Fade your Finder window background pictures
Nov 20, '01 11:51:09PM
Contributed by: webmastermind
As a graphic designer, I couldn't stand those window pictures in icon view. Since windows with long lists make the picture cut off at the end, it creates a huge contrast difference from a sunset over the Pacific Ocean to a hard white space and just plain files or folders; it looks pretty ugly.
Well, I don't know if anybody has figured this out yet, but I have for myself, and it works great! Here are a few steps in getting your window pictures to actually look nice. (Requires Photoshop or the like)
Read the rest of the article for a quick how-to on fading your background images nicely away...
How to create a fading background image:
- Create a new folder in your "Library" called "Window Pictures" or something to that extent. (It would be easier if the "Window Pictures" was in the same "Library" folder as the "Desktop Pictures")
- Open your your "Desktop Picures" folder from the "Library" folder in a new window, and copy a favorite picture from there (640x480 or bigger) to the "Window Pictures" folder you just created.
- In Photoshop, open the image you just copied. Adjust the brightness/contrast to a desired ...well... brightness and/or contrast.
- Select the Gradient tool, make sure that it goes from 100% WHITE to 100% TRANSPARENT.
- While pressing the "shift" key, start the gradient from the BOTTOM, and from there, go UP 400 pixels or more.
- While pressing the "shift" key again, start the gradient from the RIGHT HAND SIDE, and go LEFT 600 pixels or more.
- Save your picture, and then go back to the Finder. Open a window, select "This window only" or "Global," select "Picture" for the window's background. Press "Select..." and find your picture that you just edited inside the "Window Pictures" folder, and select it.
Voila! A wonderful cascading effect from a wonderful tropical paradice to a fantastic... um ...white. Well, at least it's easier on your eyes.
Comments (1)
Mac OS X Hints
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20011120235109569