Text Rendering Issue (Black boxes/alpha)

[xkero]

I've had this problem for some time, I've only been bothered to fix it now that I'm using screenlets and its a lot more noticeable with them.

On all text rendered by compiz-fusion i have these strange black boxes around the characters, as if alpha seems to be broken for them. The effects the text in plugins like swift switcher, program titles in emerald and other programs that uses compiz-fusion like screenlets.

I have this problem on two machines, ones a desktop with an "nVidia Corporation G70 [GeForce 7600 GT] (rev a1)", the others a laptop with an "nVidia Corpration GeForce Go 7200 (rev a1)". I've had this problem with different versions of the nvida driver (100.14.19 on desktop and stock ubuntu nvidia-glx on laptop). I also compile compiz-fusion from git and I've ran older copies from ubuntu's repos just to make sure its not a problem from git copies.

I asked on the compiz-fusion irc channel and they couldn't help me pointing me here.
I've screencapped an image of the problem in case anyone needs to see it.
Its of a screenlet showing the text problem very clearly.
http://please.mine.nu/img/blackboxedtext.png
http://please.mine.nu/img/blackboxedtext.png

My current guess is I may have something wrong in my xorg.conf. Here it is in case anyone needs to look at it.
# (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the manual page.
# (Type "man " at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "nVidia Corporation G70 [GeForce 7600 GT]"
Driver "nvidia"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
Option "RenderAccel" "True"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-68
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1360x768" "1280x1024" "1280x768" "1280x720" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

http://please.mine.nu/xorg.conf
Thanks very much in advance to anyone who helps me with this annoying glitch.

[coz]

Hey xkero,
The only time I see these black boxes on my system is when compiz fusion is not running or has crashed.
But you said compiz fusion is running?
it is more obvious with screenlets since they require compiz fusion, although looking at that screenshot , that is not what happens with screenlets when compiz fusion is not running.
i see in your xorg.conf that you have the "nvidia" driver. I also see Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True". although this is not necessary for nvidia drivers 100.xx and above,it cant hurt to be there.
i am assuming that the nvidia driver is installed correctly and all compiz fusion packages are also installed.
Is this ubuntu gutsy? if so did you remove all compiz /compiz fusion packages BEFORE you compiled from git?

coz

[xkero]

I am most certainly running compiz-fusion ;P
I run Kubuntu Hardy Alpha 1 on my main computer which hasn't once touched the ubuntu compiz-fusion packages. My other computer is a laptop with the same problem and it runs gutsy. I also have a third computer which runs gutsy, but has an ati card and doesn't have this problem. All computers run latest compiz-fusion compiled from git. This problem effects emerald and text displayed by plugins, in fact any text thats rendered by compiz-fusion has this problem.

[Hampton]

Hi,

I had the same problem with cairo-dock and I solved it by making sure Compiz would start after cairo.

Here is the script I use :

#!/bin/bash
cairo-dock &
sleep 2
compiz --replace


Replace "cairo-dock" by the screenlet you want to launch. Then you just need to make it start at the opening of your session by going to System->Preferences->Session, create a new entry, and fill the launch path with the script location.

Also go to System->Preferences->Appearence->Visual Effects and choose "none". You'll get the visual effects anyway when compiz starts, according to your config file (so make sure you have the package "compizconfig-settings-manager" installed).

I guess you'll also have to tell the screenlet-manager not to launch your screenlet at startup to avoid multiple instances of it.