Introduction.
Often when speaking to new (often enthusiastic) Linux users, they are anxious to personalise their computers as quickly as possible. After all, they've heard all about how Linux is so configurable and they want some of it.
For many, this means a different background is their very first choice and the aim of this page, is to show novices just how easy it is.
In order to demonstrate the procedure, I'll change my Debian computers wallpaper from the standard background, to a picture taken at random from the Internet.
Before:
The procedure.
Please note: although this procedure was tested on Debian Etch 64, it should also work on all mainstream distros with either a Gnome or KDE desktop.
First, just find a suitable picture that is pleasing to you, but keep in mind a landscape format is preferable to a portrait type.
For this demonstration, I came across this:
Credit: NASA
This image appeared on a site that I was reading and seemed suitable, so all I needed to do was right click the image (straight off the web page) and select Set As Desktop Background as indicated here:
That action, resulted in this:
I now have three choices. I can either accept the image as portrayed and have the image centred on the desktop (as indicated in the screen-shot), or I can use the drop-down list and select either the Tile option or the Stretch option, as shown here:
Selecting Stretch and then clicking on Set Desktop Background, results in this:
After:
Conclusion.
I hope this has blown away any myths that may be around about how difficult standard tasks are in Linux. You can see, if you've been used to Windows®, it is no different. In fact it's easier, as you don't have to download the image separately, Linux does that automatically for you.
Five clicks from beginning to end and it's all done!
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