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[[Category:LinuxUbuntu]][[CagtegoryCategory:UbuntuLinux]]
= Setting Visual Effects =
The desktop effects with Windows Vista ('''Aero''' interface) are neat, but they in no way compare to the desktop effects with Linux ('''Compiz Fusion''' extension). There is another interesting fact: those desktop effects in Linux have already been used for many years (at least for 7 or more years)! Another <u>advantage</u> of open source software development offering the newest and "coolest" effects... The ability to use special desktop effects in any operating system depends on your hardware, particularly, your graphics card. Therefore, if you cannot setup the coolest desktop effect, you have an older graphics card...
To turn on special desktop effectsin Ubuntu, select '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> APPEARANCE''' , then select the '''Visual Effects''' tab.
There are three settings:
Select "'''Extra''' " if you want the best desktop effects. If there is a problem, the system will notify you that you can't choose Extra, and will remain with the previous selection.
= Make Panels Transparent =
# Close the dialog box.
# Check to see that the "'''Wobbly Windows'''" feature is removed by moving an application window.
<u>Here are some other Recommended Desktop Settings (Under CompizConfig Settings Manager):</u>
* Under "'''Desktop'''" Section:
** Select "Desktop Cube"
** Select "Rotate Cube"
* Under "'''Effects'''" Section:
** Select "3D Windows"
** Select "Cube Reflection and Deformation"
Then close the CompizConfig Settings Manager dialog box...
= Using Desktop Effects =
= Make Application Window Titlebar Look Like Vista =
Sometimes I "*catch flack" * by making suggestions to have Linux Desktop appear or act like MS Windows. From my point of view, this just comes from curiosity and seeing if I can create an environment that looks similar - or delightfully different from MS Windows.
There is an application (or Compiz-Fusion plugin or "engine") that you can use on your Linux system called "'''Emerald'''". This plugin provides a full package of window decoration themes, including '''transparent window titlebars ''' and '''glowing (pulsating) window buttons'''.
In the future, the Emerald window decoarator plugin may be included in the default Ubuntu install. I am referring to my current distribution of Ubuntu (9.04) and it requires that you install this plugin.
<u>Steps to install Emerald Windows Decorator Engine:</u> # Click '''SYSTEM -> ADMINISTRATION -> Synaptic Package Manager'''.
# Enter your user password to confirm you are the administrator.
# In the Synaptic Package Manager dialog box, click on the '''Search ''' button.# Type in the text: '''Emerald ''' - the package should appear in the application window.
# Click on the check box that appears to the left of that application to select that application for download and install. A content menu will appear.
# Select the menu item called "'''Mark for Installation'''". There may be an additional window indicating other software applications that need to be installed as well - just click on the "'''Mark'''" button.# Click on the "'''Apply'''" button. In a few moments, that application will automatically be downloaded and installed on your system.
# When completed, close the Synaptic Package Manager application window.
Now that the Emerald Plugin has been installed, you can now run the "Emerald Theme Manager" to set your Window Decorations. For an example, we will be setting the theme "vrunner" (a transparent theme), changing the titlebar colors, and setting the windows buttons to "glow".
<u>Steps to Make Settings in the Emerald Theme Manager:</u>
# Click '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> Emerald Theme Manager'''.
# The '''"Emerald Themer'''" dialog box will appear. You will note that the "''Emerald Themer''" dialog box contains a heirarchy of tabs. The top level tab called "'''Theme Settings'''" and the sub-tab called "'''Themes'''" should be active.
# Click on the sub-tab "'''Edit Themes'''". Under "''Edit Themes''", the sub-tab "'''Frame Engine'''" should be active.
# Click on "'''Select Engine'''" list box. There are many different versions: for our example, select "'''vrunner'''".
# You can now select different colors for the left/middle/right portion of the Window titlebar. Try selecting some different colors (to suit your taste).
# You can also change the '''Opacity''' (in very loose terms: "the level of transparency") for each of the left/middle/right portions of the window titlebar.
# After you have made your selections, click on the "'''Buttons'''" sub-tab and click to select the options "'''Use Button Halo/Glow'''" and "'''Use Button Halo/Glow For Inactive Windows'''".
# Click on the '''Titlebar''' sub-tab. On the right-side under the Section "''Titlebar''" click on the section "'''Title-Text Font'''", and select a larger font size.<br /><br />'''NOTE: The reason why you size font size in this dialog box, is that when setting the font size when using SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> APPEARANCE won't work when using the Emerald window decorator plugin... (at least as far as I can tell)'''<br /><br />
# When you have made your selections, then click the "'''SAVE'''" button at the bottom, and then click "'''QUIT'''"
After performing these steps, you will not see a change in the appearance of your application windows. This may change in future Ubuntu distributions, but to change the appearance, you need to run the command: '''emerald --replace'''
Of course, this is silly having to do this each and every time you login to your desktop environment, so here is a trick:
<u>
Steps to Automatically Run Emerald upon Linux Graphical Login:</u>
# Click '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> Startup Applications'''.
# The "'''Startup Applications Preferences'''" dialog box will appear.
# Click the "'''Add'''" button. The "'''Add Startup Program'''" dialog box will appear.
# Give the program a name like: Emerald Plugin
# Under the '''Command''' textbox, type: '''emerald --replace'''
# Then click the "'''Add'''" button. Your additional program called "''Emerald Plugin''" will now be run whenever you login to your Linux graphical environment.
# Close the "'''Startup Applications Preferences'''" dialog box .
# To have the settings take effect, '''either reboot your system, or at least logout and login back into your Linux graphical environment'''.
You can play-around and search the Internet for additional Emerald engines to use...
Have fun experimenting!
Murray Saul
