diff --git a/effects/cube/cube.cpp b/effects/cube/cube.cpp
index f6ed78533a..b7c7dbfd0e 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cube.cpp
+++ b/effects/cube/cube.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,8 @@ CubeEffect::CubeEffect()
     , borderActivate( ElectricNone )
     , frontDesktop( 0 )
     , cubeOpacity( 1.0 )
-    , displayDesktopName( true )
+    , opacityDesktopOnly( true )
+    , displayDesktopName( false )
     , reflection( true )
     , rotating( false )
     , desktopChangedWhileRotating( false )
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ void CubeEffect::loadConfig( QString config )
     effects->reserveElectricBorder( borderActivate );
 
     cubeOpacity = (float)conf.readEntry( "Opacity", 80 )/100.0f;
+    opacityDesktopOnly = conf.readEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", false );
     displayDesktopName = conf.readEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", true );
     reflection = conf.readEntry( "Reflection", true );
     rotationDuration = animationTime( conf, "RotationDuration", 500 );
@@ -1373,6 +1375,8 @@ void CubeEffect::paintWindow( EffectWindow* w, int mask, QRegion region, WindowP
             // bug #173214
             if( opacity > 0.99f )
                 opacity = 0.99f;
+            if( opacityDesktopOnly && !w->isDesktop() )
+                opacity = 0.99f;
             data.opacity *= opacity;
             }
 
diff --git a/effects/cube/cube.h b/effects/cube/cube.h
index 3c56088b85..50e9f5d4bc 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cube.h
+++ b/effects/cube/cube.h
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class CubeEffect
         Window input;
         int frontDesktop;
         float cubeOpacity;
+        bool opacityDesktopOnly;
         bool displayDesktopName;
         bool reflection;
         bool rotating;
diff --git a/effects/cube/cube_config.cpp b/effects/cube/cube_config.cpp
index d9ca3b0c0d..f28504af16 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cube_config.cpp
+++ b/effects/cube/cube_config.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ CubeEffectConfig::CubeEffectConfig(QWidget* parent, const QVariantList& args) :
     connect(m_ui->rotationDurationSpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
+    connect(m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->reflectionBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->backgroundColorButton, SIGNAL(changed(QColor)), this, SLOT(changed()));
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ void CubeEffectConfig::load()
 
     int duration       = conf.readEntry( "RotationDuration", 0 );
     float opacity      = conf.readEntry( "Opacity", 80 );
+    bool desktopOpacityOnly = conf.readEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", false );
     bool desktopName   = conf.readEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", true );
     bool reflection    = conf.readEntry( "Reflection", true );
     QColor background  = conf.readEntry( "BackgroundColor", QColor( Qt::black ) );
@@ -115,6 +117,7 @@ void CubeEffectConfig::load()
     m_ui->rotationDurationSpin->setValue( duration );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( opacity );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( opacity );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( desktopOpacityOnly );
     if( desktopName )
         {
         m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
@@ -197,6 +200,7 @@ void CubeEffectConfig::save()
     conf.writeEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "Reflection", m_ui->reflectionBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "Opacity", m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->value() );
+    conf.writeEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->isChecked() );
     conf.writeEntry( "BackgroundColor", m_ui->backgroundColorButton->color() );
     conf.writeEntry( "Caps", m_ui->cubeCapsBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "CapColor", m_ui->capColorButton->color() );
@@ -226,6 +230,7 @@ void CubeEffectConfig::defaults()
     m_ui->reflectionBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( 80 );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( 80 );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( false );
     m_ui->backgroundColorButton->setColor( QColor( Qt::black ) );
     m_ui->cubeCapsBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->capColorButton->setColor( KColorScheme( QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window ).background().color() );
diff --git a/effects/cube/cube_config.ui b/effects/cube/cube_config.ui
index 16eb979ca3..8ecbfa7b4a 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cube_config.ui
+++ b/effects/cube/cube_config.ui
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>610</width>
+    <width>700</width>
     <height>566</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
@@ -241,6 +241,13 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+          <item row="3" column="0" colspan="3" >
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="desktopOpacityOnlyBox" >
+            <property name="text" >
+             <string>Do not change opacity of windows</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
@@ -488,6 +495,7 @@ otherwise it will remain active</string>
   <tabstop>rotationDurationSpin</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySlider</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySpin</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>desktopOpacityOnlyBox</tabstop>
   <tabstop>backgroundColorButton</tabstop>
   <tabstop>wallpaperRequester</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeCapsBox</tabstop>
diff --git a/effects/cube/cylinder_config.cpp b/effects/cube/cylinder_config.cpp
index 861b053c88..4971996953 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cylinder_config.cpp
+++ b/effects/cube/cylinder_config.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ CylinderEffectConfig::CylinderEffectConfig(QWidget* parent, const QVariantList&
     connect(m_ui->rotationDurationSpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
+    connect(m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->reflectionBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->backgroundColorButton, SIGNAL(changed(QColor)), this, SLOT(changed()));
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@ void CylinderEffectConfig::load()
 
     int duration       = conf.readEntry( "RotationDuration", 0 );
     float opacity      = conf.readEntry( "Opacity", 80 );
+    bool desktopOpacityOnly = conf.readEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", false );
     bool desktopName   = conf.readEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", true );
     bool reflection    = conf.readEntry( "Reflection", true );
     QColor background  = conf.readEntry( "BackgroundColor", QColor( Qt::black ) );
@@ -109,6 +111,7 @@ void CylinderEffectConfig::load()
     m_ui->rotationDurationSpin->setValue( duration );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( opacity );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( opacity );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( desktopOpacityOnly );
     if( desktopName )
         {
         m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
@@ -175,6 +178,7 @@ void CylinderEffectConfig::save()
     conf.writeEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "Reflection", m_ui->reflectionBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "Opacity", m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->value() );
+    conf.writeEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->isChecked() );
     conf.writeEntry( "BackgroundColor", m_ui->backgroundColorButton->color() );
     conf.writeEntry( "Caps", m_ui->cubeCapsBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "CapColor", m_ui->capColorButton->color() );
@@ -202,6 +206,7 @@ void CylinderEffectConfig::defaults()
     m_ui->reflectionBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( 80 );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( 80 );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( false );
     m_ui->backgroundColorButton->setColor( QColor( Qt::black ) );
     m_ui->cubeCapsBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->capColorButton->setColor( KColorScheme( QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window ).background().color() );
diff --git a/effects/cube/cylinder_config.ui b/effects/cube/cylinder_config.ui
index 057fd7fe62..433db2d8f9 100644
--- a/effects/cube/cylinder_config.ui
+++ b/effects/cube/cylinder_config.ui
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>610</width>
+    <width>729</width>
     <height>542</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
@@ -241,6 +241,13 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+          <item row="3" column="0" colspan="3" >
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="desktopOpacityOnlyBox" >
+            <property name="text" >
+             <string>Do not change opacity of windows</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
@@ -460,6 +467,7 @@ otherwise it will remain active.</string>
   <tabstop>rotationDurationSpin</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySlider</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySpin</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>desktopOpacityOnlyBox</tabstop>
   <tabstop>backgroundColorButton</tabstop>
   <tabstop>wallpaperRequester</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeCapsBox</tabstop>
diff --git a/effects/cube/sphere_config.cpp b/effects/cube/sphere_config.cpp
index cf5eb5e662..9e0df2d548 100644
--- a/effects/cube/sphere_config.cpp
+++ b/effects/cube/sphere_config.cpp
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ SphereEffectConfig::SphereEffectConfig(QWidget* parent, const QVariantList& args
     connect(m_ui->rotationDurationSpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin, SIGNAL(valueChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
+    connect(m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->backgroundColorButton, SIGNAL(changed(QColor)), this, SLOT(changed()));
     connect(m_ui->cubeCapsBox, SIGNAL(stateChanged(int)), this, SLOT(changed()));
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ void SphereEffectConfig::load()
 
     int duration       = conf.readEntry( "RotationDuration", 0 );
     float opacity      = conf.readEntry( "Opacity", 80 );
+    bool desktopOpacityOnly = conf.readEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", false );
     bool desktopName   = conf.readEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", true );
     QColor background  = conf.readEntry( "BackgroundColor", QColor( Qt::black ) );
     QColor capColor = conf.readEntry( "CapColor", KColorScheme( QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window ).background().color() );
@@ -107,6 +109,7 @@ void SphereEffectConfig::load()
     m_ui->rotationDurationSpin->setValue( duration );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( opacity );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( opacity );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( desktopOpacityOnly );
     if( desktopName )
         {
         m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
@@ -163,6 +166,7 @@ void SphereEffectConfig::save()
     conf.writeEntry( "RotationDuration", m_ui->rotationDurationSpin->value() );
     conf.writeEntry( "DisplayDesktopName", m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "Opacity", m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->value() );
+    conf.writeEntry( "OpacityDesktopOnly", m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->isChecked() );
     conf.writeEntry( "BackgroundColor", m_ui->backgroundColorButton->color() );
     conf.writeEntry( "Caps", m_ui->cubeCapsBox->checkState() == Qt::Checked ? true : false );
     conf.writeEntry( "CapColor", m_ui->capColorButton->color() );
@@ -189,6 +193,7 @@ void SphereEffectConfig::defaults()
     m_ui->displayDesktopNameBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySpin->setValue( 80 );
     m_ui->cubeOpacitySlider->setValue( 80 );
+    m_ui->desktopOpacityOnlyBox->setChecked( false );
     m_ui->backgroundColorButton->setColor( QColor( Qt::black ) );
     m_ui->cubeCapsBox->setCheckState( Qt::Checked );
     m_ui->capColorButton->setColor( KColorScheme( QPalette::Active, KColorScheme::Window ).background().color() );
diff --git a/effects/cube/sphere_config.ui b/effects/cube/sphere_config.ui
index bef6d65a1a..406cf3a13c 100644
--- a/effects/cube/sphere_config.ui
+++ b/effects/cube/sphere_config.ui
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
    <rect>
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
-    <width>610</width>
+    <width>700</width>
     <height>542</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
@@ -241,6 +241,13 @@
             </property>
            </widget>
           </item>
+          <item row="3" column="0" colspan="3" >
+           <widget class="QCheckBox" name="desktopOpacityOnlyBox" >
+            <property name="text" >
+             <string>Do not change opacity of windows</string>
+            </property>
+           </widget>
+          </item>
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
@@ -502,6 +509,7 @@ otherwise it will remain active</string>
   <tabstop>rotationDurationSpin</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySlider</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeOpacitySpin</tabstop>
+  <tabstop>desktopOpacityOnlyBox</tabstop>
   <tabstop>backgroundColorButton</tabstop>
   <tabstop>wallpaperRequester</tabstop>
   <tabstop>cubeCapsBox</tabstop>