Distribution: Kubuntu 10.10
KDE Version: 4.5.5

Hi.

Is there a way to make the KDE 4 panel translucent, like we were able to in KDE 3? I used to make mine translucent and organize all my components to the right side so they show up grouped together. I'd like to be able to do the same with KDE 4. I do like the look of the current panel, but it'd be nice to have choices.

I looked at the "Panel Options" but did not find any item that let me set the panel transparency.

Thanks!

The transparency depends on the desktop theme. The default theme (Air) has a transparent panel. You can change the theme of the panel alone in System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Details.

Note that you need composite (desktop effects) in order to get transparency.

Hans wrote:The transparency depends on the desktop theme. The default theme (Air) has a transparent panel. You can change the theme of the panel alone in System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Details.

Note that you need composite (desktop effects) in order to get transparency.

Thanks for the response.

I went to Details as directed and looked at the options there. They do have individual options for components including the Panel Background, but the selections under there only include items like "Air Panel Background" and "Oxygen Panel Background," none of which enables transparency for the panel itself. I also looked at "Translucent Background," but it is already set as "Air Translucent Background."

I do have Desktop Effects enabled. Are there specific components inside Desktop Effects that needs to be enabled?

Thanks again!

daihard wrote:

Hans wrote:The transparency depends on the desktop theme. The default theme (Air) has a transparent panel. You can change the theme of the panel alone in System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Details.

Note that you need composite (desktop effects) in order to get transparency.

Thanks for the response.

I went to Details as directed and looked at the options there. They do have individual options for components including the Panel Background, but the selections under there only include items like "Air Panel Background" and "Oxygen Panel Background," none of which enables transparency for the panel itself. I also looked at "Translucent Background," but it is already set as "Air Translucent Background."

I do have Desktop Effects enabled. Are there specific components inside Desktop Effects that needs to be enabled?

Thanks again!

The Air theme does have a semi-translucent panel, which may be inconspicuous with some backgrounds. But if you put a window under the panel, you may see it. If you still don't see it, there must be something wrong with the desktop effects, e.g., your graphics driver is not correctly installed.

"Translucency" needs to be enabled in desktop effects.

Hans wrote:The transparency depends on the desktop theme. The default theme (Air) has a transparent panel. You can change the theme of the panel alone in System Settings -> Workspace Appearance -> Desktop Theme -> Details.

Note that you need composite (desktop effects) in order to get transparency.

I have a couple of questions.

1. Why is it now impossible to customize the theme in Plasma 5.x by selecting elements from different themes?
2. How can you get the translucent panel? I didn't manage to do it on any new installations, however on older ones which were upgraded from the KDE 4.x times, my panel remains translucent, and I think it's caused by fiddling with mixing themes. Where exactly is this setting stored in config files? I can try doing it manually.

OK, I managed to do it, analyzing my current configuration vs freshly installed / new user configuration. That's how you can get a translucent panel (and there is no need to disable anything like Blur and Background Contrast for that). My current graphics: Intel Broadwell with Mesa.

Create such files:

Code: Select all

$HOME/.local/share/plasma/desktoptheme/.customized/metadata.desktop

with content:

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Comment=User customized theme
Name=(Customized)
X-KDE-PluginInfo-Name=.customized

Code: Select all

$HOME/.local/share/plasma/desktoptheme/.customized/settings

with content (specify any other name instead of breeze-dark if you are using that):

Code: Select all

baseTheme=breeze-dark
Translucent Background=breeze-dark
Widget Background=breeze-dark
Analog Clock=breeze-dark
Dialog Background=breeze-dark
Tooltip=breeze-dark
Notes=breeze-dark
Run Command Dialog=breeze-dark
Pager=breeze-dark
Icons=breeze-dark
Shutdown Dialog=breeze-dark
Panel Background=breeze-dark
Color Scheme=breeze-dark
Task Items=breeze-dark
Kickoff=breeze-dark


Now go in System Settings > Workspace Theme > Desktop Theme, and select "Customized" there.

That's it. The translucency of the panel should start working and a lot of other widgets start looking much better as well by gaining some translucency. Really weird if you ask me. I'll probably open a bug about it. I suspect Translucent Background=... setting is somehow affecting it all.