Welcome to Better Blur DX
Better Blur DX is a KWin effect plugin for Plasma 6 that significantly enhances the default window blur effect with advanced customization options and critical bug fixes.What is Better Blur DX?
Better Blur DX is a loose continuation of Better Blur, which itself is a fork of the standard KWin blur effect. It brings professional-grade blur control to your KDE Plasma desktop, allowing you to fine-tune every aspect of window transparency and blur effects. The project maintains compatibility with the latest Plasma releases while adding features that power users and customization enthusiasts have been requesting.Why Better Blur DX?
Enhanced Control
Unlike the default KWin blur, Better Blur DX gives you precise control over:- Force blur on any window, regardless of whether the application supports transparency
- Adjustable blur parameters including brightness, contrast, and saturation
- Corner radius to match modern rounded window designs and fix the infamous “korners” bug
- Refraction effects as an alternative to the default contrast pass (added in v2.2.0)
Critical Bug Fixes
Better Blur DX includes fixes for persistent blur-related Plasma bugs:- Blur disappearing during animations
- Transparent color schemes not working properly with the Breeze application style
- Windows with opacity rules not blurring correctly
- Artifacts around screen edges in the contrast pass
Active Development
The plugin stays current with Plasma releases and continuously improves based on user feedback and the evolving KWin API.Better Blur DX is designed to replace the default KWin blur effect. You should disable the standard blur effect before enabling Better Blur DX to avoid conflicts.
Supported Versions
Better Blur DX is actively tested and supported on:- Plasma 6.5
- Plasma 6.6
X11 Support Status
While Better Blur DX can be built for both Wayland and X11, X11 support is considered deprecated and receives minimal testing. The X11 version must be explicitly enabled during compilation with the-DBETTERBLUR_X11=ON CMake option.
As KWin X11 sees fewer API updates with each release, maintaining feature parity between Wayland and X11 versions becomes increasingly challenging.
Primary development and testing focuses on Wayland. If you’re still using X11, consider whether the X11 build meets your needs or if it’s time to transition to Wayland.
History and Evolution
Better Blur DX emerged from a lineage of blur enhancement projects:- Original KWin Blur - The baseline blur effect shipped with KDE Plasma
- Better Blur (by taj-ny) - First major enhancement adding force blur and static blur
- Better Blur DX (by xarblu) - Current continuation, ported to Plasma 6.5+ blur engine
- Complete port to the Plasma 6.5 blur architecture
- Removal of static blur (maintenance complexity vs. benefit)
- Temporary removal of refraction (later re-implemented in v2.2.0)
- Improved contrast pass configuration with both sliders and spinboxes
Getting Started
Ready to enhance your desktop experience? Here’s what to do next:Installation
Install Better Blur DX via package managers or build from source
Configuration
Configure blur strength, contrast, corner radius, and force blur options
Features
Explore all the powerful features Better Blur DX offers
Troubleshooting
Resolve common issues and optimize performance
Performance Considerations
Better Blur DX can be resource-intensive, especially with many open windows. On Wayland systems, high GPU load may cause cursor latency or stuttering. If you experience these issues, check the troubleshooting guide for performance optimization tips.Credits
Better Blur DX builds upon the work of many contributors:- xarblu - Current maintainer and primary developer
- taj-ny - Creator of the original Better Blur
- a-parhom - CMakeLists.txt files from LightlyShaders
- KDE Plasma team - Original blur effect foundation