default settings for compiz animation plugin are not smooth, feels unprofessional

[Daniel van Vugt]

Binary package hint: compiz-plugins-main

The default animation settings for compiz in natty feel really clunky and often non-existent. Compared to Windows 7 or Mac OS X, there are some simple default settings that could be improved (in oneiric) to give a much smoother, pleasing, and more professional looking composite windowing experience. These defaults all seem to reside in /usr/share/compiz/animation.xml

I will provide a patch proposing some better defaults to improve overall UX soon...

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: compiz-plugins-main 0.9.4+bzr20110406-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
Date: Tue Jun 7 14:30:56 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_AU:en
 LANG=en_AU.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: compiz-plugins-main
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

To complicate the matter, I found half the problem is typos in the default animation config (bug 793897). Those actual bugs which are not a matter of opinion have been moved into bug 793897.

The other half of the problem is the set of default timings and animations used. That's what should be discussed in this bug.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Here are some nicer defaults I suggest. You can diff them against your /usr/share/compiz/animation.xml

Summary:
1. Add fixes for typos that were disabling some animations (bug 793897).
2. Add Fade effect for menus opening (was None).
3. Improved open_durations timings from 120,80,80 to 300,150,150 millisec.
4. Add Fade effects for tooltips closing (was None).
5. Improved close_durations from 120,80,50 to 300,150,150 millisec.
6. Improved minimize_durations from 220 to 300 millisec.
7. Improved glide2_away_angle from 0 to 15 degrees.

To avoid confusion, the fix for bug 793897 needs to be committed first.