KDE Store
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:

13 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!

543 comments
 Comments

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bigbertha123456

7 years ago

I just got ubuntu yesterday and am completely clueless how to get crystal. I tried to follow the instructions, but am not really sure what I did wrong. help me please!

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tarahmarie

9 years ago

...coming to KDE4? I DESPERATELY want the transparent x11 theme!!

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Nielssonnich

9 years ago

Use Compiz Fusion and Emerald?

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mmirec

8 years ago

KDE4 does not support pseudo-transparenccy, that's why the creation of pseudo-transparent theme is not possible. I would like to be this function in KDE4 implemented.

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linuxfever

9 years ago

Hi and thanks for this beautiful and highly customizable decoration. I was wondering how I can include my own button theme. I already have the png files, I put them in the pics folder, I change the two makefiles in the pics directory to include my theme but when I install it, I do not see my theme listed in the buttons configurations. Can you please give me some guidelines on what I need to change to include my button theme? Thanks in advance.

Btw, I am interested in this theme:
http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/Blended+for+deKorator?content=31771

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linuxfever

9 years ago

I have been reading the README you have in the pics dir but i cannot find any "themes" variable in the Makefile.am...

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jkomar

9 years ago

For any Gentoo users, the x11-themes/crystal ebuild in the main Portage tree is still at version 1.0.2. I maintain an ebuild for the current version in my overlay which can be found at:

http://code.google.com/p/stormfront/

Cheers.

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derWahreKrebs

9 years ago

Hi.
first of all:
this windeco is really great.

Now the question:
On the third screenshot, there's a tool on the right site of your desktop. Something like a system monitor.
Whats the name of this app and where can I get it?

Thanks

kind regards,
Sebastian

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C

dralgebra

9 years ago

That is gkrellm: http://members.dslextreme.com/users/billw/gkrellm/gkrellm.html

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C

dralgebra

9 years ago

It's gkrellm

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borisdigital

9 years ago

I'm using your theme for about ~3(?) years now, and i just wanna tell you that
this windows decoration + Qtcurve theme is still an unbeaten combo.

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wRAR

9 years ago

kdecore was added, that's good. But also you need to link kwin3_crystal.la against -lDCOP -lkdefx.

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Dpdk

9 years ago

Deep Thought!

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apolodor

9 years ago

Could you please include in your next release the buttons from:

http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/Liquid-Black-emerald?content=59056

Thank you very much in advance.

Keep up the good work!

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Juanmamb

9 years ago

Thanks for this cute windeco, although I don't activate transparency; I use it for it's usability improvements (together with good looking buttons, of course).

My suggestion is that maximized windows be border-less, so that menu button, close button, scrollbar and possibly other windows elements be immediately next to screen borders. It makes it _much_ easier to hit them with the mouse.

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C

dralgebra

9 years ago

Already possible. Just check the checkbox somewhere in the window settings, category "moving", "allow moving of maximized windows".

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Juanmamb

9 years ago

Awesome! Thanks.

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lambda512

9 years ago

could the logo be aligned to right respect the right border/button instead the rightest letter? Like when you alignt the logo and the title at right, but keeping the title aligned at left.

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lappelhans

9 years ago

is there any KDE4-port yet?

Lukas

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C

dralgebra

9 years ago

Nope, that's not trivial and so I did not even start yet. And since KDE 4.0 is no production quality and not meant for end users anyway, I don't hurry. But it's on my todo list.

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lappelhans

9 years ago

Ok, thx for the response :)

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dralgebra

9 years ago

I released a development snapshot of the KDE4 port of this decoration. It has several regressions but I try to add some features back. Feedback is welcome, in case you want to test it.

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taisao

10 years ago

how would one install this if he doesn't have root access?

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EdwardMorris

10 years ago

Is the wallpaper in the screenshots included in the download??

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C

dralgebra

10 years ago

No. You can get it here: http://www.vuni.net

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13 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!

product-maker nazir Feb 10 2011

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