How do I turn off the border around Unity launcher icons?

Question

Is there a way to turn off the boxes around the icons in Unity?

Clarification: I do not mean the backlight color -- there are plenty of questions about turning that off. I want the icons, and just the icons, to appear in the Unity bar, without any lights and shadows and borders. Can this be done?

Answer 1

The launcher icon overlays such as borders and highlights can be removed quite easily by changing 4 icon overlays in Unity.

1) Make a backup of the following image files in the folder /usr/share/unity/4/

launcher_icon_back_54.png

launcher_icon_edge_54.png

launcher_icon_glow_62.png

launcher_icon_shine_54.png

2) Either make your own transparent images of the same size or download and unzip this file http://ubuntuone.com/0CvxhLSPBpdxcAZ95FGoII (from omgubuntu :)

3) replace those 4 files with the same 4 files downloaded from the above link

4) restart unity by pressing Alt+F2 and typing setsid unity (or logging out and in again)

5) if you don't like it then just replace the icons with the backed up icons and restart unity.

Example:

Answer 2

It is possible, and rather simple.

First install compizconfig-settings-manager:

• sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Then run about:config in the run dialogue in Unity:

• alt+f2 -> about:config

Ccsm will pop up with the Unity plugin open. Navigate to the experimental tab:

• Now change the Backlight Mode to "Backlight Always Off".
• Problem solved.

In light of your comment, the box never 100% goes away (by design).

Answer 3

I scripted the removal of the boxes around the applications and the one around the ubuntu button (for 12.04):

cd /usr/share/unity/5
wget -O transparent54.png "https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&confirm=no_antivirus&id=0B7yJf19YNEeLV0Z6dGRXS2dMQ28"
wget -O transparent62.png "https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&confirm=no_antivirus&id=0B7yJf19YNEeLLVZPZmZPOVV5STA"

for name in squircle_shine squircle_edge squircle_base squircle_base_selected launcher_icon_back launcher_icon_edge launcher_icon_shine; do sudo mv ${name}_54.png ${name}_54.ori.png && sudo ln -s transparent54.png ${name}_54.png
done

for name in squircle_shadow launcher_icon_glow launcher_icon_shadow; do sudo mv ${name}_62.png ${name}_62.ori.png && sudo ln -s transparent62.png ${name}_62.png
done

(and restart unity with Alt-F2 and "setsid unity")

The result looks much cleaner to me: (sh.. I can't post the pictures inline)

Before: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&confirm=no_antivirus&id=0B7yJf19YNEeLbTlXUkd6YXhtOVk

After: https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&confirm=no_antivirus&id=0B7yJf19YNEeLNGU3dGYyRW53VWc

(To switch back:

for name in squircle_shine squircle_edge squircle_base squircle_base_selected launcher_icon_back launcher_icon_edge launcher_icon_shine; do sudo rm ${name}_54.png && sudo mv ${name}_54.ori.png ${name}_54.png
done

for name in squircle_shadow launcher_icon_glow launcher_icon_shadow; do sudo rm ${name}_62.png && sudo mv ${name}_62.ori.png ${name}_62.png
done