fix: allow disabling toolbar idle fade

config.example.toml

@@ -620,6 +620,10 @@ context_aware_ui = true
 # Show preset action toast notifications on apply/save/clear
 show_preset_toasts = true
 
+# Dim the top strip after ~4 seconds without drawing. Set false to keep
+# the bar fully visible (accessibility).
+idle_fade = true
+
 # Show cursor tool preview bubble near the pointer
 show_tool_preview = false
 

configurator/src/app/pages/ui/toolbar.rs

@@ -69,6 +69,12 @@ pub(super) fn build(sender: &ComponentSender<ConfiguratorApp>) -> BuiltPage {
             "",
             |app| app.draft.ui_toolbar_use_icons,
             |value| Message::ToggleChanged(ToggleField::UiToolbarUseIcons, value),
+        )
+        .switch_row(
+            "Dim toolbar when idle",
+            "Fade the top bar to 55% after a few seconds without drawing. Turn off to keep it fully visible.",
+            |app| app.draft.ui_toolbar_idle_fade,
+            |value| Message::ToggleChanged(ToggleField::UiToolbarIdleFade, value),
         );
 
     page.group("Sections")

configurator/src/app/search/terms.rs

@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@ pub(super) const UI_TOOLBAR_TERMS: &[&str] = &[
     "show marker opacity controls",
     "show tool preview bubble",
     "show preset action toasts",
+    "dim toolbar when idle",
+    "idle fade",
+    "toolbar fade",
+    "toolbar dim",
+    "keep toolbar visible",
     "force inline toolbars",
     "mode overrides",
     "edit mode",

configurator/src/models/config/draft/from_config.rs

@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ impl ConfigDraft {
             ui_toolbar_use_icons: config.ui.toolbar.use_icons,
             ui_toolbar_show_more_colors: config.ui.toolbar.show_more_colors,
             ui_toolbar_show_preset_toasts: config.ui.toolbar.show_preset_toasts,
+            ui_toolbar_idle_fade: config.ui.toolbar.idle_fade,
             ui_toolbar_layout_mode: ToolbarLayoutModeOption::from_mode(
                 config.ui.toolbar.layout_mode,
             ),

configurator/src/models/config/draft/mod.rs

@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ pub struct ConfigDraft {
     pub ui_toolbar_use_icons: bool,
     pub ui_toolbar_show_more_colors: bool,
     pub ui_toolbar_show_preset_toasts: bool,
+    pub ui_toolbar_idle_fade: bool,
     pub ui_toolbar_layout_mode: ToolbarLayoutModeOption,
     pub ui_toolbar_zoom_chip_display: ZoomChipDisplayOption,
     pub ui_toolbar_show_zoom_chip: bool,

configurator/src/models/config/setters.rs

@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ impl ConfigDraft {
             ToggleField::UiToolbarUseIcons => self.ui_toolbar_use_icons = value,
             ToggleField::UiToolbarShowMoreColors => self.ui_toolbar_show_more_colors = value,
             ToggleField::UiToolbarPresetToasts => self.ui_toolbar_show_preset_toasts = value,
+            ToggleField::UiToolbarIdleFade => self.ui_toolbar_idle_fade = value,
             ToggleField::UiToolbarShowPresets => {
                 self.set_toolbar_section_visible(ToolbarSectionFlag::Presets, value);
             }

configurator/src/models/config/tests.rs

@@ -1335,6 +1335,20 @@ fn config_draft_round_trips_ui_reduced_motion() {
     assert_eq!(round_trip.ui.reduced_motion, ReducedMotion::On);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn config_draft_round_trips_ui_toolbar_idle_fade() {
+    let mut config = Config::default();
+    config.ui.toolbar.idle_fade = false;
+
+    let draft = ConfigDraft::from_config(&config);
+    assert!(!draft.ui_toolbar_idle_fade);
+
+    let round_trip = draft
+        .to_config(&config)
+        .expect("expected config to round trip");
+    assert!(!round_trip.ui.toolbar.idle_fade);
+}
+
 /// The revision is provenance for a review the user went through, so a draft
 /// that never applied a migration must not stamp one on an old file.
 #[test]

configurator/src/models/config/to_config/ui.rs

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ impl ConfigDraft {
         config.ui.toolbar.use_icons = self.ui_toolbar_use_icons;
         config.ui.toolbar.show_more_colors = self.ui_toolbar_show_more_colors;
         config.ui.toolbar.show_preset_toasts = self.ui_toolbar_show_preset_toasts;
+        config.ui.toolbar.idle_fade = self.ui_toolbar_idle_fade;
         config.ui.toolbar.layout_mode = self.ui_toolbar_layout_mode.to_mode();
         config.ui.toolbar.zoom_chip_display = self.ui_toolbar_zoom_chip_display.to_config();
         config.ui.toolbar.show_zoom_chip = self.ui_toolbar_show_zoom_chip;

configurator/src/models/fields/toggles.rs

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ pub enum ToggleField {
     UiToolbarUseIcons,
     UiToolbarShowMoreColors,
     UiToolbarPresetToasts,
+    UiToolbarIdleFade,
     UiToolbarShowPresets,
     UiToolbarShowActionsSection,
     UiToolbarShowActionsAdvanced,

docs/CONFIG.md

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ saved separately so moving through the UI does not rewrite unrelated configurati
 - individual toolbar item visibility and toolbar item order;
 - the toolbar layout preset and which named toolbar sections are shown;
 - the toolbar's own appearance and behaviour toggles — icons vs text labels, extra colours,
-  context-aware UI, preset toasts, the tool preview, and the delay sliders;
+  context-aware UI, preset toasts, idle fade, the tool preview, and the delay sliders;
 - the status bar, whether its segments respond to clicks, and which segments are shown;
 - the board and page badges, the floating badge, and the zoom chip;
 - the click highlight and the ring the highlight tool keeps on screen;
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ Both `config.toml` mechanisms leave a timestamped `.bak` beside the file.
 | Toggle the status bar, its interactivity, or one of its items; the board/page badges, floating badge, or zoom chip | `runtime-ui.toml` | Runtime-UI writer |
 | Toggle click highlight or the highlight-tool ring | `runtime-ui.toml` — both at once | Runtime-UI writer |
 | Toggle the input HUD | `runtime-ui.toml` | Runtime-UI writer |
-| Toggle the Step section, delay sliders, tool preview, preset toasts, extra colors, or context-aware UI | `runtime-ui.toml` | Runtime-UI writer |
+| Toggle the Step section, delay sliders, tool preview, preset toasts, idle fade, extra colors, or context-aware UI | `runtime-ui.toml` | Runtime-UI writer |
 | Save or clear a preset slot in the overlay | `config.toml` — that one `[presets.slot_N]` table | Overlay editor (with a timestamped `.bak`) |
 | Recolor a quick color swatch in the overlay | `config.toml` — that one `[[drawing.quick_colors]]` entry | Overlay editor (with a timestamped `.bak`) |
 | Rename, recolor, add, or delete a board | The session file, for boards marked `persist` | Configurator → Boards for the templates a new session starts from |
@@ -1107,6 +1107,10 @@ context_aware_ui = true
 # Show preset action toast notifications on apply/save/clear
 show_preset_toasts = true
 
+# Dim the top strip after ~4 seconds without drawing. Set false to keep
+# the bar fully visible (accessibility).
+idle_fade = true
+
 # Show cursor tool preview bubble
 show_tool_preview = false
 
@@ -1188,7 +1192,7 @@ top_controls = [
 - **Pinned**: `top_pinned` is the authored default for whether the top toolbar opens on startup. Pinning or unpinning in the overlay saves to `runtime-ui.toml` and leaves this value alone. The show/hide keybinding (`toggle_toolbar`, default <kbd>F9</kbd>) updates the remembered pin, so the next start matches what was on screen.
 - **Minimize**: the toolbar minimize button collapses the top strip to a small edge tab instead of hiding it, so there is always an on-screen way back; `top_minimized` is the authored default, and the state you leave the bar in survives restarts as a runtime preference in `runtime-ui.toml`. F9 still toggles full visibility.
 - **Micro mode**: `cycle_toolbar_display` (default <kbd>F2</kbd>) cycles the top strip full → micro → hidden. Micro collapses the strip to one 44px round chip showing the active tool inside a ring stroked in the current color (ring width follows stroke thickness); clicking the chip restores the full strip. The full/micro form persists as a runtime preference in `runtime-ui.toml`, seeded by the authored `top_display_mode`; the hidden step alone is runtime-only — the next start derives the strip's visibility from the remembered pin (which the F9 show/hide toggle updates durably), so a cycle-hidden strip comes back. Entering micro un-minimizes the strip; if a config sets both `top_minimized` and micro, the minimized restore tab wins.
-- **Idle fade**: the top-strip islands dim to 55% opacity after ~4 seconds without drawing activity and restore when the pointer approaches the toolbar (or on the next stroke). Open top-strip menus, the minimized tab, and the micro chip never fade. With `[ui] reduced_motion` the fade snaps instantly instead of animating; there is no separate config key.
+- **Idle fade**: `idle_fade` dims the top-strip islands to 55% opacity after ~4 seconds without drawing activity and restores when the pointer approaches the toolbar (or on the next stroke). Open top-strip menus, the minimized tab, and the micro chip never fade. With `[ui] reduced_motion` the fade snaps instantly instead of animating. Set `idle_fade = false` (or uncheck **Idle fade** in the overlay Settings popover / **Dim toolbar when idle** in the configurator) to keep the bar fully visible.
 - **Top-only toolbar**: the unified top toolbar is the only supported layout. Drawing properties live in the contextual style pill; canvas management lives in the **"Canvas…" overflow popover**, the **bottom-right zoom chip**, and the **status-bar board picker**; presets live in the **top-strip presets island**; Session and Settings live in overflow popovers. Older panel keys (`side_layout`, `side_pinned`, `side_minimized`, `side_active_pane`, `collapsed_sections`, `side_offset`, `side_offset_x`, `show_settings_section`, and the retired `items.order.*` lists `side_sections`, `actions`, `pages`, `boards`, `presets`, `tool_options`, and `sessions`) remain readable, are preserved on unrelated saves, and surface as retired-setting diagnostics so they can be removed manually.
 - **Session/Settings popovers**: the top strip's overflow menu always carries "Session..." and "Settings..." entries. Opening one closes the other and the overflow menu; Escape and clicking away dismiss it. Content taller than the popover cap scrolls internally.
 - **Hidden items**: `ui.toolbar.items.hidden` removes known toolbar buttons/sections from sizing, drawing, and hit testing while preserving unknown future IDs.

src/backend/wayland/backend/state_init/input_state.rs

@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ pub(super) fn build_input_state(config: &Config) -> InputState {
         config.ui.toolbar.show_delay_sliders,
         config.ui.toolbar.show_marker_opacity_section,
         config.ui.toolbar.show_preset_toasts,
+        config.ui.toolbar.idle_fade,
         config.ui.toolbar.show_tool_preview,
     );
     input_state.init_toolbar_minimized_from_config(config.ui.toolbar.top_minimized);

src/backend/wayland/runtime_ui_state/live_state.rs

@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ pub(super) fn apply_live_toolbar_state(
     {
         input.show_preset_toasts = value;
     }
+    if include(&InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarIdleFade)
+        && let Some(value) = bool_value(InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarIdleFade)
+    {
+        input.idle_fade = value;
+    }
     if include(&InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarToolPreview)
         && let Some(value) = bool_value(InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarToolPreview)
     {

src/backend/wayland/runtime_ui_state/rollback.rs

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ pub(in crate::backend::wayland) fn apply_toolbar_runtime_rollback(
             Target::ToolbarMoreColors => set_bool(value, |v| input.show_more_colors = v),
             Target::ToolbarContextAwareUi => set_bool(value, |v| input.context_aware_ui = v),
             Target::ToolbarPresetToasts => set_bool(value, |v| input.show_preset_toasts = v),
+            Target::ToolbarIdleFade => set_bool(value, |v| input.idle_fade = v),
             Target::ToolbarToolPreview => set_bool(value, |v| input.show_tool_preview = v),
             Target::ToolbarDelaySliders => set_bool(value, |v| input.show_delay_sliders = v),
             Target::HistoryCustomSection => set_bool(value, |v| input.custom_section_enabled = v),

src/backend/wayland/runtime_ui_state/seeds.rs

@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ pub(super) fn runtime_seeds_from_config(
         InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarPresetToasts,
         InteractionSeedValue::Bool(config.ui.toolbar.show_preset_toasts),
     )?;
+    insert(
+        InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarIdleFade,
+        InteractionSeedValue::Bool(config.ui.toolbar.idle_fade),
+    )?;
     insert(
         InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarToolPreview,
         InteractionSeedValue::Bool(config.ui.toolbar.show_tool_preview),
@@ -238,6 +242,10 @@ pub(super) fn toolbar_values(
             InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarPresetToasts,
             InteractionSeedValue::Bool(input.show_preset_toasts),
         ),
+        Target::ToolbarIdleFade => RuntimeUiMutationValues::one(
+            InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarIdleFade,
+            InteractionSeedValue::Bool(input.idle_fade),
+        ),
         Target::ToolbarToolPreview => RuntimeUiMutationValues::one(
             InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarToolPreview,
             InteractionSeedValue::Bool(user_tool_preview(input)),

src/backend/wayland/runtime_ui_state/tests/preference_actions.rs

@@ -196,6 +196,11 @@ fn a_rollback_restores_every_durable_chrome_preference() {
             |i| i.show_preset_toasts,
             |i| i.show_preset_toasts = !i.show_preset_toasts,
         ),
+        (
+            InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarIdleFade,
+            |i| i.idle_fade,
+            |i| i.idle_fade = !i.idle_fade,
+        ),
         (
             InteractionSeedTarget::ToolbarToolPreview,
             |i| i.show_tool_preview,

src/backend/wayland/state/toolbar/events/tests.rs

@@ -341,6 +341,7 @@ fn overlay_preference_toggles_leave_both_configs_untouched() {
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleMoreColors(true),
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleContextAwareUi(false),
             ToolbarEvent::TogglePresetToasts(false),
+            ToolbarEvent::ToggleIdleFade(false),
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleDelaySliders(true),
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleCustomSection(true),
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleInputHud(true),
@@ -829,6 +830,7 @@ fn settings_popover_survives_its_own_controls_and_dismisses_on_everything_else()
         ToolbarEvent::ToggleStatusPageBadge(true),
         ToolbarEvent::ToggleFloatingBadgeAlways(true),
         ToolbarEvent::TogglePresetToasts(true),
+        ToolbarEvent::ToggleIdleFade(true),
         ToolbarEvent::ToggleInputHud(true),
         ToolbarEvent::TogglePresets(true),
         ToolbarEvent::ToggleActionsSection(true),

src/backend/wayland/state/toolbar/fade.rs

@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ impl WaylandState {
             pointer_near,
             menus_open: top_menus_open(input),
             reduced_chrome,
+            idle_fade_enabled: input.idle_fade,
         }
     }
 }

src/config/tests/load.rs

@@ -1270,6 +1270,23 @@ fn ui_status_bar_interactive_round_trips_disabled_value() {
     assert!(!reparsed.ui.status_bar_interactive);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn ui_toolbar_idle_fade_defaults_to_true_and_round_trips_disabled() {
+    assert!(Config::default().ui.toolbar.idle_fade);
+
+    let omitted: Config = toml::from_str("[ui.toolbar]\nuse_icons = true\n")
+        .expect("toolbar table without idle_fade should parse");
+    assert!(omitted.ui.toolbar.idle_fade);
+
+    let parsed: Config = toml::from_str("[ui.toolbar]\nidle_fade = false\n")
+        .expect("idle_fade = false should parse");
+    assert!(!parsed.ui.toolbar.idle_fade);
+
+    let serialized = toml::to_string(&parsed).expect("config serializes");
+    let reparsed: Config = toml::from_str(&serialized).expect("serialized config reparses");
+    assert!(!reparsed.ui.toolbar.idle_fade);
+}
+
 #[cfg(feature = "tablet-input")]
 #[test]
 fn load_defaults_tablet_input_to_enabled_when_section_is_missing() {

src/config/types/toolbar/config.rs

@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ pub struct ToolbarConfig {
     #[serde(default = "default_show_preset_toasts")]
     pub show_preset_toasts: bool,
 
+    /// Dim the top strip after a few seconds without drawing
+    #[serde(default = "default_idle_fade")]
+    pub idle_fade: bool,
+
     /// Show the cursor tool preview bubble
     #[serde(default = "default_show_tool_preview")]
     pub show_tool_preview: bool,
@@ -161,6 +165,7 @@ impl Default for ToolbarConfig {
             show_marker_opacity_section: default_show_marker_opacity_section(),
             context_aware_ui: default_context_aware_ui(),
             show_preset_toasts: default_show_preset_toasts(),
+            idle_fade: default_idle_fade(),
             show_tool_preview: default_show_tool_preview(),
             top_offset: 0.0,
             top_offset_y: 0.0,
@@ -242,6 +247,10 @@ fn default_show_preset_toasts() -> bool {
     true
 }
 
+fn default_idle_fade() -> bool {
+    true
+}
+
 fn default_show_tool_preview() -> bool {
     false
 }

src/input/state/core/base/state/init.rs

@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ impl InputState {
             show_delay_sliders: false, // Default to hidden
             show_marker_opacity_section: false,
             show_preset_toasts: true,
+            idle_fade: true,
             show_tool_preview: false,
             ui_toast: None,
             toast_queue: super::super::toast_queue::ToastQueue::default(),

src/input/state/core/base/state/structs.rs

@@ -495,6 +495,8 @@ pub struct InputState {
     pub show_marker_opacity_section: bool,
     /// Whether to show preset action toast notifications
     pub show_preset_toasts: bool,
+    /// Whether the top strip dims after a few seconds without drawing
+    pub idle_fade: bool,
     /// Whether to show the cursor tool preview bubble
     pub show_tool_preview: bool,
     /// Active (visible) UI toast (errors/warnings/info)

src/input/state/core/tool_controls/toolbar.rs

@@ -197,6 +197,7 @@ impl InputState {
         show_delay_sliders: bool,
         show_marker_opacity_section: bool,
         show_preset_toasts: bool,
+        idle_fade: bool,
         show_tool_preview: bool,
     ) {
         self.toolbar_top_pinned = top_pinned;
@@ -221,6 +222,7 @@ impl InputState {
         self.show_delay_sliders = show_delay_sliders;
         self.show_marker_opacity_section = show_marker_opacity_section;
         self.show_preset_toasts = show_preset_toasts;
+        self.idle_fade = idle_fade;
         self.show_tool_preview = show_tool_preview;
         // Fold the legacy show_* booleans into explicit item overrides,
         // then re-derive them from the one resolver. Effective visibility
@@ -550,6 +552,7 @@ mod tests {
             false,
             false,
             true,
+            true,
             false,
         );
 

src/input/state/tests/toolbar_display.rs

@@ -895,6 +895,10 @@ fn run_only_toolbar_preference_events_never_mark_the_session_dirty() {
             ToolbarEvent::TogglePresetToasts(false),
             ToolbarEvent::TogglePresetToasts(true),
         ],
+        [
+            ToolbarEvent::ToggleIdleFade(false),
+            ToolbarEvent::ToggleIdleFade(true),
+        ],
         [
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleToolPreview(false),
             ToolbarEvent::ToggleToolPreview(true),

src/runtime_ui_state/types.rs

@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ pub(crate) enum InteractionSeedTarget {
     ToolbarMoreColors,
     ToolbarContextAwareUi,
     ToolbarPresetToasts,
+    ToolbarIdleFade,
     ToolbarToolPreview,
     ToolbarDelaySliders,
     /// The history pane's custom-step section.
@@ -177,6 +178,7 @@ impl InteractionSeedValue {
                     | Target::ToolbarMoreColors
                     | Target::ToolbarContextAwareUi
                     | Target::ToolbarPresetToasts
+                    | Target::ToolbarIdleFade
                     | Target::ToolbarToolPreview
                     | Target::ToolbarDelaySliders
                     | Target::HistoryCustomSection