Desktop Background.

[Teleport]

One of my best android set-ups.

[Kjell]

I really love these things but i have a lack of knowledge how to make such things.

[Teleport]

I really love these things but i have a lack of knowledge how to make such things.

If you want, I can send you some tips about device customizing based on your device. (Except iPhones since I have never used an iPhone in my life)

[Kjell]

I have an iphone but pc desktop would cool aswell! Not sure if i'll implent it though.

[Teleport]

I have an iphone but pc desktop would cool aswell! Not sure if i'll implent it though.

Alright, I'll start working on something as soon as my finals are over.

[djuki]

couldnt you post it here so we can all share the knowhow?

[Andre]

oh yeah forgot to post the desktop bg of my new pc.

[Teleport]

First off, desktop customizing ranges from extremely simple (minimalistic) to extremely elaborate. Personally, I like to keep this minimal.

The following is only for Windows based customization.

Resources I use to customize my desktop:

1) Rainmeter : Rainmeter is a great metering tool for windows. In layman's terms, it can be said as an application that places widgets. For example : The clock in this picture : http://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/20...720ydk.png , is accomplished by rainmeter.
Link to their official site : http://rainmeter.net/

2) Custom Themes : Now, custom themes are basically settings that change how your windows looks, for example the taskbar, the explorer frames (the back and forward buttons while you are exploring your folders), the color themes etc. My favourite source of getting themes is deviantART ( http://www.deviantart.com/customization/skins/ .. On the left hand side, you can further narror your themes by selecting the specific categories).
WARNING: To use custom themes, you must patch 3 system files. More informtion on this can be found here : http://neiio.deviantart.com/art/How-to-I...-262833454

3) Wallpapers : Wallpapers, are a really big part of the overall look of your desktop. Nobody likes to open their laptop, and see a crappy pixelated image. I use wallbase.cc as my source of wallpapers. It has a pretty good collection, but unfortunately it is not being developed any further. Rather the authors are working a new site, but it still has a nice amount of wallpapers. There are other sources of wallpapers as well. Other than WallBase, I also use : http://thepaperwall.com/ .


How to Customize :

Well, that depends on how much you want to customize and in which way. For the first couple of times you are customizing you might just get bored or frustrated and give up. Happened to me, until I decided to stick to it this time.

Below, I'll show a simple rainmeter + wallpaper set-up.

1) So now you have rainmeter. Rainmeter is not a stand-alone customizer. Rather it works as a middle man. You must download themes for rainmeter made by other people, or create your own themes (these will take a basic knowledge of coding). A nice place to get rainmeter skins is again from deviantART : http://rainmeter.deviantart.com/ .... Or http://customize.org/rainmeter .

2) Most old skins will just be folder. To install themes skins, you must copy the entire skin folder, and place it wherever your rainmeter gallery is installed. (By default it is in : My Documents -> Rainmeter -> Skin). Once you have copied and pasted it, close rainmeter, and open it again. On the left hand side of rainmeter, you should be able to see all installed skins. (http://puu.sh/6lFn2.png ). If you don't see a theme you installed, try refreshing. You can then open the folder by double clicking on the specific theme. After than you should double click on the ***.ini file you want to load. Once you do that, go to your desktop, and voila you should have that skin on your desktop. (This is applicable for all themes).

3) Some recently released skins, will be in the format of ***.rmskin . These are handy, and you can install these just by double clicking them. To apply the skins inside, follow the steps in point 2.


4) So now you have some rainmeter widgets on. Time to change the wallpaper. You should know how to this, but in the rare case that you don't. Right-click on an iamge you want as your background, and then click on "Set as background".


Voila, now you have your custom wallpaper, and your preferred rainmeter skins running.

Customization can be really fun, but it can also be tedious. But one thing is for sure, there are endless possibilities. The more you try and customize the more themes you run into, giving you more choices, and ideas. But, its not really everyone's game.

If you have any more queries, please don't hesitate to ask.

[djuki]

great post!!!
thx
ill look into it when i have some more time

[aYellowDot.]

Nice customization & tutorial there, teleport!

Here's mine, I'll change some things later, using your tut