Running redshift under xfce [Alex Forencich]

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====== Running redshift under xfce ======

[[http://jonls.dk/redshift/|Redshift]] is a very handy program for people who tend to use their computers until after dark.  Redshift will automatically lower the monitor's color balance down towards the red end of the spectrum as the sun sets, mitigating eye strain while working in the dark.  However, it's designed to work with Gnome's clock applet, so if you aren't running gnome, a little extra work is needed to get it working.  Redshift needs to know the computer's latitude and longitude (approximate) in order to calculate the sunset and sunrise times.  It will refuse to start if it can't make this determination.  

First, install redshift.

Ubuntu:

<code># apt-add-repository ppa:jonls/redshift-ppa
# apt-get install redshift</code>

Arch:

<code># pacman -S redshift pyxdg</code>

Now, look up your latitude and longitude (one decimal place is good enough) and create the configuration file ''~/.config/redshift.conf'' with the following content:

<code>[redshift]
location-provider=manual

[manual]
lat=32.7
lon=-117.2
</code>

Now, start redshift (it will probably appear under accessories).  If the icon appears in the notification area, you're done.  Redshift can be toggled on and off by clicking on the icon.  For more configuration file options, look here: [[http://jonls.dk/2010/10/redshift-1-6-released/]].  

Redshift has a default day color temperature of 5500 K and a default night color temperature of 3700 K.  The default day temperature of 5500 K is 1000 K lower than the 6500 K standard of most monitors, so running redshift will give your monitor a red tint even during the day.  This can be troublesome for photo editing and other color temperature sensitive activities.  To counter this, there are two options.  One is to disable redshift when using color temperature sensitive applications.  The other is to change the default color temperatures in the config file.  Here is a sample configuration file with the temperature default changed:

<code>[redshift]
temp-day=6500
temp-night=3700
location-provider=manual

[manual]
lat=32.7
lon=-117.2
</code>