Picom is a compositor for X11 forked from the aging compton compositor. I just created a nice usable configuration for mate usage.
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Disclaimer: This configuration works for my setup (intel CPU + Nvidia GTX 1060), it could generate crashes or glitches with different GPUs.
There are still some issues that I wasn't able to fix:
- There's a blurred background on the animation when you click on an icon launcher on the panel. I can't find a way to make a rule to exclude it.
Installing picom
From the terminal
sudo pkg install picom
Or using Software Station
Picom configuration
Save this as ~/.config/picom.conf
# Backend
backend = "glx";
glx-no-stencil = true;
glx-copy-from-front = false;
glx-no-rebind-pixmap = true;
vsync = true;
# Options
detect-rounded-corners = true;
detect-client-opacity = true;
detect-transient = true;
detect-client-leader = true;
unredir-if-possible = true;
# Fading
fading = true;
fade-delta = 5;
# Shadows
shadow = true;
shadow-radius = 16;
shadow-offset-x = -16;
shadow-offset-y = -12;
shadow-opacity = 0.8;
# Blur transparency
blur:
{
method = "gaussian";
size = 10;
deviation = 5.0;
};
# Rules
rules: (
# Make unfocused windows translucent
{ match = "!focused || !group_focused"
opacity-override = true;
opacity = 0.9; },
# I like notifications to be translucent and with shadow
{ match = "window_type = 'notification'"
opacity = 0.9;
full-shadow = true; },
# Menus must always be opaque and without shadow
{ match = "window_type = 'menu'"
opacity = 1;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
{ match = "window_type = 'dropdown_menu'"
opacity = 1;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
{ match = "window_type = 'popup_menu'"
opacity = 1;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
{ match = "window_type = 'combo'"
opacity = 1;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
# Fix background for Drag'n'dropped icons
{ match = "window_type = 'dnd'"
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
# Workaround for tooltips with double shadows
{ match = "window_type = 'tooltip'"
opacity = 1;
focus = true;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false;
full-shadow = true; },
# Don't draw shadows and blur on CSD windows
{ match = "_GTK_FRAME_EXTENTS";
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
# Workaround for Firefox tooltips
{ match = "window_type = 'utility'"
opacity = 1;
blur-background = false;
shadow = false; },
)
Starting picom
- Disable the default WM compositor by unchecking the corresponding flag from: Control center->Windows
- Try it launching picom from the terminal
If everything works, then you can set it to start at login.
- Got to Control center->Startup applications
- Add:
- Name: picom
- Command: picom