I'm running Ubuntu Jaunty, and I've switched to Xfce. In combination with compiz, my computer is beautiful and fast, and since it's all GTK I could use almost the identical theme I had in GNOME.

However, the xfce top panel, where I keep the clock, the notification area, the system menu (or in my case, GnoMenu) , that panel is quite ugly. I can make it transparent, but the icons go with it.

I'd like to do one of two things:

1. I'd like to add a nice background image to the panel, possibly with a bit of transparency, so that it's less blockish and ugly.

2. I'd like to make the panel completely or 90% transparent, but keep the icons on the panel opaque.

Note here that I'm not using the panel for application launchers. I already have cairo-dock, so using it, awn, kiba-dock or any other such thing won't solve my problem.

I've got compiz installed, and am willing to fiddle with desklets or screenlets, if either of those will help.

Thanks!

Yes, I'm aware that xfce-look.org exists, however, the existence of various GTK themes and other goodies doesn't help me configure the panel to allow for a background image or make it transparent. Thanks, though!