black desktop background

[edrifkin]

How can I create a black desktop background is OS X??

 

[killuminati]

Go to System Preferences>Desktop and Screensavers, click the desktops tab, then go to Solid Colours and select your colour.

 

[gekko513]

Create a black image file and set it as background:

"System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver -> Desktop -> Pictures Folder"

If you don't have image editing software, you can make a screen capture of something black. For instance something written in a large font in TextEdit. Or use this:

 

[killuminati]

Create a black image file and set it as background:

"System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver -> Desktop -> Pictures Folder"

If you don't have image editing software, you can make a screen capture of something black. For instance something written in a large font in TextEdit. Or use this:

You really don't need to do that. It's much simpler to just select black for your background color under Solid Colors

 

[gekko513]

You really don't need to do that. It's much simpler to just select black for your background color under Solid Colors

It's just that black isn't there, only dark grey.

 

[killuminati]

It's just that black isn't there, only dark grey.

You just need to select it from the color palette. There should be a colored box beside where the image stretching/tiling options are. Click that and it will bring up the colors.

 

[gekko513]

You just need to select it from the color palette. There should be a colored box beside where the image stretching/tiling options are. Click that and it will bring up the colors.

That box only shows up when you select a custom image that is smaller than the screen and select a stretching option that leaves some of the background uncovered by the image.

 

[killuminati]

That box only shows up when you select a custom image that is smaller than the screen and select a stretching option that leaves some of the background uncovered by the image.

Strange, because it works fine for me to use that to set a solid background colour.

I feel bad for the OP, we've taken over his thread arguing about such a simple thing

 

[gekko513]

Strange, because it works fine for me to use that to set a solid background colour.

I feel bad for the OP, we've taken over his thread arguing about such a simple thing

Ditto, which version of OS X are you using? I don't get a colour box for "Solid Colors" on either of my two Macs running 10.4.6.

 

[killuminati]

I'm on a friends iMac G4 and he's running 10.2.8. It seems strange that apple would take this feature out. I'll have to check on my computers when I get home.

 

[fistful]

I did as gekko513 suggested and created a solid black .png only I placed it in the /Library/Desktop Pictures/Solid Colors folder so that it will show up permanently in the preferences.

 

[edrifkin]

I did as gekko513 suggested and created a solid black .png only I placed it in the /Library/Desktop Pictures/Solid Colors folder so that it will show up permanently in the preferences.

Thanks for all the posts.. now I changed my background to black, I cannot distinguish between the desktop background and my xterm window.. I thought there were some lines around the xterm windows, but apparently not. Any idea how to have this border lines for the xterm windows to appear? Or maybe I have to change the xterm background to something else like 'transparent gray'.. how can I do this??

 

[gekko513]

What kind of xterm are you using? Apple's X11? Or are you talking about Terminal windows?

 

[edrifkin]

What kind of xterm are you using? Apple's X11? Or are you talking about Terminal windows?

I'm using X11 xterm...

 

[BakedBeans]

i will make you one - what res is your screen???

 

[edrifkin]

i will make you one - what res is your screen???

The resolution is 1680 x 1050.. thanks alot!

 

[BakedBeans]

here ya go

 

[edrifkin]

here ya go

I'm sorry but I'm bit new to Mac OS environment.. what should I do with this file?

 

[mad jew]

Uncompress it with Stuffit and then head to System Preferences where you can use Choose Folder to pick it out and use it.

 

[edrifkin]

Uncompress it with Stuffit and then head to System Preferences where you can use Choose Folder to pick it out and use it.

Is this file for creating black background for the desktop or resolving issue of creating a border for the xterm window?

 

[mad jew]

Sorry, the method is for the background.

 

[gekko513]

Maybe you should consider not using black? Black isn't there as a background colour option for a reason. The windows casts shadows so that you can tell where the edges are even for borderless windows, but that doesn't work when the background is already black.

Maybe a dark grey background and dark grey xterm windows will give a similar style to the one you're going for?

 

[Poeben]

The resolution is 1680 x 1050.. thanks alot!

Couldn't you just make say a 16x16 black square and tile or stretch to fill screen? That's the way I used to do it.

 

[gekko513]

Couldn't you just make say a 16x16 black square and tile or stretch to fill screen? That's the way I used to do it.

See post #3 in this thread.

 

[BakedBeans]

Is this file for creating black background for the desktop or resolving issue of creating a border for the xterm window?

just open the file by double clicking it - then set it as your bacground (in system prefs)