Customize Compiz Fusion effects In Ubuntu

Posted by Ruhaan Ahmed 26 July, 2008

Ubuntu 8.04(Hardy Heron) comes with a full featured version of Compiz Fusion, but the main problem is that there is no way to configure these effects. To configure the different options we will use a tool called Compiz Config. To install it open up synaptic manager and search for Compiz Config

Once Compiz Config is installed, open it and you will get an interface similar to this:

The interface is pretty simple a checked option means the effect is enabled and an unchecked option means the effect is disabled, to configure individual effects like key bindings click on the image of the effect. Now I am going to show you some of my favourite effects and their output:

1) Fire on the screen: You can use it to paint text with fire on your screen, to use it press the key combo Shift+ windows key and left click and fire will be painted on the screen.

While the fire text is on your screen your normal desktop works and you can do all tasks such as browsing the web. To clear the text press the key combo Shift+Windows Key+C and the fire text will be cleared

2) Expo: Gives you a preview of your desktops that are enabled, to use it press the key combo Windows key+e