Editing Pseudo-transparency (section)

==Implementation==
There are three common methods for achieving pseudo-transparency using [[Xlib]], each with its own advantages and drawbacks.

===Parental-relative===
The "parental-relative" method uses <code>XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap()</code> to inherit the parent window's background image. Unfortunately, using this method, the X server permits very few operations to be performed on the background pixmap (such as [[XOR]]), preventing clients from implementing any sort of advanced image filtering.

===_XROOTPMAP_ID and ESETROOT_PMAP_ID properties===
These properties are used to inform the window where it can find the pixmap used on the root window. Using this information, a client can paint a section of the image (corresponding to the size and position of the window) onto its background, achieving the effect of transparency. This method uses the most [[Computer storage|memory]], but has the advantage of allowing clients to perform any operation, such as [[tinting (graphics)|tinting]] or [[shading]], on the image data.

===XCopyArea===
''XCopyArea'' can achieve a more realistic transparency effect in that it can include obscured windows, but with the significant disadvantage that it is only usable with [[modal window]]s. This method simply uses the <code>XCopyArea()</code> function to take a partial [[screenshot]] for use as the window's background pixmap.