Desktop Background Preferences

Linux

Filed In:

Linux

Chapter 8. Configuring Your GNOME Desktop

8.3. Desktop Background Preferences

The desktop background is the image or color that is applied to your desktop. You can open Desktop Background Preferences by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing Change Desktop Background, as well as from the Desktop->Preferences menu.

You can customize the desktop background in the following ways:

Select an image for the desktop background. The image is superimposed on the desktop background color. The desktop background color is visible if you select a transparent image, or if the image does not cover the entire desktop.
Select a color for the desktop background. You can select a solid color, or create a gradient effect with two colors. A gradient effect is a visual effect where one color blends gradually into another color.

	Tip:
	You can also drag a color or a pattern to the desktop from the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog in the Nautilus file manager.

Table 8.3, Desktop Background Preferences lists the background preferences that you can modify.

Table 8.3. Desktop Background Preferences

Dialog Element	Description
Desktop Wallpaper	Choose an image from the list. Alternately, you can select Add Wallpaper to choose any image on your computer.
Style	To specify how to display the image, select one of the following options from the Style drop-down list: Centered: Displays the image in the middle of the desktop. Fill Screen: Enlarges the image to cover the desktop and maintains the relative dimensions of the image. Scaled: Enlarges the image until the image meets the screen edges, and maintains the relative dimensions of the image. Tiled: Enlarges the image until the image meets the screen edges, and maintains the relative dimensions of the image.
Add Wallpaper	Click on Add Wallpaper to browse for an image on your computer. A standard file selector will be presented. Choose the image you want and click Open.
Remove	Choose the Desktop Wallpaper that you want to remove, then click Remove. This removes the image from the list of available wallpapers; however, it does not delete the image from your computer.
Desktop Colors	To specify a color scheme, use the options in the Background Style drop-down list, and the color selector buttons. You can specify a color scheme in one of the following ways: Choose Solid color from the Background Style drop-down list to specify a single color for the desktop background. To choose the color that you require, click on the Color button. The Pick a Color dialog is displayed. Choose a color, then click OK. Choose Horizontal gradient from the Background Style drop-down list. This option creates a gradient effect from the left screen edge to the right screen edge. Click on the Left Color button to display the Pick a Color dialog. Choose the color that you want to appear at the left edge. Click on the Right Color button. Choose the color that you want to appear at the right edge. Choose Vertical gradient from the Background Style drop-down list. This creates a gradient effect from the top screen edge to the bottom screen edge. Click on the Top Color button to display the Pick a Color dialog. Choose the color that you want to appear at the top edge. Click on the Bottom Color button. Choose the color that you want to appear at the bottom edge.