Wallpaper (computing): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Decorative background on electronic devices}}

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[[File:Computer monitor screen image simulated.jpg|thumb|A computer screen showing a background wallpaper photo of the [[Palace of Versailles]]]]A '''wallpaper''' or '''background''' (also known as a '''desktop background''', '''desktop picture''' or '''desktop image''' on computers) is a digital image (photo, drawing etc.) used as a decorative background of a [[graphical user interface]] on the screen of a [[computer]], [[smartphone]] or other electronic device. On a computer, wallpapers are generally used on the [[desktop metaphor|desktop]], while on a [[mobile phone]] they serve as the background for the ''home screen''. Though most devices include a default background image, modern devices usually allow users to manually change the background image.

|[[Image:Monitor.arp.750pix.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Computer featuring a [[classic car]] as a Wallpaper]]

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|[[Image:0waldo.3dt359.jpg|thumb|248px|right|A hand-painted [[symmetrical]] wallpaper tile]]

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|[[Image:Default MacOSX wallpaper.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Mac OS X]]'s desktop picture as of version 10.4]]

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|[[Image:Computer_wallpaper.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Icons can be arranged to 'sit' on a specific part of the wallpaper]]

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|[[Image:digitalblasphemy_whitemagic_small.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Digital Blasphemy]] wallpaper]]

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==FormatsHistory==

[[Image:original-wallpaper.png|frame|Original computer wallpaper pattern, as used in Xerox's Officetalk and [[Xerox Star|Star]]]]

Images used as computer wallpaper are usually [[raster graphics]] with the same size as the [[display resolution]] (for example 1024 x 768 pixels, or 1280 x 1024 pixels) in order to fill the whole background. Many screen resolutions are [[proportional]], so an image scaled to fit in a different-sized screen will often be the correct shape, albeit that scaling may impact quality. [[PNG]] and [[JPEG]] format are common.

The [[X Window System]] was one of the earliest systems to include support for an arbitrary image as wallpaper via the xsetroot program, which at least as early as the X10R3 release in 1985 could tile the screen with any solid color or any [[binary-image]] [[X BitMap]] file. In 1989, a [[free software]] program called {{Not a typo|xgifroot}} was released that allowed an arbitrary color [[GIF]] image to be used as wallpaper, and in the same year the free xloadimage program was released which could display a variety of image formats (including color images in [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]] Rasterfile format) as the desktop background. Subsequently, a number of programs were released that added wallpaper support for additional image formats and other features, such as the xpmroot program (released in 1993 as part of [[fvwm]]) and the [[xv (software)|xv]] software (released in 1994).

Users with [[widescreen]] (16:9 or 16:10) monitors have different [[aspect ratio]] requirements for wallpaper, although images designed for standard ([[4:3]]) monitors can often be [[scaled]] or [[crop]]ped to the correct shape without loss of quality.

The original Macintosh operating system only allowed a selection of 8×8-pixel binary-image tiled patterns; the ability to use small color patterns was added in [[Classic Mac OS#System Software 5|System 5]] in 1987.<ref>Robert R. Wiggins, "All systems go. (Software Review) (System Tools 5.0 with MultiFinder.)", ''MacUser'' (1 March 1988)</ref> [[Mac OS 8]] in 1997 was the first Macintosh version to include built-in support for using arbitrary images as desktop pictures, rather than small repeating patterns.<ref>Franklin N. Tessler, "Mac OS 8 arrives," ''Macworld'' (1 September 1997)</ref>

Wallpapers are sometimes available in double-width versions (e.g. 2560 x 1024) for displaying on multi-monitor computers, where the image appears to fill two monitors. [[Digital Blasphemy]] is one of the main sources for multi-monitor wallpapers.

[[Windows 3.0]] in 1990 was the first version of Microsoft Windows to feature support for wallpaper customization, and used the term "wallpaper" for this feature.<ref>Gus Venditto, "Windows 3.0 brings icons, multitasking, and ends DOS's 640k program limit," ''PC Magazine'' (1 July 1990)</ref> Although Windows 3.0 only came with 7 small patterns (2 black-and-white and 5 16-color), the user could supply other images in the [[BMP file format]] with up to [[8-bit color]] (although the system was theoretically capable of handling [[24-bit color]] images, it did so by [[dithering]] them to an 8-bit [[Palette (computing)|palette]])<ref>[[Charles Petzold]], "Working with 24-bit color bitmaps for Windows," ''PC Magazine'' (10 September 1991)</ref> to provide similar wallpaper features otherwise lacking in those systems. A wallpaper feature was added in a [[beta release]] of OS/2 2.0 in 1991.<ref>Wendy Goldman, "New version may tiop scales in IBM's favor over DOS, Windows: A look at OS/2 2.0," ''Computer Reseller News'' (24 June 1991)</ref>

Smaller images can be tiled (repeated) to fill large areas, and depending on how skilfully the wallpaper was created, the effect can look reasonably good. However, if the join is too obvious, or the image repeats too many times, it will look very repetitive.

Due to the widespread use of [[personal computer]]s, some wallpapers have become immensely recognizable and gained iconic cultural status. ''[[Bliss (image)|Bliss]]'', the default wallpaper of Windows XP, has become the most viewed [[photograph]] of the 2000s.<ref name="St. Helena Star story">{{cite news |last = Sweeney |first = Cynthia |title = Say goodbye to 'Bliss' |newspaper = [[St. Helena Star]] |url = http://napavalleyregister.com/star/lifestyles/say-goodbye-to-bliss/article_2c485132-b504-11e3-85ef-0019bb2963f4.html |access-date = May 19, 2014 |date = March 26, 2014 |archive-date = October 24, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151024191442/http://napavalleyregister.com/star/lifestyles/say-goodbye-to-bliss/article_2c485132-b504-11e3-85ef-0019bb2963f4.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

With the increase in color screen [[mobile phones]], wallpapers are starting to appear scaled to their lower resolution. These are often sold at a high profit to telephone users, although some phones have software which allows images to be uploaded from a computer. Mobile telephones with cameras can often use images from the camera, or from a received image, as the wallpaper.

==Animated backgrounds==

[[File:Wallpaper Engine on Windows 11 - Animated GIF.gif|alt=Image of a setting sun in wireframe behind a Windows 10 desktop UI|thumb|An animated wallpaper using [[Wallpaper Engine]] on [[Windows 11]]]]

Animated backgrounds (sometimes referred to as ''live backgrounds'' or ''dynamic backgrounds'') refers to wallpapers which feature a moving image or a 2D / 3D scene as an operating system background rather than a static image, it may also refer to wallpapers being cycled in a playlist, often with certain transition effects. Some operating systems, such as [[Android (operating system)|Android]], provide native support for animated wallpapers.

=== Microsoft Windows ===

Most display systems are capable of specifying a single-colour to use as the background in place of a wallpaper, and some (such as [[KDE]]) allow colour-gradients to be specified. MS Windows systems allow using editable repeating two-color 8x8 tiles for background.

[[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] has had several ways of implementing dynamic backgrounds over the years. For example:

* [[Active Desktop]], which is included in [[Windows 95|Windows 95 OSR 2.5]] through [[Windows XP]], allows web apps to run as desktop background and deliver live contents. Animation is one of the possibilities.

From version 3.4, KDE supports [[vector graphics|vector]] wallpaper in [[Scalable Vector Graphics|SVG]] format. This has the advantage that a single file may be used for screens of any size, or stretched across several screens, without loss of quality.

* [[Windows DreamScene]], only included with the [[Windows Vista editions|Ultimate]] edition of [[Windows Vista]], allows videos of any supported format (including animated [[GIF]]s) as wallpapers.

* Starting with [[Windows 7]], the OS can cycle through pictures from a folder at regular intervals. While this does not support animated backgrounds, it does enable third-party software (such as [[Wallpaper Engine]]) to fill that gap. This degree of extensibility is unique to Windows.

==Styles= Android ===

Live wallpapers have been introduced in [[Android Eclair|Android 2.0 Eclair]] to provide native support for animated wallpapers. From a technical point of view, live wallpapers are software applications that provide a moving background image and may allow for user interaction or utilize other hardware and software features within the device (accelerometer, GPS, network access, etc.).<ref>{{cite web|title=Live Wallpapers (Technical Article)|url=http://developer.android.com/resources/articles/live-wallpapers.html|work=developer.android.com|access-date=5 November 2010|archive-date=10 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110012801/http://developer.android.com/resources/articles/live-wallpapers.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wallpaper styles are as varied as people themselves, using photographs, [[drawing]]s, 3D renders or abstract pattern with complex [[gradient]]s. It can be useful to have plain areas so that [[icon (computing)|icon]]s can be clearly seen atop the wallpaper.

=== macOS and iOS ===

Typical categories can include [[cars]], [[models]] and [[celebrities]], [[holiday photos]], [[abstract art]], [[movies]], [[pets]], [[symmetrical]] and [[scenery]].

[[macOS]] has built-in support, via the Desktop & Screen Saver panel in its [[System Preferences|System Preferences/Settings]], for cycling through a folder collection of images on a timed interval or when logging in or waking from sleep. Since [[macOS Mojave]], the user can also select a "Dynamic Desktop" that automatically updates to visually match the time of the day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/04/macos-mojave-includes-dark-mode/|title=macOS Mojave's dark mode makes late-night computing less painful|work=Engadget|access-date=June 6, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180605225502/https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/04/macos-mojave-includes-dark-mode/|archive-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref>

In business use, corporate [[logos]] or plain backgrounds are often specified by the [[IT department]].

Additionally, macOS has the native ability to run a [[screen savers|screen saver]] on the desktop; in this configuration, the screen saver appears beneath the desktop icons in place of the system wallpaper. However, macOS does not feature a built-in interface to do this; it must be done through [[Terminal (macOS)|Terminal]] commands or various third-party applications.<ref>[http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/set-screen-saver-to-desktop-background.html Set a Screen Saver as the Desktop Background | Terminal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227070312/http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/set-screen-saver-to-desktop-background.html |date=2010-12-27 }}. Mac OS X Tips (2006-11-09). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref>

When using [[rack mounted]] computers through a [[keyboard switch]], it can often be useful to create a wallpaper with the computer's name on it, to easily identify which computer you're connected to.

Dynamically animated backgrounds have also been introduced in [[iOS 7]] and later versions, however they are restricted to the ones provided by Apple. [[iOS jailbreaking|Jailbroken]] iOS devices can download other dynamic backgrounds.

==Timed wallpapers==

=== Linux distributions ===

Some operating environments (e.g. [[KDE]]) allow a number of different wallpapers to be used, and "rotated" to display a different wallpaper at different times, to display a [[random]] image from a directory. If the facility is not available in the OS' wallpaper settings, it may be possible to get an external program which can change the wallpaper at certain times.

[[File:Wp3.jpg|thumb|A wallpaper from fractal]][[Linux distribution]]s usually provides their own original backgrounds. For example:

* [[Debian]] puts many alternative backgrounds under the <code>/usr/share/backgrounds</code> directory.

==Active wallpapers==

* [[GNOME]] 2 can be set to cycle through pictures from a folder at regular intervals, similarly to Windows 7.

* [[MATE (software)|MATE]] provides various wallpapers, usually in the <code>/usr/share/backgrounds/mate</code> directory.

* [[KDE]] version 4 and later provide various dynamic wallpapers, including a slideshow, and other options provided by plugins, such as fractals and Earth map.

* [[Enlightenment (window manager)|Enlightenment]] v17 supports image sequences, animated and interactive desktop backgrounds in its default configuration.

== See also ==

Programs such as [http://xplanet.sourceforge.net xplanet] use internet connections and graphics calculations to change the wallpaper with real data, such as a shadowed view of the earth, the latest cloud or weather map, or various events. Some media players can redirect video playback to desktop, allowing using any video as a wallpaper. Other tools (for example [http://www.wiredplane.com/wirechanger/ WireChanger]) can add to wallpaper interactive [[widgets]] like calendar, notes, [[RSS feed]] or generate wallpaper image using various algorithms.

* [[Wallpaper group]]

==References==

==Setting the wallpaper on a computer==

{{Reflist|31em}}

*[[Fluxbox]]: Use the '''fbsetbg''' command to specify a wallpaper.

*[[GNOME]]: '''gnome-control-center''' shows the control panel, with options for wallpaper, or right-click on the background to select the wallpaper directly.

*[[IceWM]]: Needs to be done in the [[theme (computer)|theme]] config file. [http://www.icewm.org/FAQ/IceWM-FAQ-8.html]

*[[KDE]]: '''kcontrol''' shows the control panel, with options for wallpaper, or right-click on the background to select the wallpaper directly.

*[[Mac OS X]]: Use the '''Desktop''' or '''Desktop & Screensaver''' panel in '''System Preferences''', or control-click the desktop and choose 'Change Desktop Background'.

*[[Mac OS]]: Use the Desktop tab of the '''Appearance''' control panel in versions 8.5-9.2, the '''Desktop Pictures''' control panel in versions 8.0-8.1, the '''Desktop Patterns''' control panel in versions 7.5-7.6, or the '''General Controls''' control panel in earlier versions.

*[[Windows XP]]/[[Windows 2000|2000]]/[[Windows 98|9x]]: ''Start, Run, Control panel, Display'', or right-click on the background and select "Properties".

*[[WindowMaker]]: Use the '''wmsetbg''' command to specify a wallpaper.

[[Category:Graphical user interface elements]]

[[Web browser]]s and [[image viewer]]s often have the ability to set an image as the desktop background if you right-click it or choose a menu option.

[[Category:Desktop environments]]

==External links==

* [http://0waldo.com 0Waldo] A large set of original, (a)symmetrical wallpaper tiles by Walter Muncaster

* [http://www.caedes.net/ Caedes] - a large collection of nature and photographic wallpapers

* [[Digital Blasphemy]] for [[abstract art]] and computer-generated renderings

* [http://www.shiftedreality.com/ Shifted Reality] for more [[computer-generated imagery]] renderings

* [http://www.linuxforum.com/linux_wallpapers_pages/1/views.php Linux forum] for [[Linux]]-related designs

* [http://www.lakedistrictdesktops.com/ Lake District Desktops] for landscape and nature photographs

* [http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/index.html The European Homepage For The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope - Image Archive]

* [http://flyawaysimulation.com/article1427.html Flight Simulator Wallpaper Downloads]

* [http://www.banime.com/ Anime Wallpapers]

* [http://www.skins.be Skins.be] Hi-Res Cars and celebrity wallpapers

* [http://www.wallpaperbase.com WallpaperBase] Large collection of desktop wallpapers

* [http://www.desktoprating.com desktop rating] Collection of desktop wallpapers and themes you can rate

== See also ==

* [[:Category:Featured desktop backgrounds]]

* [[Wallpaper]]

[[Category:Graphical user interface]]

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