https://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:22:15 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/Since i3 always places floating windows on top of tiled windows, it would be very useful to be able to render floating windows transparent. How could we inform a composition manager such as xcompmgr which windows are floating and thus make them transparent? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Edit: Please note that goal here is not eye candy. It can be very convenient to be able to see through floating windows in a cluttered and small screen to see the content of the tiled layer. Admittedly the purpose of a tiling window manager is to avoid window overlap, but there are always popup windows and the occasional "legitimate" use of floating windows.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:17:52 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=4946#post-id-4946Rhello, I'm using Xcompmgr with transset-df !!! And guess what it works !!! Btw a fork called Compton is better can can be install from the AUR of linux sudo yaourt -S compton-git (don't forget to install transset-df, it's very usefull) I love it: shadows and true transparency is working very well !!! Best regards, kursionThu, 13 Nov 2014 10:48:37 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=4946#post-id-4946https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=830#post-id-830i3 does not support transparency at all.Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:50:50 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=830#post-id-830https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=832#comment-832This is not completely accurate: I'm using true transparent terminals (mrxvt) in i3 right now using xcompmrg. But I don't know how to set up transparency based on window/container properties instead of per application. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:08:24 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=832#comment-832https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=835#comment-835Crystal clear. Thank you for the clarification, and for the very nice piece of software.Wed, 28 Nov 2012 19:04:56 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=835#comment-835https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=834#comment-834It is accurate. i3 does not support it. Anything that works is by chance, not intended, and not supported.Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:59:10 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?comment=834#comment-834https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=5372#post-id-5372If i3 does not support transparency it does not support transparency. The use of third party compositing libraries should explicitly indicate the fact. i3 simply manages screen real estate letting xorg or whatever desktop manager the user has running deal with layout and composition per the application. The way i3 manages everything maintains a really small foot-print and provides a credible amount of versatility. Compton is actually managing the transparency and/or making the necessary desktop manager calls. i3 will not accidentally offer transparency as a service due to a bug. i3 could however, one day, add an option to interface with other desktop managers present on the users system concerning composition, but that will require time if it happens and a great deal of beta testing. Third party plugins like that Compton transparency manager sound like the way to go with i3. Keeps everything light weight, modular and survivable where a module crashes it does not affect i3 or any other stable module. I smell a community plugins opportunity if there isn't already one floating about.Thu, 22 Jan 2015 14:22:15 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/826/true-transparency-in-floating-windows/?answer=5372#post-id-5372