Examples

This page contains complete, runnable examples demonstrating various use cases.

Full Window Glass

The simplest example: glass filling the entire window content area.

"""Full window glass effect example."""

import sys

from PySide6.QtCore import Qt
from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QLabel, QMainWindow, QVBoxLayout, QWidget

import pyqt_liquidglass as glass


class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
    def __init__(self) -> None:
        super().__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle("Window Glass")
        self.resize(600, 400)

        central = QWidget()
        central.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(central)
        layout.setContentsMargins(40, 60, 40, 40)

        label = QLabel("Hello, Liquid Glass!")
        label.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        label.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 28px;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: white;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        layout.addWidget(label)
        self.setCentralWidget(central)


def main() -> int:
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)

    window = MainWindow()

    # Prepare window BEFORE showing
    glass.prepare_window_for_glass(window)

    window.show()

    # Apply glass AFTER showing
    glass.apply_glass_to_window(window)

    return app.exec()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())

Sidebar Pattern

Settings-style window with a glass sidebar and opaque content area. This is the most common pattern for macOS applications.

"""Sidebar with glass effect example."""

import sys

from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
    QApplication,
    QHBoxLayout,
    QLabel,
    QListWidget,
    QListWidgetItem,
    QMainWindow,
    QVBoxLayout,
    QWidget,
)

import pyqt_liquidglass as glass


class Sidebar(QWidget):
    """Transparent sidebar widget for glass effect."""

    def __init__(self, parent: QWidget | None = None) -> None:
        super().__init__(parent)
        self.setFixedWidth(250)
        self.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
        layout.setContentsMargins(9, 18, 9, 9)

        self.list_widget = QListWidget()
        self.list_widget.setStyleSheet("""
            QListWidget {
                font-size: 13px;
                background: transparent;
                border: none;
                outline: none;
            }
            QListWidget::item {
                padding: 5px 2px;
                margin: 0px 9px;
                border-radius: 4px;
            }
            QListWidget::item:selected {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
            }
        """)
        self.list_widget.viewport().setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        for item_text in ["General", "Appearance", "Sound", "Network", "Privacy"]:
            self.list_widget.addItem(QListWidgetItem(item_text))

        self.list_widget.setCurrentRow(0)
        layout.addWidget(self.list_widget)


class Content(QWidget):
    """Opaque content area."""

    def __init__(self, parent: QWidget | None = None) -> None:
        super().__init__(parent)
        self.setStyleSheet("background-color: #1e1e1e;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
        layout.setContentsMargins(20, 20, 20, 20)

        self.title = QLabel("General")
        self.title.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 18px;
            font-weight: bold;
            color: white;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        self.description = QLabel("Configure general application settings.")
        self.description.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 14px;
            color: #888888;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        layout.addWidget(self.title)
        layout.addSpacing(8)
        layout.addWidget(self.description)
        layout.addStretch()


class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
    def __init__(self) -> None:
        super().__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle("Settings")
        self.resize(720, 600)

        central = QWidget()
        layout = QHBoxLayout(central)
        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
        layout.setSpacing(0)

        self.sidebar = Sidebar()
        self.content = Content()

        layout.addWidget(self.sidebar)
        layout.addWidget(self.content, 1)

        self.setCentralWidget(central)


def main() -> int:
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)

    window = MainWindow()
    glass.prepare_window_for_glass(window)
    window.show()

    # Inset traffic lights to sit nicely on sidebar
    glass.setup_traffic_lights_inset(window, x_offset=18, y_offset=12)

    # Apply glass to sidebar with rounded corners
    glass.apply_glass_to_widget(window.sidebar, options=glass.GlassOptions.sidebar())

    return app.exec()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())

Frameless Floating Panel

A frameless, draggable panel useful for HUDs, tool palettes, or popovers.

"""Frameless window with glass effect example."""

import sys

from PySide6.QtCore import QPoint, Qt
from PySide6.QtGui import QMouseEvent
from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QLabel, QPushButton, QVBoxLayout, QWidget

import pyqt_liquidglass as glass


class FloatingPanel(QWidget):
    """A frameless, draggable floating panel with glass effect."""

    def __init__(self) -> None:
        super().__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle("Floating Panel")
        self.resize(300, 200)

        self._drag_position: QPoint | None = None

        self.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
        layout.setContentsMargins(24, 24, 24, 24)
        layout.setSpacing(16)

        title = QLabel("Floating Panel")
        title.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        title.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 18px;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: white;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        subtitle = QLabel("Drag anywhere to move")
        subtitle.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        subtitle.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 12px;
            color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
            background: transparent;
        """)

        close_button = QPushButton("Close")
        close_button.setStyleSheet("""
            QPushButton {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
                border: none;
                border-radius: 8px;
                padding: 10px 24px;
                color: white;
                font-size: 13px;
            }
            QPushButton:hover {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);
            }
            QPushButton:pressed {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
            }
        """)
        close_button.clicked.connect(self.close)

        layout.addWidget(title)
        layout.addWidget(subtitle)
        layout.addStretch()
        layout.addWidget(close_button)

    def mousePressEvent(self, event: QMouseEvent) -> None:
        if event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton:
            self._drag_position = (
                event.globalPosition().toPoint() - self.frameGeometry().topLeft()
            )
            event.accept()

    def mouseMoveEvent(self, event: QMouseEvent) -> None:
        if (
            event.buttons() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton
            and self._drag_position is not None
        ):
            self.move(event.globalPosition().toPoint() - self._drag_position)
            event.accept()

    def mouseReleaseEvent(self, event: QMouseEvent) -> None:
        self._drag_position = None


def main() -> int:
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)

    panel = FloatingPanel()

    # Prepare with frameless=True to remove window decorations
    glass.prepare_window_for_glass(panel, frameless=True)

    panel.show()

    # Apply glass with rounded corners for the floating look
    glass.apply_glass_to_window(panel, options=glass.GlassOptions(corner_radius=16.0))

    return app.exec()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())

Custom GlassOptions

Demonstrates different glass configurations side by side.

"""Custom GlassOptions example."""

import sys

from PySide6.QtCore import Qt
from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
    QApplication,
    QHBoxLayout,
    QLabel,
    QMainWindow,
    QVBoxLayout,
    QWidget,
)

import pyqt_liquidglass as glass


class GlassPanel(QWidget):
    """A panel that will have glass applied to it."""

    def __init__(self, title: str, parent: QWidget | None = None) -> None:
        super().__init__(parent)
        self.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
        layout.setContentsMargins(20, 20, 20, 20)

        label = QLabel(title)
        label.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        label.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 16px;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: white;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        layout.addWidget(label)


class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
    def __init__(self) -> None:
        super().__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle("Custom Glass Options")
        self.resize(800, 400)

        central = QWidget()
        central.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QHBoxLayout(central)
        layout.setContentsMargins(20, 60, 20, 20)
        layout.setSpacing(20)

        self.panel_default = GlassPanel("Default\n(no radius)")
        self.panel_default.setFixedWidth(200)

        self.panel_rounded = GlassPanel("Rounded\n(radius: 16)")
        self.panel_rounded.setFixedWidth(200)

        self.panel_padded = GlassPanel("Padded\n(padding: 20)")
        self.panel_padded.setFixedWidth(200)

        layout.addWidget(self.panel_default)
        layout.addWidget(self.panel_rounded)
        layout.addWidget(self.panel_padded)

        self.setCentralWidget(central)


def main() -> int:
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)

    window = MainWindow()

    glass.prepare_window_for_glass(window)

    window.show()

    # Apply window glass as background
    glass.apply_glass_to_window(window)

    # Apply different glass options to each panel
    glass.apply_glass_to_widget(
        window.panel_default,
        options=glass.GlassOptions(corner_radius=0.0, padding=(8, 8, 8, 8)),
    )

    glass.apply_glass_to_widget(
        window.panel_rounded,
        options=glass.GlassOptions(corner_radius=16.0, padding=(8, 8, 8, 8)),
    )

    glass.apply_glass_to_widget(
        window.panel_padded,
        options=glass.GlassOptions(corner_radius=12.0, padding=(20, 20, 20, 20)),
    )

    return app.exec()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())

Traffic Lights Control

Demonstrates hiding, showing, and repositioning the macOS window buttons.

"""Traffic lights control example."""

import sys

from PySide6.QtCore import Qt
from PySide6.QtWidgets import (
    QApplication,
    QHBoxLayout,
    QLabel,
    QMainWindow,
    QPushButton,
    QVBoxLayout,
    QWidget,
)

import pyqt_liquidglass as glass


class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
    def __init__(self) -> None:
        super().__init__()
        self.setWindowTitle("Traffic Lights Demo")
        self.resize(500, 300)

        self._lights_visible = True

        central = QWidget()
        central.setStyleSheet("background: transparent;")

        layout = QVBoxLayout(central)
        layout.setContentsMargins(40, 80, 40, 40)
        layout.setSpacing(20)

        title = QLabel("Traffic Lights Control")
        title.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        title.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 22px;
            font-weight: 600;
            color: white;
            background: transparent;
        """)

        description = QLabel(
            "The traffic lights have been repositioned.\n"
            "Use the button below to hide or show them."
        )
        description.setAlignment(Qt.AlignmentFlag.AlignCenter)
        description.setStyleSheet("""
            font-size: 13px;
            color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);
            background: transparent;
        """)

        buttons_layout = QHBoxLayout()
        buttons_layout.setSpacing(12)

        self.toggle_button = QPushButton("Hide Traffic Lights")
        self.toggle_button.setStyleSheet("""
            QPushButton {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.15);
                border: none;
                border-radius: 8px;
                padding: 12px 24px;
                color: white;
                font-size: 13px;
                min-width: 160px;
            }
            QPushButton:hover {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25);
            }
            QPushButton:pressed {
                background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);
            }
        """)
        self.toggle_button.clicked.connect(self._toggle_traffic_lights)

        buttons_layout.addStretch()
        buttons_layout.addWidget(self.toggle_button)
        buttons_layout.addStretch()

        layout.addWidget(title)
        layout.addWidget(description)
        layout.addStretch()
        layout.addLayout(buttons_layout)

        self.setCentralWidget(central)

    def _toggle_traffic_lights(self) -> None:
        if self._lights_visible:
            glass.hide_traffic_lights(self)
            self.toggle_button.setText("Show Traffic Lights")
        else:
            glass.show_traffic_lights(self)
            self.toggle_button.setText("Hide Traffic Lights")
        self._lights_visible = not self._lights_visible


def main() -> int:
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)

    window = MainWindow()

    glass.prepare_window_for_glass(window)

    window.show()

    # Apply glass to window
    glass.apply_glass_to_window(window)

    # Reposition traffic lights with custom offset
    glass.setup_traffic_lights_inset(window, x_offset=20, y_offset=16)

    return app.exec()


if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())