[SOLVED] Transparent windows?

[ElWray]

I'm back

How can I make the windows look like this: http://kde-look.org/CONTENT/content-pre2/111035-2.jpg
Noticed that just playing around with the opacity doesn't get that same effect and text is pretty hard to read.
So, how can I get an effect like the one in the image above?

Thanks,
ElWray

[ubuntuku]

Re: Transparent windows?

These are my favourites: oxygen-transparent & QtCurve. IMHO QtCurve is the best KDE4 & Gtk2 theme for kubuntu.

[Yuri sss]

Re: Transparent windows?

How can I make the windows look like this: http://kde-look.org/CONTENT/content-pre2/111035-2.jpg
Noticed that just playing around with the opacity doesn't get that same effect and text is pretty hard to read.
So, how can I get an effect like the one in the image above?

All the windows in the screenshot above, except for the konsole window, are plasma widgets which have a transparent background by default with most plasma styles.
For Konsole, you can set a transparent background under Settings > Configure > Edit > Appearance tab > Edit, the select background transparency using the slider and click on OK.

For all apps, you can configure various transparency options under Systemsettings > Desktop Effects > All Effects, place a checkmark at "Translucency" and click on the wrench to configure options.

To set the transparency individually on a per-application basis, click on the icon on the very left of the window titlebar and select Advanced > Special Application Settings > Preferences tab. Choose the desired values for active and inactive transparency and click on OK.

IMHO QtCurve is the best KDE4 & Gtk2 theme for kubuntu.

Absolutely yes
You can get the latest version 1.52 from this repository :
https://launchpad.net/~falk-t-j/+archive/lucid

[ElWray]

Re: Transparent windows?

Yep, almost got it all working. And yes, I can make the terminal background and the window decorations transparent, but not the rest of the window background (I can only edit the color scheme there).
Is there a way I can modify that without losing font opacity as well?

P.S.: the updates for qtcurve and many others as well are being blocked. What can I do about this?

here's the output:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree    
Reading state information... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
 akonadi-server ark dolphin dragonplayer gwenview kamera kate kbluetooth kcalc kcm-gtk kcm-touchpad kde-window-manager kde-zeroconf kdebase-bin kdebase-data
 kdebase-runtime kdebase-workspace kdebase-workspace-bin kdebase-workspace-data kdebase-workspace-kgreet-plugins kdegraphics-strigi-plugins kdelibs-bin
 kdelibs5 kdelibs5-data kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdepasswd kdepimlibs5 kdm kfind khelpcenter4 klipper kmag kmix kmousetool konqueror konqueror-nsplugins
 konsole kopete kpackagekit kppp krosspython kscreensaver kscreensaver-xsavers ksnapshot ksysguard ksystemlog ktorrent ktorrent-data
 kubuntu-notification-helper kwalletmanager kwrite libakonadiprivate1 libattica0 libdbusmenu-qt2 libkcddb4 libkdcraw8 libkdecorations4 libkephal4 libkexiv2-8
 libkipi7 libkonq5 libkopete4 libkscreensaver5 libksgrd4 libksignalplotter4 libkworkspace4 libokularcore1 libphonon4 libplasma-geolocation-interface4
 libplasma3 libplasmagenericshell4 libqt4-dbus libqt4-designer libqt4-help libqt4-network libqt4-opengl libqt4-qt3support libqt4-script libqt4-scripttools
 libqt4-sql libqt4-sql-mysql libqt4-sql-sqlite libqt4-svg libqt4-test libqt4-webkit libqt4-xml libqt4-xmlpatterns libqtcore4 libqtgui4 libsolidcontrolifaces4
 libsoprano4 mplayerthumbs okular okular-extra-backends phonon phonon-backend-xine plasma-dataengines-addons plasma-dataengines-workspace plasma-desktop
 plasma-scriptengine-javascript plasma-widget-folderview plasma-widget-kimpanel plasma-widget-quickaccess plasma-widgets-addons plasma-widgets-workspace
 python-kde4 python-qt4 python-qt4-dbus soprano-daemon systemsettings
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 110 not upgraded.

Thanks,
ElWray

[kyonides]

Re: Transparent windows?

Just copy all of them and paste it after sudo apt-get install, that's all.

[skunk]

Re: Transparent windows?

try using sudo apt-get dist-upgrade instead

[kyonides]

Re: Transparent windows?

Are you sure? He could end up upgrading to Maverick instead.

[Snowhog]

Re: Transparent windows?

Are you sure? He could end up upgrading to Maverick instead.

'dist-upgrade' won't cause the OS to upgrade, only the installed packages.

[ElWray]

Re: Transparent windows?

Yeah, dist-upgrade worked but still, I got this neat little error in the end:

Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/libqt4-help_4%3a4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4_amd64.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Then tried again and..:

You might want to run `apt-get -f install' to correct these.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 libphonon4: Depends: libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta1+git20100522-0ubuntu1~lucid1~ppa1) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-designer: Depends: libqt4-xml (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
          Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-help: Depends: libqt4-sql (= 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1) but 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4 is installed
        Depends: libqtgui4 (= 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1) but 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4 is installed
 libqt4-opengl: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-qt3support: Depends: libqt4-network (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
           Depends: libqt4-xml (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
           Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-script: Depends: libqt4-dbus (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
         Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-scripttools: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-sql: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-sql-mysql: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-sql-sqlite: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-svg: Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqt4-xmlpatterns: Depends: libqt4-network (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
           Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqtgui4: Depends: libqt4-dbus (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
       Depends: libqtcore4 (= 4:4.7.0~beta2-0ubuntu3~lucid1~ppa4) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 libqtwebkit4: Depends: libqt4-network (>= 4:4.7.0~beta2) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
        Depends: libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta2) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 phonon-backend-xine: Depends: libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta1+git20100522-0ubuntu1~lucid1~ppa1) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
 python-qt4: Depends: libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.7.0~beta1+git20100522-0ubuntu1~lucid1~ppa1) but 4:4.6.3-0ubuntu1 is installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try using -f.

Then tried 'apt-get -f install' as suggested and I got the first error again

Edit: Fixed it. (sudo apt-get update, then -f install, then dist-upgrade again)

[ElWray]

Re: Transparent windows?

Sorry for double posting, but apparently the packages I installed are making my system unstable. How do I restore to the previous configuration?

Thx,
ElWray

[kapil]

Re: Transparent windows?

is there any standard procedure to install theme?
@ubuntuku: i loved the oxygen-transparent theme u suggested.
but i am not able to install it.

i downloaded the setup script from kde-look.
executed it.. and got:

kapil@kubu:~/Documents$ perl oxygen-setup.pl
--- oxygen easy setup script

--- checking out source code
cd /home/kapil/Documents
svn co svn://anonsvn.kde.org/home/kde/trunk/playground/artwork/oxygen-transparent
sh: svn: not found
system svn co svn://anonsvn.kde.org/home/kde/trunk/playground/artwork/oxygen-transparent>&1 failed: 32512

am i missing something simple?

thanks in advance..

[kyonides]

Re: Transparent windows?

If you still have the old packages for the older versions of your favorite apps, you could use dpkg to downgrade to the second latest version of all of them.

sudo dpkg -i old_of_your_favorite_app_package-number.number.deb

If it depends on other files (packaged nearly at the same time as the one you're trying to (re)install now), they'll get installed and thus would force the other packages to get uninstalled from your system.

[Yuri sss]

Re: Transparent windows?

is there any standard procedure to install theme?

Systemsettings > Workspace Appearance > Desktop Theme, click on "Get New Themes" in the lower right corner.

am i missing something simple?

You need to have svn installed.
You need to be connected to the internet so the script can download neccessary files.

[kapil]

Re: Transparent windows?

@yuri: thanks
there are many themes but none matches oxygen-transparent.
i wanted to install svn as u suggested but there are several options..

svn-autoreleasedeb svn-buildpackage svncviewer svn-devscripts svn-load svnmailer svn-workbench

which one do i install to install this theme?

[Rog131]

Re: Transparent windows?

Earlier > Topic: Customizing Kubuntu


The > oxygen-transparent is:

an official experimental branch of the KDE oxygen style, based on kde SC 4.5. It will be merged to official KDE (for the 4.6 release) as soon as the feature is stable enough.

it will:

erase your current oxygen installation

There is a script to the brave testers but you don't need to use it.


An installation example with the Kubuntu 10.4, KDE SC 4.4.2 (you do this at your own risk)

I have the development packages:
- build-essential
- kdelibs5-dev
- subversion (1)
- etc...

Getting the source:

svn co svn://anonsvn.kde.org/home/kde/trunk/playground/artwork/oxygen-transparent/

A oxygen-transparent/style
A oxygen-transparent/style/oxygenblurhelper.cpp
...
A oxygen-transparent/libs/CMakeLists.txt
A oxygen-transparent/CMakeLists.txt
Checked out revision 1155960.

Konsole in the oxygen-transparent-svn1155960:

mkdir -p builddir

cd builddir && cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr

-- The C compiler identification is GNU
-- The CXX compiler identification is GNU
...clip...
-- Configuring done
-- Generating done
-- Build files have been written to: .../oxygen-transparent-svn1155960/builddir

make

Scanning dependencies of target oxygenstyle_automoc
Generating oxygenanimation.moc
[ 0%] Built target oxygenstyle_automoc
...clip...
[100%] Building CXX object style/demo/CMakeFiles/oxygen-demo.dir/main.o
Linking CXX executable oxygen-demo
[100%] Built target oxygen-demo

Installing:

sudo make install

Log out - log in:
There is a new option - Background Opacity - with the Oxygen settings.
[img width=400 height=250]http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/9657/transparency.png[/img]


Back to the default Oxygen:
Reinstalling the
- kde-window-manager
- kdebase-runtime
- kdebase-runtime-bin-kde4
- kdebase-runtime-data

Reinstalled the following packages:
kde-window-manager (4:4.4.2-0ubuntu14)
kdebase-runtime (4:4.4.2-0ubuntu4.1)
kdebase-runtime-bin-kde4 (4:4.4.2-0ubuntu4.1)
kdebase-runtime-data (4:4.4.2-0ubuntu4.1)

(1) subversion

Advanced version control system

Subversion, also known as svn, is a version control system much like
the Concurrent Versions System (CVS). Version control systems allow
many individuals (who may be distributed geographically) to
collaborate on a set of files (typically source code). Subversion has
all the major features of CVS, plus certain new features that CVS
users often wish they had.

This package includes the Subversion client (svn), tools to create a
Subversion repository (svnadmin) and to make a repository available
over a network (svnserve).