Question: Is there a way to turn off the boxes around the icons in Unity?

Clarification: I do **not** mean the backlight color -- there are plenty of questions about turning *that* off. I want the icons, and just the icons, to appear in the Unity bar, without any lights and shadows and borders. Can this be done?

Answer: 
It is possible, and rather simple.

1. Install compizconfig-settings-manager:

```
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

```
2. Then run `about:config` in the run dialogue in Unity: press `Alt`+`F2` and enter `about:config`.
3. CCSM will pop up with the Unity plug-in open. Navigate to the experimental tab:

![ccsm. it is open.](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0Y2Y5.png)
4. Now change the Backlight Mode to "Backlight Always Off".
5. Problem solved.

In light of your comment, the box never 100% goes away (by design).

### Small note from @ccpizza concerning 16.04.1.

* > 
> In ubuntu xenial 16.04.1 the Experimental tab is gone, and the setting
>  is now under the Launcher tab and the dropdown is called Launcher Icon
>  Backlight Mode.
> 
> 
>
I scripted the removal of the boxes around the applications and the one around the Ubuntu button (for 12.04):

```
cd /usr/share/unity/5
wget -O transparent54.png "https://i.stack.imgur.com/MiFpK.png"
wget -O transparent62.png "https://i.stack.imgur.com/0NvP0.png"

for name in squircle_shine squircle_edge squircle_base squircle_base_selected launcher_icon_back launcher_icon_edge launcher_icon_shine
do 
    sudo mv ${name}_54.png ${name}_54.ori.png \
        && sudo ln -s transparent54.png ${name}_54.png
done

for name in squircle_shadow launcher_icon_glow launcher_icon_shadow
do 
    sudo mv ${name}_62.png ${name}_62.ori.png \
        && sudo ln -s transparent62.png ${name}_62.png
done

```

Then to restart Unity, press `Alt`+`F2` and run `setsid unity`. The result looks much cleaner to me. 

Before: 

[![with boxes](https://i.stack.imgur.com/E2MJ4.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/E2MJ4.png)

After:

[![without boxes](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VAVV0.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/VAVV0.png)

To switch back:

```
cd /usr/share/unity/5
for name in squircle_shine squircle_edge squircle_base squircle_base_selected launcher_icon_back launcher_icon_edge launcher_icon_shine
do 
    sudo rm ${name}_54.png \
        && sudo mv ${name}_54.ori.png ${name}_54.png
done

for name in squircle_shadow launcher_icon_glow launcher_icon_shadow
do 
    sudo rm ${name}_62.png \
        && sudo mv ${name}_62.ori.png ${name}_62.png
done

```