Crystal

KDE 3.x Window Decorations

Source (link to git-repo or to original if based on someone elses unmodified work): Add the source-code for this project on opencode.net

9
5.7
Description:

Crystal is a kwin window decoration theme, which offers you (pseudo) TRANSPARENT titlebar, buttons and borders. Check out my screenshots! It also has some little usuability enhancements.


Main features:
* The style grabs your wallpaper and uses it as the deco background. It has several blending modes, i.e. it can fade the background into the defined title bar color, or it can brighten or darken the wallpaper, as well as blur the source image to simulate glass.
* Choose the blending color of the buttons.
* You can define the title bar height and border size of the windows.
* Right click on minimize button toggles shade mode.
* Middle click on minimize button sends window to below.
* Double click on program symbol closes window.
* Support for button themes. Basic button theme is included, feel free to swamp me with cool themes.
* Can show a tooltip of the caption
* Mouse-wheel on the title bar to 'scroll' to all opened windows of the same desktop.
* If kdocker is installed (http://kdocker.sf.net), right click on close button will send the window to the systemtray.


Disadvantages:
- Crystal needs KDE >=3.2 and QT>=3.2.
- May be very slow and memory consuming
- Don't forget to breathe, while drooling.


-- INSTALL ---------------------
Basic Installation (from the console):
- Step 1
$ ./configure
OR: $ ./configure --prefix=`kde-config --prefix`
- Step 2
$ make
- Step 3 (as root)
# make install

If you installed crystal while it was running, you need to restart kwin to use the updated version: kwin --replace
--------------------------------


Crystal in common distributions:
- Kubuntu: Crystal is the default decoration since 6.06
- Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install kwin-style-crystal
- Gentoo: emerge -a x11-themes/crystal
- Fedora: yum install crystal
- Debian: apt-get install kwin-style-crystal
- openSUSE: install from repository http://software.opensuse.org/download/KDE:/Community/openSUSE_10.2
- FreeBSD: Port x11-themes/kde-windeco-crystal
- Mandriva: urpmi kwin-style-crystal


For KDE 4.x port see:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/crystal?content=75140

Source can also be found on GitHub:
https://github.com/shlusiak/kwin-style-crystal/tree/KDE-3.5


Regards,
Sascha Hlusiak
Last changelog:

12 years ago

1.0.7:
* Added Kubuntu button theme (thanks to Kubuntu team)
* Do not draw shadowed captions of inactive windows so it's easier to read
* Nicer defaults

1.0.6:
* Probably fixed linking of kdecore on some platforms
* Don't hide borders when in half maximized state. Fixes glitch when restoring a half maximized window.

1.0.5:
* Fixed linking of needed libraries like Qt in rare cases
* Fixed crash in "cycle tasks with wheel" in Compiz/Aquamarine. Use KDE setting when running in compiz.
* Set default of "cycle tasks with wheel" to off
* Showing version in preview


1.0.4:
* Fixed bug of not clipping when window is not visible (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kwin-style-crystal/+bug/82870)
* Integration of kdocker: Right click on close button to run kdocker for that window to minimize it to the system tray. kdocker needs to be installed (http://kdocker.sf.net)
* Menu button is finally themeable. Added menu button images to button themes, where possible


1.0.3:
* Added option to suppress drawing of caption
* Added the two more overlays "glass" and "steel"
* Merged the beautiful Kubuntu Feisty button theme


1.0.2:
* Added Kubuntu-Edgy button theme
* Doubleclick is recognized on whole window frame
* Possibly slight speedup in rendering overlay


1.0.1:
* Added sweet Kubuntu button theme
* Fixed button misplacement when returning from fullscreen mode


1.0.0:
* Added raised/sunken mode to inline and outline frame
* Minor fix for outline frame with Vista buttons
* Configdialog changes/fixes
* Option to _completely_ disable all transparency code, for more speed
* You can separately define the color of the minimize and maximize button now
* Yeah, I think, it's worth the 1.0.0 now!

541 comments
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ajaykumarns

14 years ago

ok found out how to change the buttons :) pretty good!!! thanks!!!

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n00blinuxuser

14 years ago

Hi!
I saw a reply to the crystal window decoration. Even I am facing the problem which you faced. Could you please tell me how to correct it and get that Vista look.

Thanks in advance.

Bye!

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ajaykumarns

14 years ago

HI,
i installed your window decoration on suse 10 with kde 3.4.2 , Crystal works fine except that the buttons on the title bar seem to be kde's oldest theme's button. Let's say it does not have the vista look . Is there anyway i can change the buttons? (close,maximize etc..) or is this the incompatibility issue you were warning about ???
http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3572/crystalvi3.jpg

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lazyboy

14 years ago

very nice!!! but i was wondering how i can remove the button "show on all desktops" at the left.. Is it possible? how? thx

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apt-drink

14 years ago

Hi, the 64 bit debian package is dead :( Any other link or way to get it?

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jaimef

14 years ago

Hi,

Just wondering where you got the transparent PNG overlay from for the "Vista Aero" effect?

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

That's no overlay at all, just transparency with some "background blur".

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jaimef

14 years ago

I've tried lots of different combinations but can't seem to replicate the effect.

What settings do you use to get this?

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Don't know anymore, I've set up this only for demonstration.
Deactivate overlay, use white color for the title bars, set fade to 40% and blur to 2 or 3. Should give a similar effect...

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lithium-

14 years ago

I am using the vista button theme and wonder why there is a spacing of about 4 pixel between the close and the maximize button.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=17357&d=1160588990

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Because it is setted up like this. You can remove the button spacing in the window decorations window in the buttons tab, where you can add, remove or reorder the buttons of the titlebar.

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lithium-

14 years ago

Thanks! I didn't know that it is possible to add spacers manually.

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dummy_double

14 years ago

Hi a amassing window decorator... I like the ubuntu edgy butons.
I have make the inactive window black and the active "simple lighting" and it's really good looking.

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angrykeyboarder

14 years ago

Unlike most Linux users, I don't make a habit of bashing Microsoft. In fact at the time of this writing, I'm also running Vista RC1.

But I can't help but find it odd that you have a wallpaper on your KDE desktop that says "Windows Vista".

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darkphoenixff4

14 years ago

I suspect it's because he's showing off the Vista-style buttons ;)

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angrykeyboarder

14 years ago

I'd imagine so. But it's still odd. :-)

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vicaya

14 years ago

How do you get the gradient transparent title bar as in example 3?

Great work BTW, Thanks!

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

Aktivate in the "Overlay Tab" the simple lighting.

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vicaya

14 years ago

Wow, great support too.

I'm impressed!

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jdunn

14 years ago

I installed Kubuntu 6.06 and can't get transparency enabled in the default crystal window deco.

I check the "enable transparency" checkbox in System Settings>Appearance>Window Decorations(Crystal)>Background and it has no effect. Tried rebooting and still no effect.

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jdunn

14 years ago

Never Mind. I had to change the fade amount.

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mobtek

14 years ago

This is too slow to be really usable, looks great but everytime I change a desktop the cpu use goes through the roof while it busily redraws all the transparent window decorations.
This is on a P4 2.8 with 1gb of ram.

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

That's because you have "track desktop changes" activated in crystal.

The deco has to keep a modified copy of the wallpaper to be able to draw the titlebar so fast. When you change the desktop and have another wallpaper it has to regenerate the copy which takes time. :( If you don't need the "track desktop changes" option, try deactivate it.

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mobtek

14 years ago

Incorrect, track desktop changes is unticked.

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C

dralgebra

14 years ago

I don't know what is causing the recreation of the wallpaper image in crystal. Do you have different wallpapers set? Or maybe another program handling the desktop?

The rendering of the decoration is really fast when the wallpaper is acquired.

Report

12 years ago

1.0.7:
* Added Kubuntu button theme (thanks to Kubuntu team)
* Do not draw shadowed captions of inactive windows so it's easier to read
* Nicer defaults

1.0.6:
* Probably fixed linking of kdecore on some platforms
* Don't hide borders when in half maximized state. Fixes glitch when restoring a half maximized window.

1.0.5:
* Fixed linking of needed libraries like Qt in rare cases
* Fixed crash in "cycle tasks with wheel" in Compiz/Aquamarine. Use KDE setting when running in compiz.
* Set default of "cycle tasks with wheel" to off
* Showing version in preview


1.0.4:
* Fixed bug of not clipping when window is not visible (https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kwin-style-crystal/+bug/82870)
* Integration of kdocker: Right click on close button to run kdocker for that window to minimize it to the system tray. kdocker needs to be installed (http://kdocker.sf.net)
* Menu button is finally themeable. Added menu button images to button themes, where possible


1.0.3:
* Added option to suppress drawing of caption
* Added the two more overlays "glass" and "steel"
* Merged the beautiful Kubuntu Feisty button theme


1.0.2:
* Added Kubuntu-Edgy button theme
* Doubleclick is recognized on whole window frame
* Possibly slight speedup in rendering overlay


1.0.1:
* Added sweet Kubuntu button theme
* Fixed button misplacement when returning from fullscreen mode


1.0.0:
* Added raised/sunken mode to inline and outline frame
* Minor fix for outline frame with Vista buttons
* Configdialog changes/fixes
* Option to _completely_ disable all transparency code, for more speed
* You can separately define the color of the minimize and maximize button now
* Yeah, I think, it's worth the 1.0.0 now!

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updated Feb 01 2009
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