TranslucentTB / TranslucentTB/TranslucentTB

Taskbar text unreadable on dark wallpapers

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bug
Dominant language
C++
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Description

Please check for a duplicate first
  • I have checked the issue tracker if my bug has already been fixed or answered in another (possibly closed) issue.
Steps to reproduce the issue

I run into a major readability issue when using dark desktop wallpapers. Because the taskbar becomes completely transparent, the system tray area on the right (time/date, battery, volume, network icons, etc.) loses contrast and becomes very blurry or hard to read against dark background regions.

Suggested Solutions

To make the text and icons on the right side clear and readable, I would like to suggest a few potential options:

  1. Text Shadow / Glow Effect: Add a subtle outer shadow or high-contrast glow around the taskbar text and system tray icons to make them pop against any background.
  2. Adaptive Text/Icon Color: Automatically switch the right-side text and system tray icons between black and white depending on the background brightness underneath.
  3. Localized Acrylic / Gradient Background: Provide an option to apply a subtle gradient tint or slight acrylic blur specifically behind the system tray/clock area, ensuring high contrast while keeping the rest of the taskbar transparent.
Expected results
Expected Behavior

Users should be able to clearly read the time, battery level, and other system info at a glance, regardless of whether the desktop wallpaper is bright, dark, or busy.

Actual results
Additional Context

This issue significantly impacts daily usability when switching between different wallpapers. Thank you for your hard work on this awesome tool

Windows version

Windows 11 SV2 (builds 22621-22622)

Other details

No response

Relevant log output

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the taskbar and system tray contrast problem on Windows 11 SV2 with a dark wallpaper, then locate the rendering path for the transparent taskbar and right-side tray area. Done means the time, battery, volume, and network indicators remain readable across bright, dark, and busy wallpapers; the issue does not name a file or test to run.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
accessibility, desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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