| Images used as computer wallpaper are usually raster | | | | using photographs, drawings, 3D renders or abstract |
| graphics with the same size as the display resolution | | | | pattern with complex gradients. It can be useful to |
| (for example 1024×768 pixels, or 1280×1024 pixels) | | | | have plain areas so that icons can be clearly seen |
| in order to fill the whole background. Many screen | | | | atop the wallpaper. |
| resolutions are proportional in a 4:3 ratio, so an image | | | | Typical categories can include cars, models and |
| scaled to fit in a different-sized screen will still be the | | | | celebrities, scenery, abstract art, movies, pets, family, |
| correct shape, although that scaling may impact quality. | | | | symmetry, and personal photos. In business use, |
| Common wallpaper resolutions are 800x600, | | | | corporate logos or plain backgrounds are often |
| 1024x768, 1280x1024 and 1600x1200. | | | | specified by the companies' guidelines. |
| Users with widescreen (16:9 or 16:10) monitors have | | | | When using rack mounted computers through a KVM |
| different aspect ratio requirements for wallpaper, | | | | switch, it can often be useful to create a wallpaper |
| although images designed for standard (4:3) monitors | | | | with the computer's name on it, to easily identify which |
| can often be scaled or cropped to the correct shape | | | | computer the user is connected to. System themes |
| without undue loss of quality. | | | | are often distributed with a background image that fits |
| Wallpapers are sometimes available in double-width | | | | the style of the theme. |
| versions (e.g. 2560×1024) for displaying on | | | | Some operating environments (e.g. KDE and Mac OS |
| multi-monitor computers, where the image appears to | | | | X) allow a number of different wallpapers to be used, |
| fill two monitors. | | | | and "rotated" to display a different wallpaper at |
| Some display systems allow | | | | different times, to display a random image from a |
| unconventionally-proportioned images (1:1, 2:1, or even | | | | directory. If the facility is not available in the OS's |
| 1:3) to be scaled without change of proportion, to fit the | | | | wallpaper settings, it may be possible to get an |
| screen, whether it be 16:9 or 4:3. The image would be | | | | external program which can change the wallpaper at |
| sized just large enough that one pair of edges touch | | | | certain times. Microsoft Windows 98 and higher allow |
| the edges of the screen, but not all four, as this would | | | | webpages to be set as frames on the desktop which |
| unduly distort the image. In these cases, the system's | | | | may be dynamic pages. Microsoft Windows Vista |
| "default" background color is visible around the other | | | | Ultimate also has the ability to use a a video as a |
| two sides of the image. | | | | wallpaper. Users can choose to use their own home |
| Another common option, particularly for images much | | | | videos which loop continuously, or use one already |
| smaller than the resolution of the display, is having the | | | | installed. |
| image displayed multiple times like a series of tiles. This | | | | Certain media players (mplayer) provide the option to |
| avoids the distortion of scaling. | | | | output video to the background of X11, making them |
| PNG and JPEG format are common. Some desktop | | | | suitable as engine for animated backgrounds from a |
| systems, such as Mac OS (version 8.6 or later), KDE | | | | wide range of video formats. Programs such as |
| (version 3.4 or later), and GNOME, support vector | | | | Xplanet and EarthDesk use Internet connections and |
| wallpapers (PICT in Mac and SVG in KDE and | | | | graphics calculations to change the wallpaper with real |
| GNOME). This has the advantage that a single file | | | | data, such as a shadowed view of the earth, the |
| may be used for screens of any size, or stretched | | | | latest cloud or weather map, or various events. Some |
| across several screens, without loss of quality. | | | | media players can redirect video playback to desktop, |
| Most display systems are capable of specifying a | | | | allowing any video to be used as a wallpaper. |
| single colour to use as the background in place of a | | | | Macromedia/Adobe Flash animated movies and |
| wallpaper, and some (such as KDE or GNOME) allow | | | | games can be set as a dynamic interactive |
| colour-gradients to be specified. Early versions of Mac | | | | background as well. To to that, simply point your |
| OS and Microsoft Windows allowed for small | | | | desktop background settings to an html file with an |
| repeating patterns to tile the desktop. | | | | embedded flash movie instead of an image. |
| The first use of a distinguishable background in | | | | 3D WallPaper Art a website for 3d computer |
| conjunction with overlapping windows was in an | | | | wallpapers, both those created by V. Lancaster, and |
| experimental office system, Officetalk, developed in | | | | those sent in by contributors. The site is |
| 1975 at Xerox PARC on the Alto. Prior to that, the | | | | subscription-based, but a free gallery is also available |
| white backgrounds to overlapping windows (for | | | | to non-subscribers. Images in the free gallery are |
| example, in Smalltalk) could be difficult to distinguish | | | | typically older images presented in basic screen |
| from window interiors. The pattern used in Officetalk | | | | resolutions, while the member gallery includes the most |
| produced a 25% gray, using dots two pixels high to | | | | recent work as well as a complete archive of all past |
| avoid flicker on the Alto's interlaced screen. The same | | | | works. Member gallery images are presented in the full |
| pattern was adopted for the Xerox Star. | | | | range of resolutions available at the time the images |
| Apple used a similar gray background for their Lisa | | | | were made. Typical artistic styles include |
| and Macintosh. However, since these machines had | | | | computer-generated planetscapes, fractal terrain, |
| non-interlaced screens it was possible to use a less | | | | space-scenes, abstract patterns, and human |
| noticeable background pattern, formed from a simple | | | | characters. |
| 2x2 repeating pattern that gave a 50 percent gray. | | | | Many of the 3d wallpapers are available in widescreen |
| The introduction of color monitors for personal | | | | and multi monitor formats to accommodate different |
| computers led to non-patterned, single-color | | | | monitor configurations. There are also wallpapers |
| backgrounds and then to arbitrary 'wallpapers'. | | | | formatted for the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP), the |
| Wallpaper styles are as varied as people themselves, | | | | iPhone and the Pocket PC. |