What are visual effects?

Ubuntu includes special visual effects which are intended to make your desktop more fun and easier to use. These include:

  • Translucent windows

  • 3D desktop capabilities

  • Shadow effects

  • Motion effects and animations

Visual effects are enabled by default, but it is not necessary to have them turned on. In addition, users of computers with certain graphics cards may find that visual effects do not work well on their computer, or cause the computer to operate more slowly than it would with the effects turned off.