How To Get A Transparent Panel In 10.04

[Jakiejake]

This is for the Ambiance Theme (Default for 10.04)
Here's How To Make It transparent
Run This In Terminal

gksu gedit /usr/share/themes/Ambiance/gtk-2.0/gtkrc
If it asks for your password, enter it!
You should get a gedit window like this
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/702/screenshotgtkrcusrshare.png
Now search for this line

bg_pixmap[NORMAL] = "panel_bg.png"
Once You Have Found it insert a hash (#) in front of it
It should look like this now

#bg_pixmap[NORMAL] = "panel_bg.png"
Now save and close
Log Out And Log Back In
Now you can set it as transparent
http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/9380/screenshotpanelproperti.png
Enjoy!
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7829/screenshotya.png

[ubunterooster]

Cool! Thanks.

[gingivere0]

This is cool, but how would I do it with the Tropical theme? Thanks for showing how to make it transparent, I've been trying for a while. :D

[bigsmitty64]

Thanks! Now, to get rid of that pesky leftover shadow? :(

[nilarimogard]

There's also a script (http://www.webupd8.org/2010/05/script-to-fix-panel-for-all-themes-at.html) that fixes the GNOME panel background for most of the themes at once. "Most" because it doesn't work for all due to some themes not having the panel declared as bg_pixmap[NORMAL].

[Jakiejake]

Glad I could help
I found it on a blog a day or so ago
I just changed the code command a bit to make it easier and posted it on here!

[mcduck]

Thanks! Now, to get rid of that pesky leftover shadow? :(

The shadow isn't created by the panel, or your GTK theme, it's made by Compiz just like all the other window shadows you have.

So, to remove it, you need yo edit your Compiz settings. To do that install CompizConfig Settings Manager (if you haven't got it already), browse to "Window Decoration"-plugin's settings and change the "Shadow windows"-field from "any" to "!(class=Gnome-panel)"

[celldweller1591]

Good one there :)
One can also try RGBA transparency effect in ubuntu to make Drop down menus and window borders look transparent to your choice.

[ubunterooster]

Good one there :)
One can also try RGBA transparency effect in ubuntu to make Drop down menus and window borders look transparent to your choice.
Please elaborate.

[steveneddy]

To make the panel and the menu's TRULY transparent:


## make gnome bar true transparent


if you are using compiz (desktop effects), you can add true transparency.
go to System->Prefs->compizconfig settings manager
Click on Opacity, Brightness and saturation under the Accessibility options settings, and add the following entry at bottom of the list:
Opacity windows: type=dock
Opacity windows values: 80 (adjust this to your like)

if you dont have the Compizconfig Settings manager, just install it:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

this will make entire panel transparent

If it is truly transparent you can see the windows behind it when you move a window behind it. The way described in the original post is pseudo transparency.

EDIT:

TO make the menus transparent, add a line and in the field add:


Tooltip | Menu | PopupMenu | DropdownMenu

and start with a transparency number of 80 and tweak from there to taste.

[bigsmitty64]

edit your Compiz settings. To do that install CompizConfig Settings Manager ,change the "Shadow windows"-field from "any" to "!(class=Gnome-panel)"

nice! (I Had ccsm already)

[celldweller1591]

Please elaborate.see this page (http://www.webupd8.org/2010/05/enable-rgba-transparency-in-ubuntu-910.html) fore details .. can write that much ATM :D

[ubunterooster]

Another fun project to do, thanks. :D

[gingivere0]

steveneddy I found that using both yours and the OP's methods because yours offers true transparency, but it also lowers the color quality on the icons in the panel. Jakiejake's method keeps the color quality in the panel, but it doesn't interfere with the true transparency that you suggested. Thanks for showing me how to make my panels look better

[celldweller1591]

i just tested it if it works and then removed it coz it caused screen flickers @ /1024*768 res or higher, 60hz, intel dual core(2.0 GHz) 2gb ram and 128 mb Vram. Thats why i swicthed it off.