How to Use Photographs as Wallpaper on your Desktop

Screensavers, icons and desktop adornments make us feel happy and express something about what we enjoy and what is important to us.Using photographs as desktop wallpaper is a great way to dress up your work environment and give yourself a visual delight during a slow moment at your desk. Whether you want to use your own, or get some off the Internet, using photographs as wallpaper for your desktop is easy. Here's how (Some of these tips only apply to a Windows-based machine).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Digital photo files
• Internet access

How to Use Personal Photographs as Wallpaper on your Desktop

1. First identify some photographs you'd like to use as your desktop wallpaper. Look through your picture files and select some that are high resolution. You'll find your digital photographs in a file called "My Pictures" (for Microsoft users.)

2. Close your Pictures file. Right-click on an empty space on your desktop and select "Properties" from the drop-down menu.

3. Go to the "Desktop" tab and click on the "Browse" button.

4. Click on the "My Documents" icon on the left, then click on the "My Pictures" file and locate your image. Click "Open" and then select the stretch, center or tile option. Click "OK" and you are all set.

How to Use Internet Photos for Your Desktop

5. Find images online that you'd like to use. See the Resources section below for a terrific and free photo site that makes using their images on your desktop really easy. Simply download their software and you are on your way.

6. Enlarge the image to check the size and resolution. Do this by simply clicking on the image. If it enlarges or opens a separate screen you are in business.

7. Right-click on the image and click on "Set As Desktop Background".

8. Click "OK" and you are all set. If the image appears blurry or too small, the photo or image you selected is not appropriate for use. Choose something else.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a new folder just for your desktop photo collection. Go to "My Documents" and go to the "File" tab at the top. Click "New" and "Folder" and name it "Desktop Images". Now move or download your images directly to this folder for easy finding later.
• Use only high resolution images for your desktop. Sites like Webshots.com provide the perfect resolution for your usage.