Bug 509287

Summary:	Make a see-through effect for windows for when a rubberband selection is underneath them
Product:	[Plasma] kwin	Reporter:	Fernando M. Muniz <fernandommuniz>
Component:	effects-window-management	Assignee:	KWin default assignee <kwin-bugs-null>
Status:	REPORTED ---
Severity:	wishlist	CC:	kde, nate
Priority:	NOR	Keywords:	accessibility, usability
Version First Reported In:	6.4.5
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Arch Linux
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:
Attachments:	Concept Art. Concept Art

Description Fernando M. Muniz 2025-09-09 01:21:24 UTC

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
Select items on the desktop/dolphin folder with other windows in the way with the rubberband selection.

OBSERVED RESULT
The windows are in the way; you can't figure out if you selected exactly what you wanted right away.

EXPECTED RESULT
The rubberband selection should cause the part of the windows that are over the rubberband selection to become see-through/X-ray/transparent; allowing you to select items with precision without having to ever minimize your windows, which can be an annoyance.

SOFTWARE/OS VERSIONS
Operating System: Arch Linux 
KDE Plasma Version: 6.4.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.17.0
Qt Version: 6.9.2
Kernel Version: 6.16.4-arch1-1 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
Processors: 8 × 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-11300H @ 3.10GHz
Memory: 9 GB of RAM (8.1 GB usable)
Graphics Processor 1: Mesa Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
Graphics Processor 2: llvmpipe
Manufacturer: LENOVO
Product Name: 82MG
System Version: IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Obviously it won't work when windows are maximized.

Comment 1 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-09-09 08:49:20 UTC

Created attachment 184836 [details]
Concept Art.

Comment 2 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-09-09 09:44:52 UTC

Created attachment 184838 [details]
Concept Art

Comment 3 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-09-11 23:41:05 UTC

I might add that this would be very useful for any window you constantly drag items into, like Dolphin.

Unless "being able to move rubberband selections underneath windows" is the actual bug.

Comment 4 Fernando M. Muniz 2025-09-13 14:03:42 UTC

It would also work to auto-hide all windows the moment the rubberband selection starts, but it might be confusing if it's implemented like that.

Comment 5 Nate Graham 2025-09-17 16:13:14 UTC

This is an interesting idea. I'm not sure how feasible it is to implement, or how well it would be received if we did it. But it's certainly a novel idea for how to improve this use case.