diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 8228aef6f6..327cc9c544 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -7747,7 +7747,6 @@ David  24 Oct 2011
         parse.h
 
 Charlie 25 Oct 2011
-Charlie 23 Oct 2011
     - MGR: Sort Simple View task selection control alphabetically.
         Subclassed CBOINCBitmapComboBox from wxBitmapComboBox to work 
         around clientData bug in wxBitmapComboBox::Insert().
@@ -7760,3 +7759,11 @@ Charlie 23 Oct 2011
         sg_TaskPanel.cpp,.h
     win_build/
         boincmgr.vcproj
+
+Charlie 25 Oct 2011
+    - MGR: Allow skin to specify the (simulated) opacity of Simple View 
+        task and project panels.
+
+    clientgui/
+        sg_PanelBase.cpp
+        SkinManager.cpp,.h
diff --git a/clientgui/SkinManager.cpp b/clientgui/SkinManager.cpp
index f28320172e..5e29c56d60 100644
--- a/clientgui/SkinManager.cpp
+++ b/clientgui/SkinManager.cpp
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ void CSkinSimple::Clear() {
     m_WorkunitRunningImage.Clear();
     m_WorkunitSuspendedImage.Clear();
     m_WorkunitWaitingImage.Clear();
+    m_iPanelOpacity = DEFAULT_OPACITY;
 }
 
 
@@ -312,6 +313,8 @@ int CSkinSimple::Parse(MIOFILE& in) {
         } else if (match_tag(buf, "<workunit_waiting_image>")) {
             m_WorkunitWaitingImage.Parse(in);
             continue;
+        } else if (parse_int(buf, "<panel_opacity>", m_iPanelOpacity)) {
+            continue;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/clientgui/SkinManager.h b/clientgui/SkinManager.h
index 05b0ab0a82..4d52ce437b 100644
--- a/clientgui/SkinManager.h
+++ b/clientgui/SkinManager.h
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ private:
 };
 
 
+// Default opacity for Simple View white panels 
+// is 60% (153 on a scale of 0 - 255).
+#define MAX_OPACITY 255
+#define DEFAULT_OPACITY 153
+
 class CSkinSimple : public CSkinItem
 {
     DECLARE_DYNAMIC_CLASS( CSkinSimple )
@@ -123,6 +128,7 @@ public:
     CSkinImage*         GetWorkunitRunningImage() { return &m_WorkunitRunningImage; }
     CSkinImage*         GetWorkunitSuspendedImage() { return &m_WorkunitSuspendedImage; }
     CSkinImage*         GetWorkunitWaitingImage() { return &m_WorkunitWaitingImage; }
+    int                 GetPanelOpacity() { return m_iPanelOpacity; }
 
 private:
 	CSkinImage          m_BackgroundImage;
@@ -133,6 +139,7 @@ private:
     CSkinImage          m_WorkunitRunningImage;
     CSkinImage          m_WorkunitSuspendedImage;
     CSkinImage          m_WorkunitWaitingImage;
+    int                 m_iPanelOpacity;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/clientgui/sg_PanelBase.cpp b/clientgui/sg_PanelBase.cpp
index 1bee1be312..b9402e505c 100755
--- a/clientgui/sg_PanelBase.cpp
+++ b/clientgui/sg_PanelBase.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@
 // along with BOINC.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 #include "stdwx.h"
+#include "BOINCGUIApp.h"
+#include "miofile.h"
+#include "SkinManager.h"
 #include "sg_PanelBase.h"
 
 #define RECTANGLERADIUS 15.0
@@ -54,9 +57,6 @@ void CSimplePanelBase::ReskinInterface() {
     m_GotBGBitMap = false;
 }
 
-#define WHITE_WEIGHT    60
-#define IMAGE_WEIGHT (100-WHITE_WEIGHT)
-
 // Create a background bitmap simulating partial transparency
 void CSimplePanelBase::MakeBGBitMap() {
     wxRect r;
@@ -70,6 +70,13 @@ void CSimplePanelBase::MakeBGBitMap() {
     CSimpleGUIPanel* backgroundPanel = (CSimpleGUIPanel*)GetParent();
     wxPen bgPen(*wxWHITE, 1, wxTRANSPARENT);
     wxBrush bgBrush(*wxWHITE);
+    CSkinSimple* pSkinSimple = wxGetApp().GetSkinManager()->GetSimple();
+
+    wxASSERT(pSkinSimple);
+    wxASSERT(wxDynamicCast(pSkinSimple, CSkinSimple));
+
+    int white_weight = pSkinSimple->GetPanelOpacity();
+    int image_weight = MAX_OPACITY - white_weight;
 
 // Workaround for CSimpleGUIPanel not reliably getting 
 // Paint or EraseBackground events under Linux
@@ -110,12 +117,12 @@ void CSimplePanelBase::MakeBGBitMap() {
     for (i=0; i<r.width; ++i) {
         for (j=0; j<r.height; ++j) {
             if (*whitePixels) {
-                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * IMAGE_WEIGHT) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * WHITE_WEIGHT));
-                *bgImagePixels++ = k / 100;
-                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * IMAGE_WEIGHT) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * WHITE_WEIGHT));
-                *bgImagePixels++ = k / 100;
-                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * IMAGE_WEIGHT) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * WHITE_WEIGHT));
-                *bgImagePixels++ = k / 100;
+                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * image_weight) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * white_weight));
+                *bgImagePixels++ = k / MAX_OPACITY;
+                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * image_weight) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * white_weight));
+                *bgImagePixels++ = k / MAX_OPACITY;
+                k = (((unsigned int)*bgImagePixels * image_weight) + ((unsigned int)*whitePixels++ * white_weight));
+                *bgImagePixels++ = k / MAX_OPACITY;
             } else {
                 bgImagePixels += 3;
                 whitePixels += 3;