> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/mangowm/mango/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Effect Options

> Complete reference for visual effects in Mango

Mango provides various visual effects to enhance the appearance of your desktop, including blur, shadows, rounded corners, and opacity controls.

## Blur Effects

### Basic Blur Settings

| Option           | Type    | Default | Description                                                                     |
| ---------------- | ------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `blur`           | integer | `0`     | Enable window blur effect (0=disabled, 1=enabled)                               |
| `blur_layer`     | integer | `0`     | Enable blur for layer surfaces like panels and overlays (0=disabled, 1=enabled) |
| `blur_optimized` | integer | `1`     | Use optimized blur algorithm for better performance (0=disabled, 1=enabled)     |

### Advanced Blur Parameters

| Option                   | Type    | Default | Description                                                    |
| ------------------------ | ------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `blur_params_num_passes` | integer | `2`     | Number of blur passes (more passes = stronger blur but slower) |
| `blur_params_radius`     | integer | `5`     | Blur radius in pixels (larger = more blur)                     |
| `blur_params_noise`      | float   | `0.02`  | Noise amount to add texture (0.0-1.0)                          |
| `blur_params_brightness` | float   | `0.9`   | Brightness adjustment for blurred content (0.0-2.0)            |
| `blur_params_contrast`   | float   | `0.9`   | Contrast adjustment for blurred content (0.0-2.0)              |
| `blur_params_saturation` | float   | `1.2`   | Saturation adjustment for blurred content (0.0-2.0)            |

<Note>
  **Performance Impact:** Blur is GPU-intensive. If you experience performance issues, try:

  * Reducing `blur_params_num_passes` to 1
  * Decreasing `blur_params_radius`
  * Enabling `blur_optimized`
  * Disabling `blur_layer`
</Note>

## Shadow Effects

### Basic Shadow Settings

| Option                 | Type    | Default | Description                                                            |
| ---------------------- | ------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `shadows`              | integer | `0`     | Enable window shadows (0=disabled, 1=enabled)                          |
| `layer_shadows`        | integer | `0`     | Enable shadows for layer surfaces (0=disabled, 1=enabled)              |
| `shadow_only_floating` | integer | `1`     | Only show shadows on floating windows (0=all windows, 1=floating only) |

### Shadow Parameters

| Option               | Type      | Default      | Description                                                 |
| -------------------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `shadows_size`       | integer   | `10`         | Shadow size in pixels                                       |
| `shadows_blur`       | integer   | `15`         | Amount of blur applied to shadow edges                      |
| `shadows_position_x` | integer   | `0`          | Horizontal offset of shadow (negative=left, positive=right) |
| `shadows_position_y` | integer   | `0`          | Vertical offset of shadow (negative=up, positive=down)      |
| `shadowscolor`       | hex color | `0x000000ff` | Shadow color in RGBA format                                 |

### Shadow Color Format

Shadow colors use RGBA hexadecimal format: `0xRRGGBBAA`

**Examples:**

* `0x000000ff` - Opaque black (default)
* `0x00000080` - Semi-transparent black (50% opacity)
* `0x000000cc` - Mostly opaque black (80% opacity)
* `0x0000ff40` - Semi-transparent blue

## Rounded Corners

| Option                  | Type    | Default | Description                                                                                       |
| ----------------------- | ------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `border_radius`         | integer | `6`     | Corner radius in pixels (0=sharp corners)                                                         |
| `no_radius_when_single` | integer | `0`     | Disable rounded corners when only one window is visible (0=always rounded, 1=disable when single) |

<Note>
  **Design Tip:** Common border radius values:

  * `0` - Sharp corners (traditional)
  * `4-6` - Subtle rounding (recommended for most themes)
  * `8-12` - Moderate rounding (modern look)
  * `16+` - Heavy rounding (macOS-like)
</Note>

## Window Opacity

| Option              | Type  | Default | Description                                                |
| ------------------- | ----- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `focused_opacity`   | float | `1.0`   | Opacity of focused windows (0.0=transparent, 1.0=opaque)   |
| `unfocused_opacity` | float | `1.0`   | Opacity of unfocused windows (0.0=transparent, 1.0=opaque) |

<Tip>
  Setting `unfocused_opacity` to a value less than 1.0 (e.g., `0.85`) can help distinguish between focused and unfocused windows.
</Tip>

## Border Appearance

| Option                  | Type    | Default | Description                                                                      |
| ----------------------- | ------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `borderpx`              | integer | `4`     | Border width in pixels (0=no borders)                                            |
| `no_border_when_single` | integer | `0`     | Hide borders when only one window is visible (0=always show, 1=hide when single) |

### Border Colors

| Option                | Type      | Default      | Description                                                 |
| --------------------- | --------- | ------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `bordercolor`         | hex color | `0x444444ff` | Default border color for unfocused windows                  |
| `focuscolor`          | hex color | `0xc9b890ff` | Border color for focused windows                            |
| `maximizescreencolor` | hex color | `0x89aa61ff` | Border color for maximized windows                          |
| `urgentcolor`         | hex color | `0xad401fff` | Border color for urgent windows (e.g., requiring attention) |
| `scratchpadcolor`     | hex color | `0x516c93ff` | Border color for scratchpad windows                         |
| `globalcolor`         | hex color | `0xb153a7ff` | Border color for global windows                             |
| `overlaycolor`        | hex color | `0x14a57cff` | Border color for overlay windows                            |

## Examples

### Transparent Windows with Blur

```conf theme={null}
# Enable blur
blur=1
blur_params_num_passes=2
blur_params_radius=8
blur_params_noise=0.02
blur_params_brightness=0.95
blur_params_contrast=0.95
blur_params_saturation=1.1

# Make unfocused windows slightly transparent
focused_opacity=1.0
unfocused_opacity=0.9
```

### Subtle Drop Shadows

```conf theme={null}
shadows=1
shadow_only_floating=1
shadows_size=12
shadows_blur=20
shadows_position_x=0
shadows_position_y=5
shadowscolor=0x00000066
```

### Dramatic Shadows

```conf theme={null}
shadows=1
shadow_only_floating=0
shadows_size=20
shadows_blur=30
shadows_position_x=0
shadows_position_y=10
shadowscolor=0x000000aa
```

### Modern Rounded Look

```conf theme={null}
border_radius=12
no_radius_when_single=0
borderpx=2
focuscolor=0x88c0d0ff
bordercolor=0x3b4252ff
```

### Minimal/Flat Theme

```conf theme={null}
border_radius=0
no_radius_when_single=0
blur=0
shadows=0
borderpx=2
focuscolor=0xffffffff
bordercolor=0x888888ff
```

### MacOS-Like Appearance

```conf theme={null}
# Blur
blur=1
blur_params_num_passes=3
blur_params_radius=10
blur_params_brightness=1.0
blur_params_contrast=1.0
blur_params_saturation=1.2

# Shadows
shadows=1
shadow_only_floating=0
shadows_size=15
shadows_blur=25
shadows_position_x=0
shadows_position_y=8
shadowscolor=0x00000055

# Corners and borders
border_radius=10
no_radius_when_single=0
borderpx=1
focuscolor=0x0078d7ff

# Opacity
focused_opacity=1.0
unfocused_opacity=0.95
```

## Performance Guidelines

### High Performance (Minimal Effects)

```conf theme={null}
blur=0
shadows=0
border_radius=0
focused_opacity=1.0
unfocused_opacity=1.0
```

### Balanced (Moderate Effects)

```conf theme={null}
blur=1
blur_optimized=1
blur_params_num_passes=1
blur_params_radius=5

shadows=1
shadow_only_floating=1
shadows_size=10
shadows_blur=15

border_radius=6
```

### Eye Candy (Maximum Effects)

```conf theme={null}
blur=1
blur_layer=1
blur_optimized=1
blur_params_num_passes=3
blur_params_radius=10

shadows=1
layer_shadows=1
shadow_only_floating=0
shadows_size=20
shadows_blur=30

border_radius=12
unfocused_opacity=0.9
```

## Troubleshooting

### Blur looks grainy or noisy

* Reduce `blur_params_noise` (try `0.01` or `0.005`)
* Increase `blur_params_num_passes`

### Blur is too intense

* Decrease `blur_params_radius`
* Adjust `blur_params_brightness` closer to `1.0`
* Reduce `blur_params_saturation`

### Shadows have visible banding

* Increase `shadows_blur`
* Reduce opacity in `shadowscolor` (lower the alpha value)

### Performance issues

* Set `blur=0` or `blur_optimized=1`
* Reduce `blur_params_num_passes` to 1
* Disable `blur_layer` and `layer_shadows`
* Set `shadow_only_floating=1`

## See Also

* [Animation Options](/reference/animation-options) - Window animation configuration
* [Configuration Options](/reference/config-options) - All configuration options
* [Appearance Configuration](/configuration/appearance) - Visual customization guide
* [Window Effects](/features/window-effects) - Window effects feature overview