Zooming desktop pictures without "pixelating"?

Greetings. I have a number of photos I downloaded that I want to use as desktop pictures. The photo size is 800 x 600 (pixels). The native screen resolution on my MacBook is 1280 x 800. When I set the picture in the "Desktop" system pref, I am not happy with the CENTERING option. But when I select the FILL SCREEN option the photos become all "pixelated" on the display (because, of course, they are not large enough to fill the screen at native resolution).
Curiously though, when I set the same photos to display in the "Screen Saver" system pref, they zoom in WITHOUT ANY "PIXELATING!" Can anyone explain to me why the zoom effect in "Screen Saver" doesn't pixelate the photos, and is there anyway to tap into this zoom capability in the "Desktop" system pref to view smaller photos at full screen? Is there a third party utility that can do this?
Thanks!

Greetings. I found several "screen saver run as desktop picture" options (including a cool widget called "Desktopsaver Plus") that essentially accomplishes what I'm after.

Similar Messages

Changing desktop picture

I'm trying to change my desktop picture on my macbook, and whenever i go into the particular tab in system preferences, it freezes. i can change my screen saver, i can adjust anything else in system preferences, it is just the desktop tab. i just changed the picture to something else about 10 minutes ago, could it possibly be a corrupt file and cause this to happen? is there any other way to change a desktop picture without going into that tab? has this ever happened to anyone before?

Have you tried running repair permissions from Disk Utility?
lenn

I-phone 5 - can you reduce the megapixel size of pictures without incurring data charges? I understand if I e-mail my pictures to myself, there is an option to define the pixel size of the pict. What if I upload from phone to computer via cable?

i-phone 5 - can you reduce the megapixel size of pictures without incurring data charges? I understand if I e-mail my pictures to myself, there is an option available that allows me to define the pixel size of the picture I send, but I believe this process inccurs data charges.
What if I upload photos from my phone to my computer via cable? I don't believe this inccurs data charges, but I cannot find an option to reduce the megapixel size of the pictures.

i-phone 5 - can you reduce the megapixel size of pictures without incurring data charges? I understand if I e-mail my pictures to myself, there is an option available that allows me to define the pixel size of the picture I send, but I believe this process inccurs data charges.
What if I upload photos from my phone to my computer via cable? I don't believe this inccurs data charges, but I cannot find an option to reduce the megapixel size of the pictures.

Do Desktop Pictures live in a dedicated folder?

For some reason, I'm having trouble understanding where the various Desktop pictures I've used (which I see as a group of thumbnails whenever I select a new photo for the Desktop) actually reside.
I'd expect to find them in a dedicated sub-folder, but I don't see one in the most likely location (Pictures folder).
If Desktop Picture files are organized in some other way than being grouped in their own folder, what is that method and how does the user control it (i.e., for adding, deleting, moving those picture files)?
Thanks.

Niel wrote:
Look in the Desktop Pictures folder of the Library; most of them are in the Library at the top level of the hard disk, but some may be in your home folder.
They all seem to be in my User Library (the ones in the top level Library are the factory defaults).
If I create a dedicated sub-folder for these, are there still pointers to them so I can easily switch between them for the Desktop picture? Or do they have to be in a specific location to be selectable in that way (for the D/T picture)?
BTW, how does one view the Desktop Pictures (as a group) without selecting a new one? I don't recall seeing the thumbnail grouping except when I right-click on a photo to select a new D/T picture. I don't know how to otherwise view them 'as a group.'
Thanks again.

Background and desktop pictures

I can choose a particular color for the background but when I choose desktop pictures to put on top of it, the background color reverts to blue.
On my old iBook I could have a color of my choice plus pictures.
Is it no longer possible to have both choices?

If you choose the 'Center' option then you'll be presented with a colored rectangle ...just click this and the color palette will appear.
As one of my desktops I have a single pixel saved as a 'gif' image ...because this 'image' is almost unseen I can then choose to center this image, and adjust my background color palette allowing me to show the complete desktop in any color I like. Here's a download link if you like - just control-click and 'download link target'...
http://webdesign.about.com/library/graphics/spacer.gif
Blackbook C2D Mac OS X (10.4.9) 120Gig, 1Gig, Superdrive.

Client Desktop Picture

I have set up a Mac Network with OS X Server 10.4.7 and all clients running
OS X 10.4.7. How do I force a desktop picture when a user logs in? It is
always defaulting to Aqua Blue. I have renamed Aqua Blue on the local
machine and this change the desktop picture for the logon screen, but when
the user logs on, back comes Aqua Blue!
I have also tried the same trick at the server - in case it was getting it
from there - with no joy. How do I set the desktop without logging on as
each user. I am going to have hundreds of them!
After further playing around I have found that any user that has not logged
on before will get the new "Aqua Blue" that I have set. But if a user has
logged on to the machine at any time before the old Aqau Blue is the Desktop
picture. Even when the old Aqua Blue has been deleted from the machine!
Where does OS X keep this setting for users?

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.plist should hold the Desktop background preference. Try deleting that file in a test account to see if you get the desired effect. If you do, you can recursively delete the desktop preference file from the home directories of the users you want to fix:
-Navigate to the /Users folder (or wherever you have home directories on your server) in the Terminal.
-Execute "sudo rm -ri */Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist". You will be asked for your admin password, and then asked to confirm each deletion. You can skip the users which are working correctly, or just answer "y" to each query and get them all.

Feature Request: Cover Flow for Selecting Desktop Picture

Cover Flow is a great way to scan through a set of images within a defined visual real estate. It would be perfect for the Desktop System Preferences, where we users have had to suffer forever with squinting at 72x51pixel images (at 1440x900 resolution) of our desktops. It's nearly impossible at this thumbnail size to tell what image one is looking at, and selecting to view it in the preview at 128x73 pixels is only marginally better. And of course, there's no way I know of to expand the System Preferences window to expand this whole scanario. It's the year 2009 guys; please give us your great Cover Flow to help us choose our Desktop Pictures in a reasonable way.

Hi Scott,
I know this isn't the best place, but Apple doesn't make easily apparent where to submit such requests, and I know its staff do occasionally visit these boards.
As to the appropriateness of the expectation, I have to disagree. I make my living in user interface and usability, and Apple has clearly set the expectation in the user's mind that System Preferences is the primary method for setting all sorts of Finder behaviors, including screensavers and desktop pictures. I see no reason for the user to either accept a substandard main method of setting this preference or have to learn a secondary one simply to avoid the main method.
As to the System Preference not lending itself to Cover Flow, there may be some underlying technology of which I'm unaware, but interface-wise, it seems to fit right into the Preference screen:
http://www.loungelife.com/DesktopSystemPref.jpg

Folders added to "Desktop Pictures" not visible in System Prefs...

Hello,
I am trying to add additional wallpaper images to the "/Library/Desktop Pictures" directory. I can add images to this dir and they are visible in the Desktop & Screen Saver preferences, however newly added folders are not (I would like to add folders so I can keep the pictures organized).
How do I get Desktop & Screen Saver prefs to see new folders?
-Steve

Hi Mike,
Thanks very much! That did the trick!
Just so you know, there is one additional file I edited to make the folders appear with the desired name. Basically if you just add the text to Collections.plist it will display the folder but with the name on the identifier tag. If you want the folder to show a name other than the identifier you have to edit the Collections.strings file in the English.lproj directory.
Here are the instructions I've put together for this whole procedure:
--------------------INSTRUCTIONS------------------------
- cd /System/Library/PreferencePanes/DesktopScreenEffectsPref.prefPane/Contents/Resou rces/DesktopPictures.prefPane/Contents/Resources
- sudo vi Collections.plist
- add additional items in the following form:
identifier = myPatterns;
path = "/Library/Desktop Pictures/My Patterns";
showScalingPopUp = YES;
- save file and exit
THEN
- cd English.lproj
- sudo vi Collections.strings
add line entries in the following format:
myPatterns = "My Patterns";
(the tag on the left of the '=' sign must match the identifier noted above)
save file and exit
--------------------INSTRUCTIONS------------------------
The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to get the scaling drop-down box to appear; you know, the drop-down box that gives you the following choices on how to display the image: Fill screen, Stretch to fill screen, Center, Tile.
I see in the Collections.plist file there is a tag for showScalingPopUp and I've set this to YES on some folders, but it doesn't bring up the drop-down box when I select an image within that folder.
I can certainly live without this b/c it's not that critical, but still it's curious...
-Steve

Is iTunes changing my OS X desktop picture momentarily?

I am running a clean install OS X, including my third-party applications, and this five-year-old machine has never run better. However, an anomaly has arisen. Whenever I push play (iTunes) my desktop picture disappears briefly, replaced by a neutral gray screen, before reappearing.
As I write this, I quit and re-launched iTunes and the problem still exists. I am loathe to restart my computer as I am in the middle of some pressing business. I will check back if a restart resolves this issue, otherwise, feel free to comment.
With iTunes running, pushing Play starts the song and one-second later my desktop picture disappears briefly. Pushing the button (Pause) again stops the song but nothing else happens.
I am currently listening to iTunes DJ and just now the O'Jays started playing and without my doing anything, the desktop picture disappeared and reappeared. I have iShowUHD and will make a recording of it, if it continues.
TIA

You're very welcome.
Completely unrelated, albeit unsettlingly too coincidental, was a sudden slow down (freezing) of my Safari and other internet functions. It's like a UFO landed on my roof and scrambled my Mac's internal settings. Apparently, this same UFO flew across the state, because this occurred simultaneously with 3 different people, me and 2 of my friends, all in 3 seperate counties.
The other things we had to do to get our Macs back to resembling "normal" was...
Turn OFF iCloud unless you really need it (you could lose all Calendar events - Thanks, Apple!) or you're using a screamingly fast connection. - It ties up your modem, especially DSL.
Make your first DNS entry "2001:4860:4860::8888". - It speeds up accessing webpages. (Without quotes. Yes, there is a colon-colon, it's not an error. Weird numbers, I know.)
Set your ethernet's MTU to "Manual" with a number lower than 1500. Try "1460". - Apparently, your Mac is trying to bite off more than it can chew. MTU is the maximum ethernet byte size.
I found all of these tips scattered within the Apple Discussion areas. Do a search on them for more information on how to make these adjustments (don't worry, just system prefs changes, no UNIX is necessary).
This could apply to only older (more than 3 years) Macs. Still a pain nonetheless.
Side note: Starting at the sametime, 2 of us are experiencing random system-wide Kernal Panics and freezing. One Mac panics over 8 times per day, the other about once every 2 days. If our 7th trip (in 2 months) to the Genius bar miraculaously nets a solution, I'll post it.
If you are a conspiracy theorist, you'd be in heaven. An undisclosed virus? ...from Microsoft? Apple or Intel (both?) intentionally crippling old Macs, and forcing purchasing of new computers? ... and is this a test for installing (BIOS) programmed obsolescence/aging into current computers? Why no offer for replacement after 6 failed repair attempts? Is Apple quietly reducing expensive programming staff (sloppy coding, numerous updates, no OSX Server, reduced Pro apps, just as MS is dying) with cheap unknowledgeable retail staff? Mountain Lion and iTunes 11, more eye candy, less innovation... much like MS Windows 8. Something's afoot.

Changing desktop pictures locks system preferences

Re MacBook Pro laptop (OS 10.7.5)
Problem: Changing desktop pictures locks System Preferences
If I try to open System Preferences, I get windows for the Change Desktop/Background and the whirling beach ball begins until I go to Activities Monitor to Force Quit System Preferences, which informs me that my "System Preferences is no longer responding."
I have no trouble booting my Mac,
checked my Disk Utility informing me that there are no errors,
checked Permissions without errors,
went to Users>"my name">Preferences>found the plist for com.apple.systempreferences, moved it to my desktop, tried the Apple System Preferences option with same result. Returned plist . Hmm, just noticed that I have com.apple.systempreferences with one directly after Library ( i.e., not in any folder), and the other in the Library>Preferences folder. Could that be the foul up? Perhaps one of these plists is misplaced.
Any suggestions?

First follow the instructions in this support article.
If an iPhoto or Aperture library is the source of your desktop pictures, it may need to be rebuilt, or you may need to update the application to the latest version.
Otherwise, continue as below.
Back up all data.
In the Finder, hold down the option key and select
          Go ▹ Library
from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
          Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following items to the Desktop, if they exist:
          Application Support/Dock/desktoppicture.db
          Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the items you moved to the Desktop back where they came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the items.

Photo from Iphone as desktop picture doesn't work

Hello,
I use my Iphone for a lot of pictures. When I transfer them to Iphoto, they look fine. However, i would like to use some as my desktop picture and they come out very big and cut half of the picture off. I have gone to edit, crop and tried changing the picture size but nothing seems to work. Pictures from my regular camera have no problems. Thanks for your help.

get rid of "get selected finder items" action when saving a workflow as a finder plugin. That action is automatically included. the plugin should work ok without it.

Can I scale the desktop pictures on a 15.4" Macbook Pro?

Is there a way to scale the desktop picture so it fits the screen? A lot of my wallpapers are suddenly too big for the display with the end result that either they don't fit or they're stretched out and pixelated (because the original image just isn't that big) and it's hard to see the actual picture. I have an old Powerbook which has scaling options - stretch to fit screen, tile, center, etc - but my new Macbook doesn't, unless there's some trick I haven't figured out yet. (I don't have the Retina display, if it makes a difference.)

Have you tried a different resolution yet?
Open System Preferences > Displays > Display > Scaled
The pre installed desktop images are formatted to fit the default MacBook Pro resolution.
For the 13" > Supported resolutions: 1280 by 800 (native)
For the 15" > Supported resolutions: 1440 by 900 (native)

Desktop picture not displaying properly

The background desktop picture has two bands (top and bottom) that are pixelated. How can I fix this? This has started since I upgraded to Yosemite.

Try Reset PRAM.
Some of the display settings are stored in PRAM.
Reset PRAM: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH14222
Best.

Desktop Pictures missing in preferences but not in Library...

When I go to change my desktop picture in system preferences and I click on a folder (like "nature" or "abstract"), the pics in that category do not appear and the preview screen stays blank. I checked and the files are still under Library->Desktop Pictures and I can select them from there if a add a new folder to the system preferences desktop pics list. The problem is that this should not be happening... anyone have a fix?

Not a fix but something I found out the hard way.. When I use quartz images that do not have the same size as my desktop and I scale them to fit my desktop size my graphics in general give trouble. Screen savers that will not run in test mode. Screen savers running black in the background, Photo Booth issues. Depth of the screen is reduced. If you use custom desktop pictures don't resize them to fit your screen, center them or just have them full screen. They somehow don't scale well.
Message was edited by: CodLBi

Only Desktop Picture on TV

I connect my macbook pro to my tv using the mini dvi connector and vga/svga cable, and all i see on my tv is the desktop picture. How can I watch a movie or actually see everything else from my macbook on my tv?

When you plug in any monitor, by default it acts like a second computer monitor...an extension of your desktop. If it's blank, you probably haven't put anything there yet. I'm sure if you dragged something over to the second monitor, like the DVD Player window, it would not be blank anymore.
If you want the same thing to show on both your MacBook Pro and your TV, you must turn on "mirroring" mode. Do this either in the Displays icon on your menu bar, or using the "Mirror Displays" checkbox in your Displays system preference, Arrangement tab. The Arrangement tab also lets you arrange the monitor icons to match how they are in your room so that dragging a window past the correct edge crosses over to the other monitor (when mirroring is off).

Zooming desktop pictures without "pixelating"?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for