Desktop – Appearance – Change the Wallpaper

Tip
Changing your wallpaper under KDE4 is very similar to changing it under KDE3.

Right click on the Desktop. Or, if you prefer, you can left click on the large cashew in the corner of your screen. When the window opens click on “Appearance Settings.”

Under the “Wallpaper” heading you'll find four sub-categories; “Type” (This should be “Image” for ordinary usage.), “Picture” (We'll use this sub-category to change the wallpaper.),  “Positioning” (Scaled is the default – but feel free to experiment.), and “Color” (This is the Desktop background color when no graphics are used.). There is a final button at the bottom, “Get New Wallpapers.” If you click this you will be connected directly to KDE-Look.org (assuming you have a working Internet connection) where you can choose new wallpapers.

Default wallpapers are stored in /usr/share/wallpapers. However, when you use the “Get New Wallpapers” button your choices will be stored in your home /.kde4/share/wallpapers. Wallpapers from both sources appear in the default picture inventory.

To select and use one of the immediately available wallpapers simply click on the “Picture” down arrow (“v”) then click on your choice. Click “Apply” or “OK” to put your choice on the Desktop.

Some people have their own personal collection of wallpapers. If you choose to use one of them click on the “file” icon on the far right of the “Picture” line. A window will open and you can navigate to your personal wallpaper collection. Click on your choice then click “Apply” or “OK.”

So that's it. I had to use a lot of words to describe a very simple operation. But if you're like me and change your wallpaper about every 2 to 10 days, changing the “look” of your desktop will soon be as easy as pie, falling off a log, or drinking an ice cold brew.

You can find some nice (and free) wallpapers at the links below:

http://www.gnome-look.org/

http://www.kde-look.org/

http://www.vladstudio.com/wallpapers/

http://interfacelift.com/wallpaper_beta/downloads/date/any/index1.html

http://bestfreewallpaper.net/