# Dual monitors background question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554 "2009-08-06T18:19:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/1 "2009-08-06T18:19:53Z")
I have a dual monitor setup. From my minor attempts at tinkering, it appears the only way to get a single image across both monitors (without ridiculous stretching) is to get a big ole 2880x900 picture. Is there a way to assign Picture A to monitor 1 and Picture B to monitor 2? That’d allow me a lot more options. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/2 "2009-08-06T18:42:20Z")
What OS? It’s very easy to assign different pictures in MacOS X. I don’t know if there is a simple way to do it on Windows, but an easy alternative would be to open two pictures in Photoshop (or something) and stick them together in one big picture. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/3 "2009-08-06T18:55:52Z")
XP. I don’t have access to Photoshop. Is there a freeware version of something similar? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/4 "2009-08-06T19:03:27Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > XP. > > I don’t have access to Photoshop. Is there a freeware version of something similar? GIMP is free (and some people hate it. not me though). [http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/](http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/) ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/5 "2009-08-06T19:18:54Z")
[http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/dual-monitors-use-a-different-wallpaper-on-each-desktop/](http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/dual-monitors-use-a-different-wallpaper-on-each-desktop/) I have not tried this method so I cannot vouch for it. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/6 "2009-08-06T19:34:58Z")
XP can display two different backgrounds at the same time as long as the monitors are in dual mode. This is where each monitor is treated as a separate desktop that you can slide from one to the other with the mouse. I don’t currently have a dual set up, but did for years. One was the monitor and the other the television. The setup is handled by right clicking on the desktop which bring up Display Properties. Click on the Desktop tab. Somewhere in the Background box there is a setup for dual monitors. When you check it the choices for each screen should be opened in a new dialog box. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/7 "2009-08-06T19:39:44Z")
gaz - that works 99% fantastically. The only problem is that my desktop is cluttered, and all the icons now have their name highlighted, as if it’s selected. I guess I could clean up my desktop… (But thanks - I’d never even heard of that method before!) ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/8 "2009-08-06T19:41:05Z")
I use the free version of DisplayFusion ([http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/](http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/)) on my Windows Vista computer at work. Each of my two monitors has a different picture on it. Disclaimer: I have no ties whatsoever to the software mentioned, except as a satisfied user. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/9 "2009-08-06T19:42:54Z")
Take a look at [DisplayFusion](http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/). The freeware version works pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/10 "2009-08-06T21:11:50Z")
I hear that DisplayFusion is good. I’m surprised nobody mentioned it. But seriously, I can recommend it too. It’s shareware, but not too crippled. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dual-monitors-background-question/505554/11 "2009-08-06T21:24:00Z")
You can use MS Paint instead of Photoshop or GIMP. 1) Open the left image in MS Paint. 2) Extend the canvas using Menu-\>Image-\>Attributes to the width of the two monitors. 3) Using another instance of MS Paint, open the right image. 4) Select All 5) Copy 6) Paste into the right side of the first instance of MS Paint. 7) Save as a new image 8) Set as background. I admit, this is a pain compared to DisplayFusion, but it is useful if you don’t want to install a specific program.