diff --git a/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp b/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
index 02452e10..32e8f7e7 100644
--- a/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
+++ b/skins/material/QskMaterialSkin.cpp
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initCommonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskControl;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Control | Padding, 4 );
 
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initBoxHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskBox;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setGradient( Q::Panel, pal.baseColor );
     setBoxShape( Q::Panel, 4 );
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initPopupHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskPopup;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setSkinHint( Q::Overlay | QskAspect::Style, true );
 
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initTextLabelHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTextLabel;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setSkinHint( Q::Text | Alignment, Qt::AlignCenter );
     setColor( Q::Text, pal.textColor );
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initTextInputHints()
     setSkinHint( Q::Text | Alignment,
         static_cast< int >( Qt::AlignLeft | Qt::AlignTop ) );
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setColor( Q::Text, pal.textColor );
     setColor( Q::PanelSelected, pal.accentColor );
@@ -239,13 +239,22 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initTextInputHints()
 void QskMaterialSkin::initProgressBarHints()
 {
     using namespace QskAspect;
+    using namespace QskRgbValue;
     using Q = QskProgressBar;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
-    setGradient( Q::Groove, Qt::white );
-    setMetric( Q::Groove | Size, 10 );
+    for ( auto subControl : { Q::Groove, Q::Bar } )
+    {   
+        setMetric( subControl | Size, 5 );
+        setMargins( subControl | Padding, 0 );
+        
+        setBoxShape( subControl, 0 );
+        setBoxBorderMetrics( subControl, 0 );
+    }   
 
+    setGradient( Q::Groove, Grey );
+    setMetric( Q::Groove | Size, 5 );
     setGradient( Q::Bar, pal.accentColor );
 }
 
@@ -254,7 +263,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initFocusIndicatorHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskFocusIndicator;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Q::Panel | Padding, 5 );
     setBoxShape( Q::Panel, 4 );
@@ -268,7 +277,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initSeparatorHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskSeparator;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     for ( auto placement : { Horizontal, Vertical } )
     {
@@ -286,7 +295,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initPageIndicatorHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskPageIndicator;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     for ( auto subControl : { Q::Bullet, Q::Highlighted } )
     {
@@ -316,7 +325,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initPushButtonHints()
     using namespace QskRgbValue;
     using Q = QskPushButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumWidth, qskDpiScaled( 75.0 ) );
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumHeight, qskDpiScaled( 23.0 ) );
@@ -377,7 +386,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initDialogButtonHints()
     using namespace QskRgbValue;
     using Q = QskDialogButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumWidth, 30 );
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumHeight, 16 );
@@ -430,7 +439,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initDialogButtonBoxHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskDialogButtonBox;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setGradient( Q::Panel, pal.baseColor );
     setBoxShape( Q::Panel, 0 );
@@ -443,7 +452,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initSliderHints()
     using namespace QskRgbValue;
     using Q = QskSlider;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     const qreal dim = 30;
 
@@ -466,7 +475,6 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initSliderHints()
 
         setBoxShape( subControl, 0 );
         setBoxBorderMetrics( subControl, 0 );
-        setGradient( subControl, QskGradient() );
     }
 
     setGradient( Q::Groove, Grey );
@@ -488,7 +496,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initSliderHints()
 
     // should be transparent, but the current renderer doesn't "cut out" the background
     setGradient( Q::Handle, pal.accentColor );
-    setGradient( Q::Pressed | Q::Handle, pal.accentColor );
+    setGradient( Q::Handle | Q::Pressed, pal.accentColor );
 
     for ( auto state : { NoState, Q::Pressed, Q::Pressed | Q::Hovered } )
     {
@@ -515,7 +523,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initTabButtonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTabButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumWidth, 30 );
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumHeight, 16 );
@@ -594,7 +602,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initTabViewHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTabView;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setBoxShape( Q::Page, 0 );
     setBoxBorderMetrics( Q::Page, 0 );
@@ -609,7 +617,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initInputPanelHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskInputPanelBox;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setBoxShape( Q::Panel, 0 );
     setBoxBorderMetrics( Q::Panel, 0 );
@@ -622,7 +630,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initVirtualKeyboardHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskVirtualKeyboard;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // key panel
     setMargins( Q::ButtonPanel | Margin, 2 );
@@ -651,7 +659,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initScrollViewHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskScrollView;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMetric( Q::Panel | Spacing, 2 );
 
@@ -696,7 +704,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initListViewHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskListView;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // padding for each cell
     setMargins( Q::Cell | Padding, QskMargins( 4, 8 ) );
@@ -713,7 +721,7 @@ void QskMaterialSkin::initSubWindowHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskSubWindow;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // Panel
 
diff --git a/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp b/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
index ca764615..cefb760e 100644
--- a/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
+++ b/skins/squiek/QskSquiekSkin.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ QskSquiekSkin::~QskSquiekSkin()
 
 void QskSquiekSkin::setSeparator( QskAspect::Aspect aspect )
 {
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     QskGradient gradient( QskGradient::Vertical, pal.lighter110, pal.darker125 );
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::setButton(
 #if 1
     // Buttons shift ???
 #endif
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     QskBoxBorderColors borderColors;
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::setPanel( QskAspect::Aspect aspect, PanelStyle style )
 
 void QskSquiekSkin::setTab( QskAspect::Aspect aspect )
 {
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setGradient( aspect,
         QskGradient( QskGradient::Vertical, pal.lighter125, pal.lighter150 ) );
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initCommonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskControl;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Control | Padding, 4 );
 
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initTextLabelHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTextLabel;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setSkinHint( Q::Text | Alignment, Qt::AlignCenter );
     setColor( Q::Text, pal.themeForeground );
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initTextInputHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTextInput;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setSkinHint( Q::Text | Alignment,
         static_cast< int >( Qt::AlignLeft | Qt::AlignTop ) );
@@ -387,12 +387,15 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initProgressBarHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskProgressBar;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
-    setGradient( Q::Groove, Qt::white );
-    setMetric( Q::Groove | Size, 10 );
+    setMetric( Q::Groove | Size, 8 );
+    setMargins( Q::Groove | Padding, 0 );
+    setGradient( Q::Groove, pal.darker200 );
+    setBoxShape( Q::Groove, 4 );
 
     setGradient( Q::Bar, pal.highlighted );
+    setBoxShape( Q::Bar, 4 );
 }
 
 void QskSquiekSkin::initFocusIndicatorHints()
@@ -400,7 +403,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initFocusIndicatorHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskFocusIndicator;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Q::Panel | Padding, 5 );
     setBoxBorderMetrics( Q::Panel, 2 );
@@ -425,7 +428,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initPageIndicatorHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskPageIndicator;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     for ( auto subControl : { Q::Bullet, Q::Highlighted } )
     {
@@ -452,7 +455,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initPushButtonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskPushButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // Panel
 
@@ -494,7 +497,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initDialogButtonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskDialogButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // panel
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumWidth, qskDpiScaled( 75.0 ) );
@@ -522,7 +525,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initDialogButtonBoxHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskDialogButtonBox;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setBoxBorderColors( Q::Panel, pal.theme );
     setGradient( Q::Panel, pal.lighter135 );
@@ -535,7 +538,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initTabButtonHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskTabButton;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumWidth, 30 );
     setMetric( Q::Panel | MinimumHeight, 16 );
@@ -593,7 +596,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initSliderHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskSlider;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     const qreal dim = 40;
 
@@ -687,7 +690,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initInputPredictionBar()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskInputPredictionBar;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Q::Panel | Padding, 5 );
     setPanel( Q::Panel, Flat );
@@ -705,7 +708,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initVirtualKeyboardHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskVirtualKeyboard;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     setMargins( Q::Panel | Padding, 5 );
     setMetric( Q::Panel | Spacing, 5 );
@@ -778,7 +781,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initListViewHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskListView;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     // padding for each cell
     setMargins( Q::Cell | Padding, QskMargins( 4, 8 ) );
@@ -795,7 +798,7 @@ void QskSquiekSkin::initSubWindowHints()
     using namespace QskAspect;
     using Q = QskSubWindow;
 
-    const ColorPalette& pal = m_data->palette;
+    const auto& pal = m_data->palette;
 
     const qreal radius = 5.0;
 
diff --git a/src/controls/QskProgressBarSkinlet.cpp b/src/controls/QskProgressBarSkinlet.cpp
index 3d87ee03..8d3770b5 100644
--- a/src/controls/QskProgressBarSkinlet.cpp
+++ b/src/controls/QskProgressBarSkinlet.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "QskProgressBarSkinlet.h"
 #include "QskProgressBar.h"
 #include "QskIntervalF.h"
+#include "QskBoxBorderMetrics.h"
 
 #include <cmath>
 
@@ -122,8 +123,16 @@ QSGNode* QskProgressBarSkinlet::updateBarNode(
 
 QRectF QskProgressBarSkinlet::barRect( const QskProgressBar* bar ) const
 {
-    auto rect = bar->subControlRect( QskProgressBar::Groove );
-    rect = bar->innerBox( QskProgressBar::Groove, rect );
+    const auto subControl = QskProgressBar::Groove;
+
+    auto rect = bar->subControlRect( subControl );
+
+    const auto borderMetrics = bar->boxBorderMetricsHint( subControl );
+
+    auto m = bar->marginsHint( subControl | QskAspect::Padding );
+    m += 0.5 * borderMetrics.toAbsolute( rect.size() ).widths();
+
+    rect = rect.marginsRemoved( m );
 
     const auto intv = qskBarInterval( bar );