Personalize Your Mac OS X Desktop

Personalizing your desktop is a great way to express yourself and have a little fun. It's especially fun with Mac desktops; they are much easier to customize than PC desktops. It's all up to you!

Steps

Choosing a Desktop Picture

  1. Scan the picture(s) you wish to use on your desktop into your computer. Be patient, this may take a while. Make sure you line the pictures up perfectly when scanning, or they won't fit on your screen. If you don't want to use your own pictures, but you still want a cool design, just skip this step.
  2. Create a new folder by going to the "File" menu at the top of your screen and choosing "New Folder". Put all the images into the folder and label it "Pictures".
  3. Go to System Preferences. The icon should be displayed in your computer's dock (the long strip of colorful icons), and looks like a light switch with a silver apple on it in 10.0-10.4. 10.5+ looks like a box with gears in it.
  4. Once you get to the main System Preferences screen, look under the heading "Personal", and click on "Desktop". For 10.5, Click "Desktop & Screensaver". This will take you to the desktop personalization page.
  5. To put your pictures on the desktop, go to the dropdown menu in the middle of the page, and select "Choose Folder...", which will take you to a new page. If you aren't using your own pictures, choose a page from the top of the dropdown list instead of "Choose Folder...".
  6. From the dropdown menu at the top of the new window, choose "Desktop". If your image folder is not located on the desktop, find its location and click on the folder. When you've made your selection, click the "Choose" button at the bottom of the page. This should return you to the desktop page.
    • If you're using the provided images, choose a picture you want from the menu at the bottom of the window.
  7. Now, your images should be displayed in a menu running along the bottom of the window. Click on your favorite picture, and it will be shown on the desktop. Now, quit System Preferences.
  8. If you want to show all of the pictures, don't quit just yet. Select a picture, then put a check mark in the box labeled "Change Picture" by clicking on it. Now, use the dropdown menu to decide how often the pictures will change. If you want your images to appear in a random order, put a check mark in the checkbox labeled "Random Order". You can also do this with provided images.
  9. Enjoy your desktop!

Choosing Folder Pictures

  1. Find a suitable replacement icon on the Internet. One great way to customize your desktop is to replace the folder icons with your own images. This can allow you to quickly and easily identify your most-used folders and access them efficiently. To get started, search for possible replacement icons.
    • Any .jpeg or other picture files should work fine, and you can usually drag them from the web after clicking on them, and drop them directly into the info on the folder. Try to look for pictures that have blurred outside edges to keep your desktop looking clean.
  2. Open the info panel on the folder you want to change. Click on the folder, and at the top of Finder, select file, and then Get Info. You can also right-click on the folder to access the options.
  3. Copy the image you want. Open the image you want to use in Preview. Press Cmd+a to select it and Cmd+c to copy the image. Back in the info panel, click on the icon in the top left corner and press Cmd+v to paste your customized icon image.
    • When you do this, it should appear instantly. You can use eye-catching images for your most essential folders. Have fun with it!



Tips

  • If you are using a single picture, select one that displays the subject at one side or another, not in the middle. Put your icons on the boring side, so the subject of the picture will show plainly.
  • If you want your pictures to change, the best settings are "Every Minute" or "Every 5 Seconds", but it's all up to you.
  • The provided images were designed to go with your computer. They will probably look best.
  • The desktop will look best if all the pictures are related. If you are using pictures of your sister's wedding, don't throw in a picture of your cat.

Warnings

  • If you have a lot of pictures (around 50 or so) and you are trying to set them to change, your computer may "blip", like a TV does when it is losing its signal, and any application you have running may quit. Save everything before trying this!
  • Don't use a design with lots of different colors, because your dock may not show up well.
  • Some people don't like the "Every 5 Seconds" time setting, because it doesn't give you time to enjoy the picture. If it's bothering you, change it.
  • Do not choose a background that is white or mostly white, because your icons won't show up, or you won't be able to read the labels.

Things You'll Need

  • A Mac OS X computer
  • The System Preferences application
  • Photograph(s)

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