Linux and specifically Ubuntu is almost infinitely customizable, true to it’s GPL nature, it gives you full freedom to truly make your operating system yours. The graphic interface tools available on Ubuntu provide quite a fine grained ability to customize almost every facet of your graphical interface. However there are a few extra tweaks that can only be done by digging into the systems setting.

Edit the Metacity transparency of inactive windows

This trick involves editing Gcong values. Simple hit ALT+F2 and type:

gconf-editor

Which will start the Gconf editor application which contains most Gnome application settings. Navigate to /apps/gwd/, under the metacity_theme_opacity field you can edit the value that determines the window’s inactive title bar transparency, ranging from 0 which is full transparency to 1 which is full opacity

Edit/add/remove Metacity Buttons

Again this trick involves the Gconf editor, to launch the gconf editor; ALT-F2 and type

gconf-editor

Navigate to apps/metacity, under the button layout field you can alter the order of your window’s or buttons, add or remove them

Remove Gnome panel shadows

This trick requires the compiz config manager, to install it (if you haven’t already done so) open the terminal and copy the following command:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

After the installation is complete launch the Compiz setting manager (System >> Preference >> Compiz Config Settings Manager). Activate the the ‘windows decoration’ plugin, then open it’s setting and under the shadow windows field at the bottom enter:

(any) & !(class=Gnome-panel)

Which will remove the gnome panel shadow, perfect for those who wish to have a seamless visual integration between a 100% transparent panel and their wallpaper

Add vista like Blur to transparent Emerald window borders

Again this trick requires compiz, open you compiz config manager (see above for installation instruction). Activate the ‘Blur Windows’ plugin. Then enter the plugin’s settings and edit the blur to your preference. Note that this plugin requires extra graphics processing power, therefore you should only apply this effect on a reasonably powerful machine.

Tags: Configuration, Customization, Desktop, GTK Theme, GUI, Interface, Tweaks

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 at 1:27 pm and is filed under Tutorials. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.