and name it ".gtkrc-2.0", then reboot xfce, suddenly the desktop looks amazing ...

Cheers
Dave
# this file should be placed in your home folder
# and name ".gtkrc-2.0"
style "xfdesktop-icon-view" {
#---------------------------------------------------------------
# Section "icon background and spacing"
#---------------------------------------------------------------
XfdesktopIconView::label-alpha = 0
XfdesktopIconVIew::cell-spacing = 1.5
XfdesktopIconView::cell-padding = 1.5
XfdesktopIconView::cell-text-width-proportion = 2
#---------------------------------------------------------------
# Section "icon font colors"
#---------------------------------------------------------------
fg[NORMAL] = "#ffffff"
fg[SELECTED] = "#ffffff"
fg[ACTIVE] = "#ffffff"
}
widget_class "*XfdesktopIconView*" style "xfdesktop-icon-view"