Mica for Everyone


MaRio

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Member
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2:58 AM
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92
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Windows 11
Hello everyone,

as there's no thread for this program yet, I'd like to open it to show some basic functionality.

The program allows you to add Mica effects (to a certain extent) to programs that do not have it on their own. The program is mainly made for Win11, however some of the functionality does work on Win10.

Once you download (you can get it from their github page) and run it, you will get this window
1656698248283.png
This program works by using rules. You have
  1. the Global Rule which will apply to all programs (except the specific ones listed bellow)
  2. process rules (which apply only to the specific process)
  3. and class rules (which apply to a class of programs, for example all console windows)
So for example if you want most programs to just have the transparent titlebar, but you want only Audacity to have it on the whole window, you can set the global rule like the screenshot above, then create a specific rule for the Audacity process, and in that rule turn on additional blur.

1656700959556.png

Inside the rules you have a few options and toggles:
  • The titlebar color is self explanatory, you can set it to System default, program default, or light/dark.
  • The Backdrop type allows you to pick which type of blur effect do you want; Default, None, Mica (the Windows 11 style blur which only shows the desktop background), or Acrylic (which shows everything bellow that surface).
Bellow that you have the two advanced toggles:
  • Extend Frame Into Client Area is used in some cases where the backdrop effect is rendered on the window backgrounds.
  • Blur Behind makes the window translucent and blurred.
From my experience, both of these toggles achieve similar results (they make most of the window transparent), but with varying success. They work best on old school Win32 programs which use default UI components, however it can sometimes work on newer programs. So try enabling 'em one by one and see which one works the best for you.

The end result can look something like this (this is the default Windows Explorer) - btw the image compression on the forum doesn't do it justice, it looks better on it's own
1656701597377.png
 
Windows Build/Version
22621

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Thanks for sharing (y) not really my thing though
 

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If I add Windows Explorer ( extend frame to ... ) , sometimes I get unreadable text on some windows ( example: when u try to download a file and save it )
Do u have this issue too?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
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    Intel Core i9 9900K
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    MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
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    Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB [ 4 x 8GB ] DDR4 3600MHz CL18
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    MSI GeForce GTX 1660Ti Ventus XS 6GB OC @ +120/+500
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    Samsung Odyssey G7 , 32" , 2560x1440 , VA , 240Hz , 1ms
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    QHD 2560x1440
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    SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 250GB
    HDD: 2x Western Digital Blue 4TB
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If I add Windows Explorer ( extend frame to ... ) , sometimes I get unreadable text on some windows ( example: when u try to download a file and save it )
Do u have this issue too?
Yes I think that option makes some text have the Mica/Acrylic effect, so if your background is bright, it can be tough to read. For me it doesn't show up in he save as window, but it shows up in the file/folder properties window.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
btw how did u mange to change the address bar? mine is always gray :-(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900K
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB [ 4 x 8GB ] DDR4 3600MHz CL18
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1660Ti Ventus XS 6GB OC @ +120/+500
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Odyssey G7 , 32" , 2560x1440 , VA , 240Hz , 1ms
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 250GB
    HDD: 2x Western Digital Blue 4TB
    PSU
    Cooler Master MWE 550W White
    Case
    Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh ARGB
    Cooling
    DeepCool Gammaxx L360 v2
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB Platinum ( MX Speed ) [ SteelSeries PrismCaps ]
    Mouse
    Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
    Internet Speed
    16 Mb/s ‌ ‌ | ‌ ‌ 1 Mb/s
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
btw how did u mange to change the address bar? mine is always gray :-(
Not sure, I didn't do anything special. I have both advanced options turned on and the effect set to Acrylic. Maybe it's because I'm on 22621.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Unfocused windows will turn to grey until I click on them
Idk if it's windows behavior or MFE
Do u know anything about this? maybe a solution?
( Sorry for my numerous questions! I just found this thread and I had some questions about MFE )
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i9 9900K
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Z390 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 32GB [ 4 x 8GB ] DDR4 3600MHz CL18
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTX 1660Ti Ventus XS 6GB OC @ +120/+500
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Odyssey G7 , 32" , 2560x1440 , VA , 240Hz , 1ms
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    SSD: Samsung 980 Pro 250GB
    HDD: 2x Western Digital Blue 4TB
    PSU
    Cooler Master MWE 550W White
    Case
    Cooler Master MasterCase H500P Mesh ARGB
    Cooling
    DeepCool Gammaxx L360 v2
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB Platinum ( MX Speed ) [ SteelSeries PrismCaps ]
    Mouse
    Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
    Internet Speed
    16 Mb/s ‌ ‌ | ‌ ‌ 1 Mb/s
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Unfocused windows will turn to grey until I click on them
Idk if it's windows behavior or MFE
Do u know anything about this? maybe a solution?
( Sorry for my numerous questions! I just found this thread and I had some questions about MFE )
Yes unfortunately that is the default behavior in Windows - only the app in focus has active blur effects. However if you enable both advanced options, it does override it, but may cause visibility problems.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
There was a new update a couple of days ago, v1.1.0.0 which now allows you to set your corner preference (both globally and for specific apps) from square, rounded, or slightly rounded. So you don't have to use Valinet's disable rounded corner DWM hack anymore.

1657813707576.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Ok here's a big update for this. The Rectify11 team has made a custom msstyles theme that greatly improves MFE. Now almost all of the win32 parts of Windows use transparency. Also many apps that use the msstyles.
It also improves how it looks. There's way less blurry and unreadable text.
1659992238669.png
You can find the theme on their discord (the website is down ATM, they're releasing v3 of their customization pack soon) along with other stuff they make.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11

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