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I really dislike the slight dark-purple tint to the side-launcher bar and shell surrounding the menu after pressing the meta key. How can I set this to another color?

enter image description here

There are configure options available for Unity here but there is no option for this, so I am looking for pointers in the code where this can be set.

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  • I should add a comment to my own question, since I finally understand what's happening. My background image's "average color" is what's making the launcher purple. It's obviously an erroneous assumption that the average color of a background will always match where the launcher actually is on the image.. my screenshot just happens to be a great example of that.
    – tamale
    Dec 13, 2011 at 19:39

3 Answers 3

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(This is an incomplete answer that needs improvement and investigation, but should provide someone who knows C++ with enough detail to find the real answer)

By default the Launcher uses a light gray semi-transparent color. When you hit invoke the dash, the entire thing takes on a blurred look based on the averages of your wallpaper colors. I asked Marco Trevisan where this can be modified, but it's in a bunch of places.

However, for the launcher when it's just sitting there you need to look in Launcher.cpp:

First grab the code:

bzr branch lp:unity

Then look in unity/plugins/unityshell/src/Launcher.cpp for the _background_color variable and adjust accordingly.

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  • IIRC there was a (test?) setting for the background color in the unityshell options in CompizConfig Settings Manager (ccsm) for Unity trunk, so maybe the possibility to change the color will be there in 12.04.
    – htorque
    Dec 13, 2011 at 18:58
  • Thanks Jorge, this is the detail I was hoping for. A few more relevant links I've found in my own investigations.. first, the original launchpad bug to make the launcher match the background: bugs.launchpad.net/ayatana-design/+bug/850068. Second, a thread where this is mentioned: ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1847117.html. Lastly, another askubuntu question that SHOULD be marked as related or duplicate: askubuntu.com/questions/81752/…
    – tamale
    Dec 13, 2011 at 19:36
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My trick (has to be re-done every restart / log in):
* MyUnity (program) -> Dash -> Blur ON (or, at your own risk: ccsm -> unity plugin -> experimental -> blur -> static)
* prepare a bitmap (image) of your desired color and desktop size
* log out
* don't invoke the dash!
* open the prepared image in the default viewer, go full screen mode and press the WinKey

From now on the Dash will be almost the color you wanted to be.

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this just was posted http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/01/how-to-change-the-unity-dash-color-in-ubuntu-11-10/ hope this helps :-)

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