Desktop Pictures
Mac Tip #18/29-Aug-2001

The first thing you see after switching on your Mac is the Desktop, otherwise called the Finder. If you bought your Mac within the last couple of years the desktop is likely to show a swirly picture in a colour matching your Mac. This picture is called a Desktop Picture, and if you don’t so much care for the one your Mac arrived with you can easily change it.

Go to the Apple menu and call up the Control Panels. Choose the Appearance Control Panel. Once that has opened up click on the Desktop tab across the top.

Now you can click the button called Remove Picture. Don’t worry, this won’t remove the picture from your computer, just stop the picture from showing on your desktop.

Once the picture has gone the desktop *Pattern* will show up.

To make this change permanent (until the next time you change it) click the Set Desktop button.

To install a new picture choose the Place Picture… button and in the dialog box locate a suitable picture (Apple supplies a few pleasant pictures) then click Open. Again, to make this change permanent (until the next time you change it) click the Set Desktop button.

If you want more pictures than the few Apple supplies then go to MacDesktops for a huge number of pictures designed for your desktop. One thing though: you’ll need to know the resolution of your monitor — a subject for next week’s Tip.