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Chinmay Kanchi
Asked: 2011-04-15 11:22:32 +0800 CST

Backdrop equivalent

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When I'm reading ebooks, I find it quite useful to blank out everything except the reader. On the Mac, I use Backdrop to achieve this. What this app does is blank out everything (wallpaper, desktop icons, etc) apart from any on-screen windows. Is there a program that does this for Ubuntu?

gnome

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Dimming non-active Windows with Compiz

    In case we run Compiz (by enabling Visual Effects in System->Preferences->Appearance) we have a nice feature that lets you dim anything but the active windows to any desired value.

    With the following packages installed (default from >= 11.04):

    • compizconfig-settings-manager
    • compiz-fusion-plugins-extra

    you will have access to control Compiz settings by running System -> Preferences -> CompizConfig Settings Manager.

    Choose Accessibility: ADD Helper

    enter image description here

    Open Tab "Misc.Options:

    enter image description here

    and push the slider for brightness to the desired value (here depicted for 20).

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  2. Check out the ADD Helper Compiz plugin. Install compizconfig-settings-manager package to access the controls for it.

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