iff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/colorset.c fvwm-patched/fvwm/colorset.c
--- fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/colorset.c	2018-05-26 05:35:26.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/fvwm/colorset.c	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@
 	"NoIconTint",
 	"IconAlpha",
 
+	"Translucent",
+	"NoTranslucent",
 	NULL
 };
 
@@ -625,6 +627,7 @@
 	char *fg_tint = NULL;
 	char *bg_tint = NULL;
 	char *icon_tint = NULL;
+	char *translucent_tint = NULL;
 	Bool have_pixels_changed = False;
 	Bool has_icon_pixels_changed = False;
 	Bool has_fg_changed = False;
@@ -637,6 +640,7 @@
 	Bool has_fg_tint_changed = False;
 	Bool has_bg_tint_changed = False;
 	Bool has_icon_tint_changed = False;
+	Bool has_translucent_tint_changed = False;
 	Bool has_pixmap_changed = False;
 	Bool has_shape_changed = False;
 	Bool has_image_alpha_changed = False;
@@ -764,6 +768,10 @@
 		case 21: /* Plain */
 			has_pixmap_changed = True;
 			free_colorset_background(cs, True);
+			cs->is_translucent = False;
+			cs->translucent_tint_percent = 0;
+			cs->color_flags &= ~TRANSLUCENT_TINT_SUPPLIED;
+			has_translucent_tint_changed = True;
 			break;
 		case 22: /* NoShape */
 			has_shape_changed = True;
@@ -930,6 +938,24 @@
 				cs->icon_alpha_percent = tmp;
 			}
 			break;
+		case 42: /* Translucent */
+			cs->is_translucent = True;
+			parse_simple_tint(
+				cs, args, &translucent_tint,
+				TRANSLUCENT_TINT_SUPPLIED,
+				&has_translucent_tint_changed, &percent,
+				"Translucent");
+			if (has_translucent_tint_changed)
+			{
+				cs->translucent_tint_percent = percent;
+			}
+			break;
+		case 43: /* NoTranslucent */
+			cs->is_translucent = False;
+			cs->translucent_tint_percent = 0;
+			cs->color_flags &= ~TRANSLUCENT_TINT_SUPPLIED;
+			has_translucent_tint_changed = True;
+			break;
 		default:
 			/* test for ?Gradient */
 			if (option[0] && StrEquals(&option[1], "Gradient"))
@@ -1633,6 +1659,27 @@
 	}
 
 	/*
+	 * ---------- change the translucent tint colour ----------
+	 */
+	if (has_translucent_tint_changed)
+	{
+		/* user specified colour */
+		if (translucent_tint != NULL)
+		{
+			PictureFreeColors(
+				dpy, Pcmap, &cs->translucent_tint, 1, 0, True);
+			cs->translucent_tint = GetColor(translucent_tint);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			/* default */
+			PictureFreeColors(
+				dpy, Pcmap, &cs->translucent_tint, 1, 0, True);
+			cs->translucent_tint = GetColor(black);
+		}
+	}
+
+	/*
 	 * ---------- send new colorset to fvwm and clean up ----------
 	 */
 	/* make sure the server has this to avoid races */
@@ -1728,6 +1775,7 @@
 			ncs->fgsh = GetColor(white);
 			ncs->tint = GetColor(black);
 			ncs->icon_tint = GetColor(black);
+			ncs->translucent_tint = GetColor(black);
 			ncs->pixmap = XCreatePixmapFromBitmapData(
 				dpy, Scr.NoFocusWin,
 				&g_bits[4 * (nColorsets % 3)], 4, 4,
@@ -1745,6 +1793,7 @@
 			ncs->fgsh = GetForeShadow(ncs->fg, ncs->bg);
 			ncs->tint = GetColor(black);
 			ncs->icon_tint = GetColor(black);
+			ncs->translucent_tint = GetColor(black);
 		}
 		ncs->fg_tint = ncs->bg_tint = GetColor(black);
 		/* set flags for fg contrast, bg average */
@@ -1756,6 +1805,7 @@
 		ncs->icon_alpha_percent = 100;
 		ncs->tint_percent = 0;
 		ncs->icon_tint_percent = 0;
+		ncs->translucent_tint_percent = 0;
 		ncs->fg_tint_percent = ncs->bg_tint_percent = 0;
 		ncs->dither = (PictureDitherByDefault())? True:False;
 		nColorsets++;
Only in fvwm-patched/fvwm: colorset.c.orig
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menuroot.h fvwm-patched/fvwm/menuroot.h
--- fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menuroot.h	2016-10-15 08:51:45.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/fvwm/menuroot.h	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -146,6 +146,9 @@
 		int d_npixels;
 	} stored_pixels;
 	/* alloc pixels when dithering is used for gradients */
+	/* x,y XMapRaise */
+	int x;
+	int y;
 } MenuRootDynamic;
 
 /* access macros to dynamic menu members */
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menus.c fvwm-patched/fvwm/menus.c
--- fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menus.c	2018-05-26 05:35:26.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/fvwm/menus.c	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -78,6 +78,19 @@
 #define SCTX_GET_MR(ctx)	((ctx).type == SCTX_MENU_ROOT ? \
 				 (ctx).menu_root.menu_root : NULL)
 
+#define MENU_IS_TRANSLUCENT(mr,cs) \
+	(!MR_IS_TEAR_OFF_MENU(mr) && CSET_IS_TRANSLUCENT(cs))
+#define MENU_IS_TRANSPARENT(mr,cs) \
+	(MENU_IS_TRANSLUCENT(mr,cs) || CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT(cs))
+#define MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr)  \
+	(!MR_IS_TEAR_OFF_MENU(mr) && MR_STYLE(mr) && \
+	ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(MR_STYLE(mr)) && CSET_IS_TRANSLUCENT( \
+						ST_CSET_MENU(MR_STYLE(mr))))
+#define MR_IS_TRANSPARENT_MENU(mr) \
+	(MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr) || (MR_STYLE(mr) && \
+	ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(MR_STYLE(mr)) && CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT( \
+						ST_CSET_MENU(MR_STYLE(mr)))))
+
 /* ---------------------------- imports ------------------------------------ */
 
 /* This external is safe. It's written only during startup. */
@@ -220,6 +233,8 @@
 } mloop_static_info_t;
 
 /* ---------------------------- forward declarations ----------------------- */
+static MenuRoot *seek_submenu_instance(
+	MenuRoot *parent_menu, MenuItem *parent_item);
 
 /* ---------------------------- local variables ---------------------------- */
 
@@ -381,12 +396,22 @@
 		Bool transparent_bg = False;
 
 		/* move it back */
-		if (ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(MR_STYLE(mr)) &&
-		    CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT(ST_CSET_MENU(MR_STYLE(mr))))
+		if (MR_IS_TRANSPARENT_MENU(mr))
 		{
 			transparent_bg = True;
 			get_menu_repaint_transparent_parameters(
 				&mrtp, mr, fw);
+			if (MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr) && MR_SUBMENU_ITEM(mr))
+			{
+				MenuRoot *smr;
+				smr = seek_submenu_instance(
+					mr, MR_SUBMENU_ITEM(mr));
+				if (smr)
+				{
+					/* just unmap it here, popdown later */
+					XUnmapWindow(dpy, MR_WINDOW(smr));
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		AnimatedMoveOfWindow(
 			MR_WINDOW(mr), act_x, act_y, act_x - MR_XANIMATION(mr),
@@ -1912,6 +1937,7 @@
 				/* Doh.  Use the standard display instead. */
 				MR_CREATE_DPY(mr) = dpy;
 			}
+			MR_IS_TEAR_OFF_MENU(mr) = 1;
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -2716,7 +2742,37 @@
 	}
 	MR_IS_PAINTED(mr) = 1;
 	/* paint the menu background */
-	if (ms && ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(ms))
+	if (MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr))
+	{
+		Pixmap trans = None;
+		FvwmRenderAttributes fra;
+		colorset_t *colorset = &Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)];
+	
+		fra.mask = 0;
+		if (colorset->translucent_tint_percent > 0)
+		{
+			fra.mask = FRAM_HAVE_TINT;
+			fra.tint = colorset->translucent_tint;
+			fra.tint_percent = colorset->translucent_tint_percent;
+		}
+		if (MR_IS_BACKGROUND_SET(mr) == False)
+		{
+			trans = PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
+				dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), &fra,
+				BACK_GC(ST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(ms)),
+				MR_X(mr), MR_Y(mr), MR_WIDTH(mr), MR_HEIGHT(mr));
+			XMapRaised(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
+			if (trans != None)
+			{
+				XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap(
+					dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), trans);
+				MR_IS_BACKGROUND_SET(mr) = True;
+				clear_expose_menu_area(MR_WINDOW(mr), pevent);
+				XFreePixmap(dpy, trans);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	else if (ms && ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(ms))
 	{
 		if (MR_IS_BACKGROUND_SET(mr) == False)
 		{
@@ -3525,10 +3581,7 @@
 					MR_HAS_POPPED_UP_RIGHT(mr) = 0;
 				}
 				MR_XANIMATION(parent_menu) += end_x - prev_x;
-				if (ST_HAS_MENU_CSET(MR_STYLE(parent_menu)) &&
-				    CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT(
-					    ST_CSET_MENU(
-						    MR_STYLE(parent_menu))))
+				if (MR_IS_TRANSPARENT_MENU(parent_menu))
 				{
 					transparent_bg = True;
 					get_menu_repaint_transparent_parameters(
@@ -3707,10 +3760,21 @@
 	 */
 
 	XMoveWindow(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), x, y);
+	MR_X(mr) = x;
+	MR_Y(mr) = y;
 	XSelectInput(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), event_mask);
-	XMapRaised(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
-	if (popdown_window)
-		XUnmapWindow(dpy, popdown_window);
+	if (MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr))
+	{
+		if (popdown_window)
+			XUnmapWindow(dpy, popdown_window);
+		paint_menu(mr, NULL, fw);
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		XMapRaised(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
+		if (popdown_window)
+			XUnmapWindow(dpy, popdown_window);
+	}
 	XFlush(dpy);
 	MR_MAPPED_COPIES(mr)++;
 	MST_USAGE_COUNT(mr)++;
@@ -6274,16 +6338,122 @@
 	{
 		last = True;
 	}
-	if (!last && CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT_PR_TINT(ST_CSET_MENU(ms)))
+	if (!last &&
+	    (CSET_IS_TRANSPARENT_PR_TINT(ST_CSET_MENU(ms)) ||
+	     MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr)))
 	{
 		/* too slow ... */
 		return;
 	}
-	SetWindowBackgroundWithOffset(
-		dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), step_x - current_x, step_y - current_y,
-		MR_WIDTH(mr), MR_HEIGHT(mr),
-		&Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)], Pdepth,
-		FORE_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)), False);
+	if (MR_IS_TRANSLUCENT_MENU(mr))
+	{
+		Pixmap trans, tmp;
+		FvwmRenderAttributes fra;
+		colorset_t *colorset = &Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)];
+
+		fra.mask = 0;
+		if (colorset->translucent_tint_percent > 0)
+		{
+			fra.mask = FRAM_HAVE_TINT;
+			fra.tint = colorset->translucent_tint;
+			fra.tint_percent = colorset->translucent_tint_percent;
+		}
+		if (current_x == step_x) 
+		{
+			/* Reuse the old pixmap for the part of the menu 
+			 * that has not moved. (This can be extended to get
+			 * two new rectangles, one in each direction)
+			 * 
+			 * It saves the unmapping of the window and makes 
+			 * Things less flickering.
+			 */
+			GC my_gc;
+			unsigned long valuemask = GCSubwindowMode;
+			XGCValues values;
+			int out_y=0;
+			values.subwindow_mode = IncludeInferiors;
+			if (step_y < 0)
+			{
+				out_y = -step_y;
+			}
+			trans = XCreatePixmap(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), MR_WIDTH(mr),
+					      MR_HEIGHT(mr), Pdepth);
+			my_gc = fvwmlib_XCreateGC(dpy,  MR_WINDOW(mr), 0, NULL);
+			XChangeGC(dpy, my_gc, valuemask, &values);
+
+			XClearWindow(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
+
+			if (current_y < step_y)
+			{
+				XCopyArea(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), trans, my_gc, 0, 
+					  step_y-current_y, MR_WIDTH(mr), 
+					  MR_HEIGHT(mr)-(step_y-current_y),
+					  0,0);
+				tmp = PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
+					dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), &fra,
+					BACK_GC(ST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(ms)),
+					current_x, current_y+MR_HEIGHT(mr), 
+					MR_WIDTH(mr), step_y-current_y);
+
+				XCopyArea(dpy, tmp, trans, my_gc, 0, 0,
+					  MR_WIDTH(mr), step_y-current_y,0,
+					  MR_HEIGHT(mr)-(step_y-current_y));
+			}
+			else 
+			{
+				XCopyArea(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), trans, my_gc, 0, 
+					  0, MR_WIDTH(mr), 
+					  MR_HEIGHT(mr)-(current_y-step_y), 0,
+					  current_y-step_y);
+				tmp = PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
+					dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), &fra,
+					BACK_GC(ST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(ms)),
+					current_x,step_y, MR_WIDTH(mr),
+					current_y-step_y);
+				XCopyArea(dpy, tmp, trans, my_gc, 0, 0,
+					  MR_WIDTH(mr), current_y-step_y,0,
+					  out_y);
+			}
+			MR_X(mr) = step_x;
+			MR_Y(mr) = step_y;
+			XFreePixmap(dpy, tmp);
+			XFreeGC(dpy,my_gc);
+		}		
+		else
+		{
+			XUnmapWindow(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
+			MR_X(mr) = step_x;
+			MR_Y(mr) = step_y;
+			trans = PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
+				dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), &fra,
+				BACK_GC(ST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(ms)),
+				step_x, step_y, MR_WIDTH(mr), 
+				MR_HEIGHT(mr));
+			XMapRaised(dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr));
+		}
+		XSetWindowBackgroundPixmap(
+			dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), trans);
+		XFreePixmap(dpy, trans);
+		if (current_x == step_x)
+		{
+			/* Redraw the border */
+			RelieveRectangle(
+				dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), 0, 0, MR_WIDTH(mr) - 1,
+				MR_HEIGHT(mr) - 1, (Pdepth < 2) ?
+				SHADOW_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)) :
+				HILIGHT_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)),
+				SHADOW_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)), 
+				MST_BORDER_WIDTH(mr));
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		SetWindowBackgroundWithOffset(
+			dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), step_x - current_x,
+			step_y - current_y, MR_WIDTH(mr), MR_HEIGHT(mr),
+			&Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)], Pdepth,
+			FORE_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)), False);
+	}
 }
 
 
@@ -6324,10 +6494,7 @@
 	}
 	if (!is_bg_set)
 	{
-		SetWindowBackground(
-			dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), MR_WIDTH(mr), MR_HEIGHT(mr),
-			&Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)], Pdepth,
-			FORE_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)), False);
+		update_transparent_menu_bg(prtm, x, y, x, y, end_x, end_y);
 	}
 	/* redraw the background of non active item */
 	for (mi = MR_FIRST_ITEM(mr); mi != NULL; mi = MI_NEXT_ITEM(mi))
@@ -6951,10 +7118,12 @@
 				SetWindowBackground(
 					dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), MR_WIDTH(mr),
 					MR_HEIGHT(mr),
-					&Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)],
-					Pdepth,
+					&Colorset[ST_CSET_MENU(ms)], Pdepth,
 					FORE_GC(MST_MENU_INACTIVE_GCS(mr)),
-					True);
+					False);
+				XClearArea(
+					dpy, MR_WINDOW(mr), 0, 0, MR_WIDTH(mr),
+					MR_HEIGHT(mr), True);
 			}
 			else if ((ST_HAS_ACTIVE_CSET(ms) &&
 				  ST_CSET_ACTIVE(ms) == cset) ||
Only in fvwm-patched/fvwm: menus.c.orig
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menus.h fvwm-patched/fvwm/menus.h
--- fvwm-2.6.9/fvwm/menus.h	2016-10-15 08:51:45.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/fvwm/menus.h	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@
 #define IS_MENU_RETURN(x) \
   ((x)==MENU_DONE || (x)==MENU_ABORTED || (x)==MENU_SUBMENU_TORN_OFF)
 
+#define MR_X(m)                     ((m)->d->x)
+#define MR_Y(m)                     ((m)->d->y)
+
 struct MenuRoot;
 struct MenuStyle;
 struct MenuReturn;
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/libs/Colorset.h fvwm-patched/libs/Colorset.h
--- fvwm-2.6.9/libs/Colorset.h	2016-10-15 08:51:45.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/libs/Colorset.h	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@
 	Bool dither;
 	Bool allows_buffered_transparency;
 	Bool is_maybe_root_transparent;
+	/* only use by fvwm menu (non tear-off) */
+	Bool is_translucent;
+	Pixel translucent_tint;
+	unsigned int translucent_tint_percent : 7;
 #endif
 } colorset_t;
 
@@ -78,6 +82,7 @@
 #define FG_TINT_SUPPLIED  0x100
 #define BG_TINT_SUPPLIED  0x200
 #define ICON_TINT_SUPPLIED 0x400
+#define TRANSLUCENT_TINT_SUPPLIED 0x800
 #endif
 
 /* colorsets are stored as an array of structs to permit fast dereferencing */
@@ -153,6 +158,11 @@
     (cset != NULL && cset->pixmap == ParentRelative && \
      cset->tint_percent > 0)
 
+#define CSET_IS_TRANSLUCENT(cset) \
+    (cset >= 0 && Colorset[cset].is_translucent)
+#define CSETS_IS_TRANSLUCENT(cset) \
+    (cset && cset->is_translucent)
+
 #ifndef FVWM_COLORSET_PRIVATE
 /* Create n new colorsets, fvwm/colorset.c does its own thing (different size)
  */
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/libs/PictureGraphics.c fvwm-patched/libs/PictureGraphics.c
--- fvwm-2.6.9/libs/PictureGraphics.c	2018-05-26 05:35:26.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/libs/PictureGraphics.c	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -1360,7 +1360,7 @@
 	}
 }
 
-#if 0 /* humm... maybe useful one day with menus */
+#if 1 /* humm... maybe useful one day with menus */
 Pixmap PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
 	Display *dpy, Window win, FvwmRenderAttributes *fra, GC gc,
 	int x, int y, int width, int height)
Only in fvwm-patched/libs: PictureGraphics.c.orig
diff --unified --recursive --text fvwm-2.6.9/libs/PictureGraphics.h fvwm-patched/libs/PictureGraphics.h
--- fvwm-2.6.9/libs/PictureGraphics.h	2016-10-15 08:51:45.000000000 -0600
+++ fvwm-patched/libs/PictureGraphics.h	2020-08-21 15:22:28.542638787 -0600
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@
 	Display *dpy, Window win, Pixel tint, int tint_percent,
 	Drawable dest, Bool dest_is_a_window, GC gc, GC mono_gc, GC alpha_gc,
 	int dest_x, int dest_y, int dest_w, int dest_h);
-
+Pixmap PGraphicsCreateTranslucent(
+	Display *dpy, Window win, FvwmRenderAttributes *fra, GC gc,
+	int x, int y, int width, int height);
 /* never used ! */
 Pixmap PGraphicsCreateDitherPixmap(
 	Display *dpy, Window win, Drawable src, Pixmap mask, int depth, GC gc,
