Visual Effects

Aqueous applies visual policy in the compositor, after layout geometry is resolved. Backdrop blur and rounded corners require a SceneFX build; opacity and workspace-transition policy are configured independently in wm.toml.

Backdrop blur

[blur]
enabled = true
radius = 5
passes = 3

Higher radius and pass counts produce a stronger blur and require more render work. Set enabled = false when you want to remove that cost entirely.

Blur is currently global

A blur = false window rule is parsed and retained, but the current SceneFX implementation does not yet have the selective mask needed to exclude an individual window. Treat [blur].enabled as a global switch.

Window opacity

Use one stable opacity for every window:

[opacity]
enabled = true
value = 0.94
focus_sensitive = false

Or make focus visually clearer:

[opacity]
enabled = true
focus_sensitive = true
focused = 1.0
unfocused = 0.90

All opacity values are fractions from 0.0 (transparent) through 1.0 (opaque). When focus_sensitive = true, focused and unfocused are applied per window; otherwise Aqueous uses value.

A matching rule’s opacity takes precedence over the global or focus-sensitive value:

[[window]]
app_id = "mpv"
layout = "monocle"
opacity = 1.0

Remember that window rules currently require an explicit layout and that a matched rule selects that layout for the output/workspace.

Workspace transitions

[workspace_transition]
enabled = true
rate = 0.0

rate = 0.0 selects the compiled default. A larger positive value makes the slide settle more quickly. Window-placement and workspace animations can be compiled out entirely with -Danimations=false; configuration cannot enable an effect that is absent from the build.

Rounded corners

SceneFX builds apply a fixed 12-pixel corner radius to normal window content and borders. Fullscreen content remains square. There is currently no TOML key for changing the radius; builds without SceneFX use square corners.