FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.7.0-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.7.0-ea-b121)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 20.0-b03, mixed mode)

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
The text position for selected tabs is different to Java 5/6. On Java 5/6 the selected text is raised by default (2 pixels, compared to unselected tab text). Please find a simple test case below.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Execute test case with Java 5/6/7 and compare the screens.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The selected tab (red)  should be raised 2 pixels.
ACTUAL -
The selected tab isn't raised.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
package test.synth;

import java.awt.Dimension;
import java.awt.EventQueue;
import java.io.ByteArrayInputStream;
import java.io.InputStream;

import javax.swing.JFrame;
import javax.swing.JLabel;
import javax.swing.JTabbedPane;
import javax.swing.UIManager;
import javax.swing.plaf.synth.SynthLookAndFeel;

public class SynthTabbedPaneTest extends JFrame
{
  private static String synthXml = "<synth>" +
  "  <style id=\"all\">" +
  "    <font name=\"Dialog\" size=\"12\"/>" +
  "  </style>" +
  "  <bind style=\"all\" type=\"REGION\" key=\".*\"/>" +
  "  <style id=\"tabbedPaneTab\">" +
  "    <state>" +
  "      <color type=\"TEXT_FOREGROUND\" value=\"#800000\"/>" +
  "    </state>" +
  "    <state value=\"SELECTED\">" +
  "      <color type=\"TEXT_FOREGROUND\" value=\"#FF0000\"/>" +
  "    </state>" +
  "  </style>" +
  "  <bind style=\"tabbedPaneTab\" type=\"region\" key=\"TabbedPaneTab\"/>" +
  "</synth>";
  
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    EventQueue.invokeLater(new Runnable(){
      public void run()
      {
        try
        {
          new SynthTabbedPaneTest();
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
          e.printStackTrace();
        }
      }
    });
  }

  public SynthTabbedPaneTest() throws Exception
  {
    InputStream is = new ByteArrayInputStream(synthXml.getBytes("UTF8"));
    SynthLookAndFeel laf = new SynthLookAndFeel();
    laf.load(is, SynthTabbedPaneTest.class);
    UIManager.setLookAndFeel(laf);

    JTabbedPane tabPane = new JTabbedPane();
    tabPane.addTab("Tab 1", new JLabel("Tab 1"));
    tabPane.addTab("Tab 2", new JLabel("Tab 2"));
    tabPane.addTab("Tab 3", new JLabel("Tab 3"));
    
    add(tabPane);
    
    setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
    setSize(new Dimension(600, 300));
    setLocationRelativeTo(null);
    setVisible(true);
  }
}  


---------- END SOURCE ----------