# Care to share your computer's "wallpaper"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 22, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218 "2015-09-22T16:39:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/1 "2015-09-22T16:39:37Z")
Earlier this month in [Pictures of Castles](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=768158) I mentioned that I had just put up [this picture](http://static.thousandwonders.net/Hohenwerfen.Castle.360.2026.jpg) as my “wallpaper.” It’s still up and I really like looking at it. Heretofore I have relied on [this source](http://www.wunderground.com/wximage/) for periodic changes to that background. There are other sources I use from time to time including stuff I get in email from friends who enjoy photography and/or “weird pictures.” Mostly I like to use calm and peaceful settings from nature but now and then I branch out to something _different_ that strikes my fancy. Do you have a favorite or long-term one? Do you use a particular source? In any case, if you feel like it, post a picture of your current computer’s wallpaper for us to see what yours looks like. I suppose NSFW things might be frowned on by some, but they won’t bother me! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/2 "2015-09-22T16:44:28Z")
My personal computers and my work laptop all use the same folder of about 80 different wallpaper sized images from Calvin and Hobbes as the desktop background and change the image every 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/3 "2015-09-22T16:45:05Z")
I’ve been using this picture I took for many years now: [Kayakness](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v326/snowboarderbo/Kayakness1.jpg). I use that on my computer, on my iPad and on my iPhone. Bonus points for anyone who knows where that was taken. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/4 "2015-09-22T16:47:30Z")
I actually had to close out my windows to see what my wallpaper was. Now I know why. I have none. Just a black background. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/5 "2015-09-22T16:49:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > My personal computers and my work laptop all use the same folder of about 80 different wallpaper sized images from Calvin and Hobbes as the desktop background and change the image every 4 hours. Cool! I used to have mine rotating through a group, too. Same with “screen savers” that pop up after the screen has been idle for a while (usually around 15 seconds) but now mine is a default sort of random squiggles in bright colors. The last time I used a “theme” as such it was of _Blade Runner_ pictures and sounds. That’s been at least five years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/6 "2015-09-22T16:53:14Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Bonus points for anyone who knows where that was taken. 😛 Cool shot! Your foot? I’d have to guess Grand Canyon for where. We both seem to appreciate the calm picture as background. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/7 "2015-09-22T16:57:50Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Cool shot! Your foot? I’d have to guess Grand Canyon for where. > > We both seem to appreciate the calm picture as background. Aye, that’s my foot. I like to put my feet in the water to cool down, then I rest them on the boat to let the air dry them a bit. Not the Grand Canyon,but yes, it’s on the Colorado River.I won’t say exactly where in case someone else wants to try and figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/8 "2015-09-22T16:57:59Z")
A big rectangle of [this](http://www.colorhexa.com/400080.png), covering the whole desktop. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/9 "2015-09-22T16:58:40Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I actually had to close out my windows to see what my wallpaper was. Now I know why. I have none. Just a black background. Ditto. I used to have various pretty pictures as my wallaper, but then I realised I only ever saw them for about 10 seconds after logging in - the rest of the time until I went to shut down, the entire screen was covered in open windows. So for about the last ten years, I either have a plain black background or whatever default image the PC comes with (this annoys the hell out of some people!). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/10 "2015-09-22T17:05:26Z")
Work computer is a slideshow of family photos. Home computer is currently a slideshow of auroras, sometimes I use a slideshow of baseball stadiums. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/11 "2015-09-22T17:07:16Z")
Some time ago I had [this one up](https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/LfA_oZjj7xTf4RBzkbktqA--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9NDczO3E9OTU7dz02MzQ-/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/31/article-2094339-1188DE0C000005DC-318_634x473.jpg) because it was such a shock when you finally got the picture. But it got old pretty soon. Most of them do. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/12 "2015-09-22T17:30:09Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Some time ago I had [this one up](https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/LfA_oZjj7xTf4RBzkbktqA--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9NDczO3E9OTU7dz02MzQ-/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/31/article-2094339-1188DE0C000005DC-318_634x473.jpg) because it was such a shock when you finally got the picture. But it got old pretty soon. Most of them do. I almost gave up on that one! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/13 "2015-09-22T17:48:43Z")
[I’ve used this picture for my desktop for a long time.](http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv174/kayaker01/desktop_zpsmwkkpdtz.png) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/14 "2015-09-22T17:49:02Z")
This one, taken by \*\*beowulff \*\*himself: [Lightning over the Superstitions | beowulff | Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/photos/11822576@N08/20480836076) I always use photos of lightning on my work computer, and usually keep them for years. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/15 "2015-09-22T17:51:03Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I almost gave up on that one! I know. Depending on how “washed out” the color is, the face is more easily visible. The suddenness of recognition has at least as startling an effect as those things that have a screaming image pop out of a sedate background. In fact, that was what I was expecting when I first encountered it. [This version](http://apollobelenus.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/article-2094339-1188de0c000005dc-318_634x473.jpg) hardly requires any scrutiny, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/16 "2015-09-22T17:53:55Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Some time ago I had [this one up](https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/LfA_oZjj7xTf4RBzkbktqA--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9NDczO3E9OTU7dz02MzQ-/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/31/article-2094339-1188DE0C000005DC-318_634x473.jpg) because it was such a shock when you finally got the picture. But it got old pretty soon. Most of them do. OMG. I just saw it. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/17 "2015-09-22T18:03:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I actually had to close out my windows to see what my wallpaper was. Now I know why. I have none. Just a black background. Black here. Sometimes a nearly-black tint in green or maroon, but usually black. I get bored looking at pictures, hate hunting for icons among fribble-frabble, and do a lot of graphics work that benefits from as neutral a display as possible. My phone had an interior shot of my summer car, then one of my dogs, and now has a photo a friend sent me of some European windmills with a Don Quixote “no tilting” sign in the foreground. They all had reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/18 "2015-09-22T18:04:59Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Some time ago I had [this one up](https://s.yimg.com/fz/api/res/1.2/LfA_oZjj7xTf4RBzkbktqA--/YXBwaWQ9c3JjaGRkO2g9NDczO3E9OTU7dz02MzQ-/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/31/article-2094339-1188DE0C000005DC-318_634x473.jpg) because it was such a shock when you finally got the picture. But it got old pretty soon. Most of them do. Links like this leading to pix like that usually end up pointing to “screamers.” A woman I worked with refused to talk to me for weeks when I very innocently pointed her to one of the first screamers floating around the net. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/19 "2015-09-22T18:10:03Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I know. Depending on how “washed out” the color is, the face is more easily visible. The suddenness of recognition has at least as startling an effect as those things that have a screaming image pop out of a sedate background. In fact, that was what I was expecting when I first encountered it. > > [This version](http://apollobelenus.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/article-2094339-1188de0c000005dc-318_634x473.jpg) hardly requires any scrutiny, I think. I’ve scrutinized - I can’t see any face. Regards, Shodan ETA - nm. I was looking for something bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218/20 "2015-09-22T18:19:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’ve scrutinized - I can’t see any face. > > Regards, > Shodan > > ETA - nm. I was looking for something bigger. Imagine that darker version and the anticipation of knowing something bad was going to happen! For the longest time (in my case) I kept saying “What a gyp!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/care-to-share-your-computers-wallpaper/732218.md?page=2)