Aside from being nice to look at, I pretty much consider two issues when choosing wallpaper:
1) Because I have a 1280 x 768 monitor, most wallpaper doesn't fill the desktop. Therefore I prefer a predominantly black or white wallpaper, so I can set the background to match and it will blend reasonably well. I can never match colors.
2) I keep my shortcuts on the left side of my desktop (standard for Windows), so I want the artistic focus of the wallpaper to be on the right, where it won't be covered up. If I were using a Mac, with shortcuts on the right, I would want it the other way.
I like manips best, either a single character or a pairing. Collages are sometimes okay, most of them are usually much to busy for my taste. I want something relatively simple, preferably in rich, quiet colors.
For example, my current wp is this one of Jack O'Neill: http://www.fadedpress.com/art/jackwoodland.jpg
Like psychoadept, all my shortcuts are on the left side of my screen, so it's important to me that the focus of the image be on the right side. I'd prefer that the left side of the wp not be to busy so that the shortcut icons are easy to see against the background.
and i have the same size monitor myself - and am realizing now that's one of the questions I should've asked. Stupid LJ that won't let one go back and edit polls....
Wow, what a brilliant idea. Thanks for doing this.
I'm a bit of an oddball in that I like to have a smaller size wallpaper than my screen. I make 1024x768 but usually use 800x600 on my desktop because I like a nice, solid backdrop for my icons. Also, in conflict with many I create, I prefer wallpapers that are simple with clear shots of characters. Doesn't matter which side since I tend to move icons around when I'm irritated.
The artsy textual ones appeal to me creatively but the noise can be disruptive when I'm trying to concentrate.
While I enjoy text, I rarely find the phrases something I would like to read everyday. It's all a matter of tastes. I avoid using text for this very reason. I'm tasteless. *g* Unless for humor which seems to work better, I think.
I love manips but tend to be hyper critical, especially of my own. Sometimes a cleaned up but familiar shot is nicer. There are so many raggedy screenshots out there, it's rare to come across a well done shot.
My favorite style are ones that seem to tell a story. Themed wp's are nice, but ones that inspire a tale inspire my work. Then again, I nag at myself to finish a WIP by using my fic banners as wp. It's a form of self-punishment.
and all i wanted to do was add a couple more questions... things like "do you like having fandom banners" and "do you like pictures of people or nature" and then some other stuff... 's ok, i'll just survive with the info i have :D
Well, I hope we get some good results - although it's been an interesting discussion so far. I'm profoundly grateful I asked the questions I did, since I'm surprised by many of the answers.
(although if i could go back and revise, I'd add a question in about what size ppl's screens are - doh!)
And I understand the impulse to use a smaller size wallpaper - I used to do that too until I got my current computer (it has a funky ratio since it's wider than normal). That that makes sense, since that way you get to see the entire picture all at one take.
Ooo - good point about the phrases. *goes to look for interesting things worth reading every day* but i understand the impulse to not want text. Funny isn't it that most of the published wallpapers on LJ (by other artists, i mean) tend to have text?
And your manips are some of the best in the business, but they're probably that way because you are very aware of your own work, yes? I know i get lazy after a while with the ones I've done and simply want to put them *down*...
I agree with you about the raggedy screenshots! I think most of my icon time is actually filled with cleaning up shots, not doing design on them, sadly. Although I keep telling people that it just means I can make their holiday pictures look great, no matter how they initialy come out.
My favorite style are ones that seem to tell a story. now that is a brilliant thought! which i can actually see in your work.
thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, too! i love having more than just the 'ticky box' version of your perspective!
Okay - what I like. I don't know how helpful this is, but that stuff you just posted? That. I like the way you mix pictures and colors - you take elements that I would NEVER think of and bring them together so that they look made for each other. Fortunately, I'm too busy admiring your work to be insanely jealous :-)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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(and thanks for commenting!)
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I figured a visual of my current desktop might also give you an idea of what I like.
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1) Because I have a 1280 x 768 monitor, most wallpaper doesn't fill the desktop. Therefore I prefer a predominantly black or white wallpaper, so I can set the background to match and it will blend reasonably well. I can never match colors.
2) I keep my shortcuts on the left side of my desktop (standard for Windows), so I want the artistic focus of the wallpaper to be on the right, where it won't be covered up. If I were using a Mac, with shortcuts on the right, I would want it the other way.
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For example, my current wp is this one of Jack O'Neill: http://www.fadedpress.com/art/jackwoodland.jpg
Like
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And now I'm embarrassed over my typos and my failure to proofread before posting that comment.
*facepalms*
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http://www.livejournal.com/users/wickedfox/80532.html
Which, as it says in the post, originally had the picture on the other side, but I asked her to change it 'cause of shortcuts.
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I left the last one blank, as what the text is matters more to me than how much (i really enjoy irony *evil grin*)
*many cuddles*
~e!
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Suffice to say it has n3kkid chicks and is purple :)
~e!
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(it also makes me want to revise the poll, but sadly LJ doesn't love me that much)
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and that makes sense.
cute icon, btw
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and i have the same size monitor myself - and am realizing now that's one of the questions I should've asked. Stupid LJ that won't let one go back and edit polls....
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and good to know.
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thanks for filling out everything else dear one!
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(unless you're talking about the tara/buffy one, in which case, i didn't put up a link cuz that's *yours* and *yours* alone ... )
*snuggles you*
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(Anonymous) 2005-12-16 04:56 am (UTC)(link)- Miranda
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it is the b/t one you made for me *squishes it* it's so purty
~e!
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I'm a bit of an oddball in that I like to have a smaller size wallpaper than my screen. I make 1024x768 but usually use 800x600 on my desktop because I like a nice, solid backdrop for my icons. Also, in conflict with many I create, I prefer wallpapers that are simple with clear shots of characters. Doesn't matter which side since I tend to move icons around when I'm irritated.
The artsy textual ones appeal to me creatively but the noise can be disruptive when I'm trying to concentrate.
While I enjoy text, I rarely find the phrases something I would like to read everyday. It's all a matter of tastes. I avoid using text for this very reason. I'm tasteless. *g* Unless for humor which seems to work better, I think.
I love manips but tend to be hyper critical, especially of my own. Sometimes a cleaned up but familiar shot is nicer. There are so many raggedy screenshots out there, it's rare to come across a well done shot.
My favorite style are ones that seem to tell a story. Themed wp's are nice, but ones that inspire a tale inspire my work. Then again, I nag at myself to finish a WIP by using my fic banners as wp. It's a form of self-punishment.
:o)
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and all i wanted to do was add a couple more questions... things like "do you like having fandom banners" and "do you like pictures of people or nature" and then some other stuff... 's ok, i'll just survive with the info i have :D
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Thanks, one day I hope to have more in my userspace.
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(Anonymous) 2005-12-16 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)- m
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(although if i could go back and revise, I'd add a question in about what size ppl's screens are - doh!)
And I understand the impulse to use a smaller size wallpaper - I used to do that too until I got my current computer (it has a funky ratio since it's wider than normal). That that makes sense, since that way you get to see the entire picture all at one take.
Ooo - good point about the phrases. *goes to look for interesting things worth reading every day* but i understand the impulse to not want text. Funny isn't it that most of the published wallpapers on LJ (by other artists, i mean) tend to have text?
And your manips are some of the best in the business, but they're probably that way because you are very aware of your own work, yes? I know i get lazy after a while with the ones I've done and simply want to put them *down*...
I agree with you about the raggedy screenshots! I think most of my icon time is actually filled with cleaning up shots, not doing design on them, sadly. Although I keep telling people that it just means I can make their holiday pictures look great, no matter how they initialy come out.
My favorite style are ones that seem to tell a story. now that is a brilliant thought! which i can actually see in your work.
thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, too! i love having more than just the 'ticky box' version of your perspective!
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sadly, after I made this i realized how many things I'd left out - and stupid lj doesn't let us edit polls :(
thanks though, for the comment, and for answering!
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