Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

bmzollinhofer · Apr 24, 2005, 03:37 PM

I know that the way to get a window to look transparent is to use windowshade, but is there anyway to make the background windows transparent, and the foreground regular? Did I just just miss this setting in windowshade, or is it not possible. Is there any way to do this in SS or are there any thoughts of putting it in a new version?

Thanks

TheZee · Apr 24, 2005, 03:55 PM

As far as I know making the Finder windows transparent not possible. I hate to use that term because I beleive anything is possible if one simply continues to work on the challenge until something clicks and it works.

After all
"it's not that I am so intelligent.
It's just that I stay with problems longer."
-Einstein

The issue has to do with the font color used by the system. If the windows are made to be transparent then the fonts would get lost in the desktop picture you have or the other graphical items one has on his/her desktop I would think. Thats why WindowShade makes a window in the background transparent and not in the foreground. I know there are many of us who would like to find a resolution to this issue but as of late, nada. Peace out . . .

Fusion · Apr 25, 2005, 10:11 AM

WindowshadeX can make any window transparent.

WindowshadeX knows when a window is innactive or active (think shadow settings)

WindowshadeX should have the option to make all background windows a certain level of transparency, but it does not!

I have emailed Unsanity about this feature awhile ago and I received the typical PR response of "thanks for that, we'll be sure to consider it for future releases."

It's a bummer, because it really would be an awesome feature.

TheZee · Apr 25, 2005, 07:50 PM

I do concur my Mac brother. Peace out.

slava · Apr 26, 2005, 02:48 AM

In fact, we did listened and that feature is in our task tracker as #WSX-229. You can quote this ID in correspondence with me (or us) to see how it's doing.

Currently it's staged at our 4.0 release which is still a month+ away from being complete. We will be releasing a minor Tiger update to WSX before then, but it won't have any serious new features.

You suggest, we listen.

Fusion · Apr 26, 2005, 03:33 AM

Slava,

WOW! Thank you!

My sarcastic comment wasn't particularly directed at Unsantiy, but I know that a company such as yours with so many successful products must get a ton of "feature request" emails and it's always a balance to be appreciative of the input but stay on course with the apps mission. I really appreciate the feedback!

About the feature, will it be possible to allow the user to adjust the level of transparency, similar to the current slider? I know some people are going want to have extreme transparency, but I am looking for more of a subtle eye candy effect, with about 10% transparency or so. I'm really excited to see this feature and actually a little surprised it is not a default OS X feature.

About the Tiger compatibility release, I have been running WindowShade X with hardly any problems. I am noticing some strange effects on the bottom corners of rounded metal windows, usually the window will appear square, and have messed with the "draw window border" setting to no avail. Other than that, I haven't noticed any other significant issues.

Cheers

dggraphics · Apr 26, 2005, 03:06 PM

I have requested that feature as well. Looking forward to it. How about adding some of the new quartz effects to windows; ie window zoom or shade with ripple effect. How about drag and drop effects as well. All eye candy but would look so slick.

bmzollinhofer · Apr 26, 2005, 08:05 PM

The way WindowShadeX is now, it isn't worth the money to me, but with the automatic translucence, I would definitely get it.