A few answers to your 'how to.." questions

• Q: How can I download the images?
• Q: How can Mac-users download the images?
• Q: Can a AOL-user download the images?
• Q: How come the images I downloaded are so small/ blurry?
• Q: Do I really need to convert the image to a bmp file?
• Q: How can I convert an image to a bmp file and resize it?
• Q: What size should I convert the image to?
• Q: Where on my hard disk should I put the bmp file?
• Q: Why should I want to manage my wallpaper files?
• Q: What if I 'm still puzzled???

How can I download the images?

In Internet Explorer it's real easy :
first left click on the small image to get to the large wallpaper size one. Once you have the the large image on your screen, right click the image and choose from the menu "Save Picture As.." Internet Explorer will give you the option to save it as a jpg or a bmp.
I'm sure other browsers, like Opera etc., have similar options.

In Netscape it's almost the same:
first left click on the small image to see the image in actual size. Then, just right click on the large image and choose "Save Image As...". A menu opens and you can choose where on your hard disk you want to save the file. You can also change the name if you want to. Do not change the extension, leave it a jpg file. You can convert it later.
I'm sure other browsers, like Opera etc., have similar options.



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How can Mac-users download the images?


Thanks to Steve Platt who wrote the instructions, there is now a step-by-step instruction for Mac-users:
1. Double-click on the image you want. The image will open in a new window.
2. Click and hold the mouse down on the image. You will see a pop-up menu.
3. From this menu, select "Download Image to Disk".
4. In the resulting dialogue box, double-click on "Save". The image will download to the hard drive immediately.

To make sure the download was successful:

1. Go to the Apple menu, select "Control Panel"
2. In the "Chooser" sub-menu, select "Desktop Pictures".
3. In the "Desktop Pictures" dialogue box, select "Choose Picture".
4. In the "Choose Picture" dialogue box, select HD (hard drive)
5. Under the hard drive menu, click on the name of the image that you just downloaded. A small preview of the picture should pop up in the "Desktop Pictures" dialogue box.
6. In the "Desktop Pictures" dialogue box, click on "set desktop".


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Can a AOL-user download the images?


I have no personal experience with AOL, so my information might be sketchy, but as far as I know the most important thing AOL-users should do is:
Turn off compressed graphics!

This can be done by choosing My AOL-Preferences-WWW-Graphics- Uncheck "Compressed Graphics".
Now you should be able to download the images as in a 'normal' browser.

Remember: FIRST left click on the small thumbnail size images to go to the large image and then download the large image.

Another tip from a AOL member is this one:

Start AOL and then minimize.
Start Internet Explorer, go to the wallpaper site and proceed by left clicking on the thumbnail to get to the large image. Once you have the the large image on your screen, right click the image and choose from the menu "Save Picture As.." Internet Explorer will give you the option to save it as a jpg or a bmp.

Since I have no experience with AOL, this is the only help I can offer AOL-users.
If you still have trouble, don't email me (I can't help you) but ask a fellow AOL-user, or consult a AOL users forum.

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How come the images I downloaded are so small/blurry?


You probably made a common mistake:
you downloaded the small thumbnail files instead of the actual wallpapers. The small images are just a link to the actual wallpaper size images!
You must left click on the small thumbnail size images to go to the large image and then download the large image.
So try again :-)

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Do I really need to convert the image to a bmp file?


In Windows 95/98/ME you can only use bmp files as wallpaper. So if you have Windows 95/98/ME on your system you will have to convert the image. Windows XP and 2000 lets you use JPG files as wallpaper, so no need there.

Also good to know: in Windows XP/2000 it doesn't matter where on your hard disk you store the jgp file.

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How can I convert an image to a bmp file and resize it?


You need an image viewer and -converter. Perhaps you already have one on your hard disk, but if not, there are several easy shareware programs available on the Net that can do the job. Here are a few shareware sites where you can download such a program, like for instance ACDSee,Polyview or my personal favorite:
LviewPro : it's easy, small and has a lot of extra's.
You can download version 1C here, in a zip file (307 kb)
there do exist newer versions of LView (look at the shareware sites for those), but those new versions are larger, so slower. All you really need is in this quick and simple version.

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What size should I convert the image to?


Well, you would want the image to be full screen, so the size you need really depends on your screen resolution.
The standards are:
• 640 x 480 pixels
• 800 x 600 pixels
• 1024 x 768 pixels
• 1280 x 1024 pixels

If you have no idea what screen resolution you're currently using, you can either:

• check your resolution under Settings (choose Settings, Control panel, Display, Settings). (Windows 95/98)
• determine it by clicking this button (may not work in all browsers though):

Most of the images on my site are 1024 x 768. Some have a slightly different size than the standard, but the difference is so small it still looks full screen. A few images however are considerably smaller, so you really need to adjust their size.
Of course adjusting the size of an image will have its effect on the quality of the image.

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Where on my hard disk should I put the bmp file?


In your Windows directory.Your other wallpaper files are also in that directory.
After you put it there, you can set it as your wallpaper just as you always set your wallpaper. In windows 95/98 under Settings (choose Settings, Control panel, Display, Background).

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Why should I want to manage my wallpaper files?


You don't really *need* to manage your wallpaper files. And if you use Windows XP I wouldn't do it: Windows XP lets you use JPG files as wallpaper and lets you store them anywhere you want on your disk. No real problem there.

But, if you use Windows 95/98/ME it might be a good idea. Of course, you can just put them all as bmp files in your windows directory. And change it manually whenever you feel like it.
But: when your collection gets larger and larger , it might be nice to change it automatically at certain intervals.
Another problem is that bmp files are so large; they take a lot of hard disk space. It would be nice if you could save them as jpg files and still be able to set them as your wallpaper.
Well, all that is possible with a wallpaper manager.
There are lots of programs on the Net that can do this. Take a look at the various shareware sites or try the ones I mention below.
They are all programs I tried myself and found easy to use and with a lot of features:

WWplus (495 Kb, shareware):  


This is my personal favorite ; it's very easy to use, always available in your task bar tray. One of the nice features is that not only can you use jpg and gif files, you can leave them wherever you want them on your disk. You don't need to put all your wallpapers in one directory, which is very pleasant if you have carefully collected all your Star Trek images in different sub directories, like DS9, TNG, TOS, VOY)

Wallpaper Pro 32-bit (540 Kb, shareware):  


This #1 desktop wallpaper utility lets you set up playlists for all your favorite wallpaper images, set timers to automatically change wallpaper, stretch images to fill the screen, and instantly change wallpapers with a single click. You can easily and quickly manage and control all your favorite wallpaper files from your system tray.

WallMaster (922 Kb, shareware):  


This free wallpaper changer utility lets you use bmp, jpg, gif, png, pcx, tga, pcd, and ico as desktop wallpaper and you can program the wallpaper to change at a specified time interval. It's very easy to use, has many features and...it's free!

Wallpaper Manager 98 (5.5549 Kb, shareware):  


if you have a large image collection, Wallpaper Manager 98 is a great way to display your images as Windows wallpaper and to preview and organize your collection as well!

Last but not least is Caledo (190 Kb, postcardware):   :


a small program, easy to use and with a lot of features: time interval, use of jpg and gif, etc. it's Postcardware, so give it a try!

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What if I 'm still puzzled?????


Well, , explain your problem and I will try to help...



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last update September 29, 2005

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