FULL PRODUCT VERSION : java version "1.6.0-rc" Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-rc-b97) Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.6.0-rc-b97, mixed mode, sharing) ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION : Gentoo Linux 2.6.17 A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM : The SynthTableHeaderUI.HeaderRenderer class checks in its setBorder() method whether the border in question is an instance of SynthBorder. This might seem reasonable for a Synth component, but for normal JComponents using Synth L&F you can still set a not-Synth Border. I came across this situation using Synth with Swinglabs components (JXTable). The JXTable creates a CompountBorder with the original SynthBorder as the outer border and a SwingLabs IconBorder as its innerborder. This IconBorder contains the table sorting order icon. However the CompountBorder is never set because the HeaderRenderer ignores it. Might I stipulate that the root cause of this situation is easily located in the JDK's source code (it is only a single line of code causing these problems) As for jdk 1.6.0-b97 in SynthTableHeaderUI.java line 171 causes the problem: 170 public void setBorder(Border border) { 171 if (border instanceof SynthBorder) { 172 super.setBorder(border); 173 } 174 } The check for instanceof SynthBorder is undesired. STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM : Create a JFrame with a JXTable using a Synth based L&F. Attached is a test case with a accompaning synth style document in XML. This testcase however depends on the SwingX components of the Swinglabs project. EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR : EXPECTED - JXTable sorting icons are visible. ACTUAL - JXTable sorting icons are invisible. REPRODUCIBILITY : This bug can be reproduced always. ---------- BEGIN SOURCE ---------- Attached seperatly ---------- END SOURCE ---------- CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND : This could be prevented if the SynthTableHeaderUI.HeaderRenderer class would no longer check wether the border is a SynthBorder instance.