diff --git a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControl.java b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControl.java
index ddfa5f853502e..ef8342dbfa1bb 100644
--- a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControl.java
+++ b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControl.java
@@ -322,6 +322,14 @@ public final class SurfaceControl implements Parcelable {
      */
     public static final int CURSOR_WINDOW = 0x00002000;
 
+    /**
+     * Surface creation flag: Indicates the effect layer will not have a color fill on
+     * creation.
+     *
+     * @hide
+     */
+    public static final int NO_COLOR_FILL = 0x00004000;
+
     /**
      * Surface creation flag: Creates a normal surface.
      * This is the default.
@@ -577,7 +585,7 @@ public final class SurfaceControl implements Parcelable {
                 throw new IllegalStateException(
                         "width and height must be positive or unset");
             }
-            if ((mWidth > 0 || mHeight > 0) && (isColorLayerSet() || isContainerLayerSet())) {
+            if ((mWidth > 0 || mHeight > 0) && (isEffectLayer() || isContainerLayer())) {
                 throw new IllegalStateException(
                         "Only buffer layers can set a valid buffer size.");
             }
@@ -749,10 +757,27 @@ public final class SurfaceControl implements Parcelable {
         }
 
         /**
-         * Indicate whether a 'ColorLayer' is to be constructed.
+         * Indicate whether an 'EffectLayer' is to be constructed.
          *
-         * Color layers will not have an associated BufferQueue and will instead always render a
-         * solid color (that is, solid before plane alpha). Currently that color is black.
+         * An effect layer behaves like a container layer by default but it can support
+         * color fill, shadows and/or blur. These layers will not have an associated buffer.
+         * When created, this layer has no effects set and will be transparent but the caller
+         * can render an effect by calling:
+         *  - {@link Transaction#setColor(SurfaceControl, float[])}
+         *  - {@link Transaction#setBackgroundBlurRadius(SurfaceControl, int)}
+         *  - {@link Transaction#setShadowRadius(SurfaceControl, float)}
+         *
+         * @hide
+         */
+        public Builder setEffectLayer() {
+            mFlags |= NO_COLOR_FILL;
+            unsetBufferSize();
+            return setFlags(FX_SURFACE_EFFECT, FX_SURFACE_MASK);
+        }
+
+        /**
+         * A convenience function to create an effect layer with a default color fill
+         * applied to it. Currently that color is black.
          *
          * @hide
          */
@@ -761,7 +786,7 @@ public final class SurfaceControl implements Parcelable {
             return setFlags(FX_SURFACE_EFFECT, FX_SURFACE_MASK);
         }
 
-        private boolean isColorLayerSet() {
+        private boolean isEffectLayer() {
             return  (mFlags & FX_SURFACE_EFFECT) == FX_SURFACE_EFFECT;
         }
 
@@ -786,7 +811,7 @@ public final class SurfaceControl implements Parcelable {
             return setFlags(FX_SURFACE_CONTAINER, FX_SURFACE_MASK);
         }
 
-        private boolean isContainerLayerSet() {
+        private boolean isContainerLayer() {
             return  (mFlags & FX_SURFACE_CONTAINER) == FX_SURFACE_CONTAINER;
         }
 
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/SurfaceAnimator.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/SurfaceAnimator.java
index 0143eb1abe032..1b77fd2e87820 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/SurfaceAnimator.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/SurfaceAnimator.java
@@ -388,18 +388,15 @@ class SurfaceAnimator {
         final SurfaceControl.Builder builder = animatable.makeAnimationLeash()
                 .setParent(animatable.getAnimationLeashParent())
                 .setName(surface + " - animation-leash")
-                .setColorLayer();
+                // TODO(b/151665759) Defer reparent calls
+                // We want the leash to be visible immediately because the transaction which shows
+                // the leash may be deferred but the reparent will not. This will cause the leashed
+                // surface to be invisible until the deferred transaction is applied. If this
+                // doesn't work, you will can see the 2/3 button nav bar flicker during seamless
+                // rotation.
+                .setHidden(hidden)
+                .setEffectLayer();
         final SurfaceControl leash = builder.build();
-        if (!hidden) {
-            // TODO(b/151665759) Defer reparent calls
-            // We want the leash to be visible immediately but we want to set the effects on
-            // the layer. Since the transaction used in this function may be deferred, we apply
-            // another transaction immediately with the correct visibility and effects.
-            // If this doesn't work, you will can see the 2/3 button nav bar flicker during
-            // seamless rotation.
-            transactionFactory.get().unsetColor(leash).show(leash).apply();
-        }
-        t.unsetColor(leash);
         t.setWindowCrop(leash, width, height);
         t.setPosition(leash, x, y);
         t.show(leash);
diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
index 345928e17768f..039c0ee119680 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/wm/Task.java
@@ -3202,15 +3202,9 @@ class Task extends WindowContainer<WindowContainer> {
         return true;
     }
 
-    @Override
-    void onSurfaceShown(SurfaceControl.Transaction t) {
-        super.onSurfaceShown(t);
-        t.unsetColor(mSurfaceControl);
-    }
-
     @Override
     void setInitialSurfaceControlProperties(SurfaceControl.Builder b) {
-        b.setColorLayer().setMetadata(METADATA_TASK_ID, mTaskId);
+        b.setEffectLayer().setMetadata(METADATA_TASK_ID, mTaskId);
         super.setInitialSurfaceControlProperties(b);
     }