FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.5.0-beta"
Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (build 1.5.0-beta-b32c)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.5.0-beta-b32c, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Windows XP, but generic issue

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
if you look at the source for the paintThumb() and paintTrack() methods of SynthScrollBarUI it is easy to see that the track dosn't  support orientation . Orientation  is needed here  by most  3D effect looks.

Copied from SynthScrollBarUI source:

    protected void paintTrack(SynthContext ss, Graphics g,
                              Rectangle trackBounds) {
        SynthLookAndFeel.updateSubregion(ss, g, trackBounds);
        ss.getPainter().paintScrollBarTrackBackground(ss, g, trackBounds.x,
                        trackBounds.y, trackBounds.width, trackBounds.height);
        ss.getPainter().paintScrollBarTrackBorder(ss, g, trackBounds.x,
                        trackBounds.y, trackBounds.width, trackBounds.height);
    }

    protected void paintThumb(SynthContext ss, Graphics g,
                              Rectangle thumbBounds) {
        int orientation = scrollbar.getOrientation();
        ss.getPainter().paintScrollBarThumbBackground(ss, g, thumbBounds.x,
                        thumbBounds.y, thumbBounds.width, thumbBounds.height,
                        orientation);
        ss.getPainter().paintScrollBarThumbBorder(ss, g, thumbBounds.x,
                        thumbBounds.y, thumbBounds.width, thumbBounds.height,
                        orientation);
    }


(Incident Review ID: 254884) 
======================================================================
Posted Date : 2005-08-17 23:49:27.0

N/A

This RFE has already been taken care of internally. Some other components also need to support orientation (sliders, tabbed pane, etc.)
Posted Date : 2005-08-17 23:49:27.0

I have the same problem too. Itīs terrible... -> http://www.visualdrugs.net/synth/synth.jpg

Oh, I forgot: If you have an answer to that problem, please mail to sunbox at gmx dot net! Thx!