Desktop Background

I'd like to download a desktop background from one of the desktop wallpaper sites. Once it's downloaded, do I need to copy it to a specific folder in order to select it as background? I'm running a new 20" iMac so is there a specific image size that will work best?
Thanks

you can drag it to your pictures folder and then that will show up in your preferences pane or you can open up desktop under system preferences and drag if from where ever you want it saved onto the little window that shows your current background.

Would this be the Pictures folder I view in Finder when viewing my profile?

yes or you could put it in any folder and when you go to system prefrences/desktop and wallpaper just click the + to add the folder

you can also drop it into iphoto and make a keyword called "wallpaper". Then make a smart album for all pictures you keyword "wallpaper". You would then be able to find them in system prefs when you wanted to change a wallpaper and they'd be nice and neat within iphoto. That's what I do and it's worked great.

Doug in Alaska said:

I'd like to download a desktop background from one of the desktop wallpaper sites. Once it's downloaded, do I need to copy it to a specific folder in order to select it as background? I'm running a new 20" iMac so is there a specific image size that will work best?
Thanks

Click to expand...

No, you don't you just need to know where it is located so you when you change your wallpaper, you know where to pick it from.

You could also instead of downloading the picture right click it in your web browser and then select use as desktop background.

The Vindicat3d said:

You could also instead of downloading the picture right click it in your web browser and then select use as desktop background.

Click to expand...

I try not to use that method.
What if you changed your background after you did that and wanted to go back to the original image but you did not remember where you got it from?

I have a folder in my Pictures folder called wallpapers and just added that folder in the wallpaper preferences. Now when I click on that folder, all my wallpapers are avalable.

Leopard saves them in a folder when you do the set as desktop background option in Safari.

NPuter said:

I have a folder in my Pictures folder called wallpapers and just added that folder in the wallpaper preferences. Now when I click on that folder, all my wallpapers are avalable.

Click to expand...

lol thats exactly what I've done and I'mhappy with it so I recommend doing that

Leopard keeps track of wallpapers picked up from browsers, so you can just right-click and say "use as desktop background" (or similar) in your browser. In system preferences, all your browser desktops should show up seperately.

Doug in Alaska said:

...I'm running a new 20" iMac so is there a specific image size that will work best?
Thanks

Click to expand...

I have a 20" iMac. 1680 x 1050 is the highest and default resolution. Switching resolutions causes the image to shrink to fit.

Thanks guys, much appreciated!