal. |
| Gamma | Gamma-correct all artwork to 0.45 | Apply the requirement consistently and document the process in your source-file notes. |
The Debian logo may be used as the swirl alone or with the word “debian.” Use it as part of a considered composition rather than allowing the mark to substitute for a theme concept.
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Design for Debian’s selection criteria
The current call describes three broad qualities. They are useful decision tests while you are still sketching, not just criteria to consider after uploading.
It should feel like Debian
A successful design should be recognizable as Debian without relying on a generic technology aesthetic. Consider how the palette, geometry, restraint and use of the Debian logo establish that identity. A design can be novel while still fitting the project’s long-running visual character.
It should integrate without core-software patches
Prefer artwork that can be installed through existing theme and artwork mechanisms. Designs that depend on substantial GTK theming or changes to GDM/GNOME create a larger maintenance burden and are specifically cautioned against in the call. If your concept requires a special shell modification, explain the dependency honestly; do not imply that it is a drop-in theme.
It should stay clean during extended use
Release artwork is seen repeatedly during installation, boot and everyday desktop use. Avoid visual noise that becomes tiring, tiny details that vanish at low resolution or high-contrast elements that compete with system text. The call names Emerald, Homeworld, Joy, Lines, softWaves and futurePrototype as examples of themes considered clean and well designed; use them as references for the stated quality bar, not as templates to copy.
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Prepare artwork that survives every crop and format
Build a master source, then derive outputs
Keep a master SVG or layered source with separate background, foreground, logo and text elements. Export the required PNGs from that source instead of resizing one finished bitmap repeatedly. This preserves sharp edges and lets you reposition a focal element for the 640 × 300, 640 × 480 and 800 × 75 outputs.
Test the four wallpaper ratios
Create previews at 5:4, 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9. Place guides around the safe area and inspect every crop. A subject that is centered in a 16:9 mock-up may be clipped in 5:4; conversely, a wide empty margin can look unbalanced on a wide monitor. Apply the same test to the login image and verify that its transition into the desktop wallpaper still works.
Design for restricted color depths
Isolinux allows only 16 colors, while Syslinux permits a 16-bit PNG and GRUB 2 uses a 24-bit PNG. Make a separate reduced-color proof for the 4-bit asset. Check flat fills, silhouettes and text at the actual output dimensions instead of assuming that a high-color preview will convert acceptably.
Apply gamma and preserve metadata
Gamma-correct the artwork to 0.45 as required. Record the gamma setting, export dimensions and color mode in a short note alongside the source files. Keeping that information with the files helps another contributor regenerate an output without guessing which export settings produced it.
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The operative deadline is November 26, 2026. Plan to post early enough to correct a broken thumbnail, incomplete template entry or missing license statement before submissions close. The earlier July call listed September 12, but that date was extended; an old calendar reminder should not override the current Forky page.
Voting is expected one to three weeks after submissions close, with the release-specific page expressing hope that it will be closer to one week. That is an estimate, not a confirmed voting date. Continue watching the Debian Desktop mailing list and #debian-desktop rather than assuming that a particular day has been announced.
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If your proposal is selected, be prepared to finish the remaining assets in its stated scope, supply the free-software-editable sources and work through format or integration adjustments. Selection is not a requirement to invent extra deliverables beyond the concept you presented; it is a commitment to complete the promised theme responsibly.
Common submission problems and fixes
The proposal exists but is not listed
Symptom: You created a page under DebianArt/Themes, but it does not appear among Forky submissions. Fix: Add the proposal to the submitted-proposals section of the Debian 14 Forky artwork page using the required theme name, one-line description and thumbnail link.
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The thumbnail is missing or misleading
Symptom: The list shows a broken image, a private file or an unrelated preview. Fix: Test the link while logged out, use a stable image location and make the thumbnail depict the same concept described on the proposal page.
The license is copied without checking
Symptom: The page repeats the sample GPL line even though the artwork contains material under different terms. Fix: Identify the actual rights holders and choose a license Debian can use to distribute the work. Write the complete copyright attribution and license instead of copying a placeholder example.
The concept depends on desktop changes
Symptom: The design needs extensive GTK theming or modifications to GDM/GNOME. Fix: Simplify the concept so it works with existing artwork hooks, or disclose the dependency and explain why it is necessary. Designs requiring substantial core changes are less practical to integrate.
The wallpaper works in only one ratio
Symptom: The focal subject is cut off on 5:4, 4:3 or 16:10 displays. Fix: Rework the master composition with a safe area and test all four required ratios before posting the preview.
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Symptom: Reviewers can see the image but cannot modify it. Fix: Preserve and publish the editable source using a free-software-compatible format, with fonts, linked assets and layer structure documented where necessary.
The submission assumes every asset is mandatory immediately
Symptom: You delay posting because you have not made boot, installer, login and promotional files. Fix: Submit the focused image or the representative concept you have, clearly state the intended scope and describe the remaining work you will undertake if selected.
Quick Recap
Final pre-submission checklist
- The proposal targets Debian 14 Forky and uses the current release page.
- A proposal page exists under
DebianArt/Themes. - The proposal is listed in the Forky submitted-proposals section.
- The theme name, one-line description and thumbnail link are present in the requested template.
- The concept is explained in one or two clear lines.
- Copyright ownership and the actual distribution license are stated.
- Editable source files can be opened and modified with free software.
- The intended scope identifies whether the entry is a single image, a set or a full theme.
- Wallpaper and login concepts have been checked at 5:4, 4:3, 16:10 and 16:9.
- Any planned boot, installer or Plymouth outputs account for their exact dimensions, color depth and format.
- Artwork has been gamma-corrected to 0.45.
- The Debian logo treatment, if used, follows the permitted swirl-only or swirl-with-wordmark options.
- The Debian Desktop mailing list and
#debian-desktopare being monitored for feedback and selection updates.
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