Bug 168517

Summary: Wish: option to show plasmoid background on mouseover only
Product: [Unmaintained] plasma4 Reporter: Tomas Mecir <mecirt>
Component: generalAssignee: Plasma Bugs List <plasma-bugs-null>
Status: RESOLVED DOWNSTREAM    
Severity: wishlist    
Priority: NOR    
Version First Reported In: unspecified   
Target Milestone: ---   
Platform: openSUSE   
OS: Linux   
Latest Commit: Version Fixed/Implemented In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description Tomas Mecir 2008-08-06 14:26:00 UTC 
Version:            (using KDE 4.1.0)
Installed from:    SuSE RPMs

Problem: I have added several plasmoids of a different type to the desktop - folderview, clock, calculator, and such. Functionality is good, however, it looks rather odd, as each of these plasmoids has a background with different transparency level. Adjusting them all to have the same alpha value would likely help somewhat, but the backgrounds just don't "fit in", especially with a desktop wallpaper in the background.

I understand that an option to disable the backgrounds altogether is problematic due to the user then not seeing which plasmoid has focus, but I believe that my idea would resolve this issue.

So, the idea itself: add a configuration option (or even make it the default) where the plasmoids would paint their translucent backgrounds only if the mouse cursor is currently positioned over them (or if the plasmoid has focus due to some other event, not sure if that can happen).

This would imho help reduce the visual clutter on the desktop, clearly show the user which of the plasmoids has focus, while also preserving the ability to have a desktop wallpaper that's not hidden behind a set of partially transparent rectangles.
Comment 1 Nate Graham 2018-06-08 20:35:08 UTC 
Hello!

This feature request was filed for KDE Plasma 4, which reached end-of-support status in August 2015. KDE Plasma 5's desktop shell has been almost completely rewritten for better performance and usability, so it is likely that this feature request is already implemented in Plasma 5, or is no longer applicable.

Accordingly, we hope you understand why we must close this feature request. If the requested feature is still desired but not implemented in KDE Plasma 5.12 or later, please feel free to open a new ticket in the "plasmashell" product after reading https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved/Bug_Reporting

If you would like to get involved in KDE's bug triaging effort so that future mass bug closes like this are less likely, please read https://community.kde.org/Get_Involved#Bug_Triaging

Thanks for your understanding!

Nate Graham