Database Users

In Pursuit of the Perfect Wallpaper

I have been doing a lot of testing looking for the perfect aspect ratio, resolution, format, and size for wallpaper in portrait mode on WM6. The main problem was that every image I would set as my wallpaper would significantly lose resolution and quality. Not to mention the bottom would always get cut off. So after a long time of trial and error I believe I have found a solution.
In order to make the perfect wallpaper from whatever image you crave you will need PhotoShop as this procedure requires some cutting and pasting (don't worry, no paste or glue involved ).
Open a new PhotoShop document and change the resolution to 240x320. Leave the rest of the setting as default. That's the easy part. This is your background.
Now open any image that you want. The size doesn't matter. This is what's great about this method. You can choose any old picture you want and we will resize it and shape it to fit our tiny screens.
Make sure that the Rectangular Marquee Tool is selected then make sure that the Style is set to draw a Fixed Ratio rectangle of which the size is 240x275. The reason I choose a height of 275 pixels is because the bottom bar of WM6 will hide anything under the 275 pixel mark.
Now select an area you want on your photo and drag it until you selection is complete or until the rectangle can't grow anymore. Notice that the correct aspect ratio is maintained. This is important for the next step.
Copy your selection (CTRL+C) and paste it onto your original blank document you first opened. It should create a new layer in the bottom right.
You will likely have to resize your image to fix the tiny 240 pixel width. You can do so by going to Edit - Transform - Scale. Then clicking the Maintain Aspect Ratio button on the tool bar (it looks like a little chain). Now resize at will. When you done resizing hit enter to save the resize.
Finally click File - Save As and select PNG. The reason I choose PNG is two fold: Firstly, PNG retain color and quality better than JPGs but they are bigger. Second, I found that WM6 doesn't distort the quality of the image as much in PNG as it does to JPGs.
Your done! Copy the file over to your device and enjoy!
I have also attached some examples of mine.

Nice choice of images in your examples
Your example images gets cut off by the top bar (clock,signal,start...)
and there is a white area at the bottom...
other than that... nice tutorial
well done!

NisseDILLIGAF said:
Nice choice of images in your examples
Your example images gets cut off by the top bar (clock,signal,start...)
and there is a white area at the bottom...
other than that... nice tutorial
well done!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, that is the whole point. It doesn't get cut off at the top (at least not on my device) and the bottom white area is actually under the bottom bar so you don't see it. If your image was there it would get cut off so this tut shows how to generate your image without losing anything. The "true" image space on the today screen is 240x275 pixels. But you background needs to be 240x320 to fit without distortion.
Thanks for the compliment on image choice. I agree.

for Diamond
I use this to make wallpapers for diamond.
Unpack and open the Attached file with photoshop and move a picture behind the layers.
In that way you can set your wallpaper exactly where you want...
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
And remember to move the picture to the front again before saving it.

Brunkage said:
I use this to make wallpapers for diamond.
Unpack and open the Attached file with photoshop and move a picture behind the layers.
In that way you can set your wallpaper exactly where you want...
And remember to move the picture to the front again before saving it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's really usefull, thanks! =]

[Q] 480x800 Wallpaper?

I got a few wallpapers I like from Windows that I want to use to my 1 page homescreen on my android. However, it always makes me take a portion of the picture. Is there a way i can just use the entire picture since i use only 1 homescreen anyways? I use launcherpro plus.

You probably need to just resize the pic to whatever the stock resolution is, which I don't know and am trying to find out myself.
I had a similar issue in that most wallpapers for andriod that I DLed from various places seem to be too big for any version I've tried on my HD2, and the common ways to select wallpaper force you to crop out a smaller portion of the picture to use.
I assume this is due to resolution restrictions, but why is it so small on the HD2 builds when it has such a big screen? It's probably a simple fix, but I've just started using andriod & haven't had time to figure it all out.

yeah, but i don't know how to resize the picture because that means i would have to figure out what portion of the cropped size the box takes for the first screen, figure out the how to stretch my picture to contain only that portion, and then try to match it perfectly to fit the screen. I'm pretty sure that is definitely not the way to do it. haha man, this is frustrating. I'm also trying to figure out if HD2's android can be flashed with other roms so we can get modded apps, change our status bars, lockscreens, etc.. i know this is just the beginning but im too anticipated!

anyone please?

Have you tried the HDWall app? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=503511
If I remember correctly, you can just edit & resize the image without having to create a .cab file for WinMo. Then, just move that image over to the phone and apply.

The thing is, i'm trying to get the wallpaper for android, not windows.

you need 960x800 wallpaper because of the way the wallpaper moves along each tab.
Just take your 480x800 wallpaper, and use photoshop (or paint.net or something) to expand the canvas to 960x800, leaving your original wallpaper in the middle.

{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
UGHHH
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4965620317/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4965620373/
pictures didnt work.

YES! got it. For anyone who is wondering how to do it, resize the picture to be 1440x800. after, make the selection box as wide as you can and center the picture as best as you can. you may have to experiment a few times because you can get a strip of white from the empty border if it is not 100% centered. Because of this, i make the box SLIGHTLY smaller then maximum size.

Alright, not to be annoying, but the quality goes down by a lot when i fix the images. can this be prevented?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4965715657/ - how it looks with the canvas stretch.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/4965715529/in/photostream - how it's suppose to look. The box can't be stretched however, which was my original problem.

HD Wallpaper Template

I started a new post because the other template wallpaper threads are not accurate. This template will not scale and has layers of both landscape and portrait home screen outlines. I also made a layer with the landscape icon grid for adjusting backgrounds to match icon placement.
I made this template through trial and error.
The template is in .psd format.
There are 6 layers.
- 1 Landscape homepage outline (Green)
- 2 Portrait homepage outline (Red)
- 3 Landscape Icon Grid (White)
- 4 Test border (Red) used to test borders.
- 5 Wallpaper Dead Space (Greenish, used to show dead space)
- 6 Background (Dark Grey)
To use in GIMP. After opening template, goto file, open as layer. make sure opened layer is between 4 & 5th layers. Align, turn off visibility to all layers but 5 & 6, then save as a png.
Upload to tab and use stock Gallery and stretch as far as possible.
Again, the green is dead space, it will not appear once loaded.
TEMPLATE
Thumbs of template:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
Here are a couple of wallpapers, not great wallpapers, but HD images to show the power of our screens.
Google Storage with More Images
I just removed the other images, they are too big, they can be found at the link above.

Great work, Honeycomb's useless wallpaper picker is my biggest complaint with it, this will be very helpful.

Cool
Excactly what I needed!

thanks a lot, lot lot, very good work
very useful !!!!

i was gonna use your template to make my own wallpaper, but I found the one you made with the record and it was pretty much what I was gonna make anyway, so I totally stole it! Seriously though, thanks a bunch! you are awesome.

Post an image or a link, and I'll make a wallpaper and post it. Has to be at least 1920x1080.
1920x1200 works better if you use portrait mode.
Glad to hear it's getting used.
Give me some thanks if you like it.
Much appreciated.

Wallpaper request
Id like to see this one if possible. It would go good with my boot animation,
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26368270/Pictures/alien-wallpaper-1920x1080.jpg
Thanks,
Harold

HERE
Some of the ROMs have different borders, let me know.

i found on my Iconia very strange behavior
ROM HV 1.2 with Richard's Kernel 3.4
I just took one of your wallpapers (i tried as well others) and put on my home screen and directly after that i saw small pieces of those green corners on my tablet in every corner - but only on the last left or right screen - in landscape - in portrait was ok.
But after reboot - green pieces where gone and the wallpaper looks great.
Strange.

Wallpaper Help
Hi, Scott,
I have tried to use your template here but I'm not having any luck getting this to do what I want, I have attached the image would you be so kind as taking a look at it and if possible fitting it to within your template. I would like it to be perfectly centered so that if in landscape or portrait it is perfectly in the middle, with a light blue background on the image.
Thanks for looking at this.

No Problem
Hope this works, I took some liberties.
The easiest way to get an image is to open it some sort of editor and make the dimensions 1918 x 1406.
My template was for the original ROM, I have since change several times and for whatever reason, each ROM is a little different. I believe the template I used was right, but if not let me know what the issues is, namely some of the green is showing up and I will see what i can do.
If you like, hit the 'Thanks' button.
Scott
Here Here & Here

Those are all awesome. I do have some green... In Landscape, I have some green on the bottom in the far right and left screen. In Portrait I have green on the bottom on all screens
I also notice that when I expand the crop picture the interior lines do not match up to the edge of the green, should they?
Thanks
Harold

dude! i don´t know how to make this works...
0 knowledge about design programs...
if you can make this pictures a nice wallpaper with your template i will be forever in your gratitude.
http://www.kamranweb.com/photos/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/beach-life-widescreen-wallpapers-02.jpg
http://ocean-wallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/Beach-Chair-Ocean-Wallpaper.jpg
http://ocean-wallpapers.com/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/Sand-Beach-With-House-Ocean-Wallpaper.jpg
thanks dude i would really apreciated!!!
(sorry for my english)

Wallpapers
I redid the book Wallpapers and created the beach wallpapers.
The beach ones don't work well because the focal point is not centered and the entire purpose of the template is to not rescale an image and lose definition, I am not really interested in doing something that can be done in Paint. Take 20 mins and figure it out, or better yet, take 5 mins and Google the right resolution.

and this is the right resolution? 1920 x 1408??
http://www.umnet.com/pic/diy/screensaver/e99c4010-8a6a.jpg
thanks!!

Just load it then.
I thin the actual no scaling resolution is 1918x1406, but it won't matter fro that image because it's not HD.

nitodu said:
and this is the right resolution? 1920 x 1408??
http://www.umnet.com/pic/diy/screensaver/e99c4010-8a6a.jpg
thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are correct. The correct resolution of the wallpaper for the A500 is 1920x1408. Not sure where others are getting their information from, but the wallpapers that come stock with the A500 are ALL 1920x1408.

Damn kjy, wish I would have had that info long ago.
I got my dimensions by trial and error, using a magnifying glass to see exactly where the borders were, looks like i was off a pixel or two.
Thanks for the info and sorry nitudo for giving out bad info.

you rock! thanks for this..

scottw714 said:
Damn kjy, wish I would have had that info long ago.
I got my dimensions by trial and error, using a magnifying glass to see exactly where the borders were, looks like i was off a pixel or two.
Thanks for the info and sorry nitudo for giving out bad info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He he all you had to do was go into the launcher2.apk, pull one of the stock wallpapers out, and open it in Photoshop to get the correct Res.

[Q] Any way to set a wallpaper without having to rescale it?

I've got a few wallpapers I'd have liked to use for my GT10.1's background but noooo, Samsung/Google likes to make it so that we can't just set a wallpaper in it's native resolution.
The tablet's native res is 1280x800, and that's what all the wallpapers are in, yet I have to drag that stupid box around and it never gets it totally in and winds up resizing it and making it look stupid. It is an injustice. On a far less silly note, it just looks pretty horrible.
Any way around this? I tried some slideshow app that let you set it, but that was for live wallpapers and didn't work too well.

I use wallpaper slidshow, it works good and the pictures looks great. The res off your wallpaper should be 1920*1408
https://market.android.com/details?id=app-com.birbeck.wallpaperslideshow
Instructions by member gqstatus0685
1. Download the wallpaper
2. Download Wallpaper Slideshow from Market
3. Use a File Explorer
4. Navigate to your DCIM folder,
5. Create a new folder called Wallpapers
6. Copy/Move the wallpaper into that Wallpapers folder. Only one picture in this folder, placing more pictures and you can loop between wallpapers on your home screen just by tapping svrren twice.
7. Use the Wallpaper Slideshow and go into folder and set the path to the map you just create
And if dont want to use a program and you have the knowledge you can do your own backgrunds.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=993596&highlight=wallpaper
And more about wallpapers and size. Guides and wallpaper to download.
http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/motorola-xoom-graphics/388-wicked-xoom-wallpapers.html
http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/motorola-xoom-graphics/320-getting-wallpapers-fit-just-right.html
Sent from my MZ604 using XDA Premium App

Arachnidus said:
The tablet's native res is 1280x800, and that's what all the wallpapers are in
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the risk of stating the obvious, the wallpapers need to be higher resolution than that if you don't want them to be resampled. Scrolling left/right on the home screen reveals different sections of the wallpaper, as does opening the apps drawer.
As such, the resolution of the stock wallpapers must be a fair bit higher than 1280x800 -- unfortunately, I don't know what it actually is though.

snoopstah said:
As such, the resolution of the stock wallpapers must be a fair bit higher than 1280x800 -- unfortunately, I don't know what it actually is though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1920*1408 is what to use

The easiest way I've found to do it is by using my ImageShack acct. You can use whatever image host, but anytime I find a potential suitor for wallpaper, I put it into my SGT folder on IS and then you open the image (full size) in the browser and long press on it and set as wallpaper. That way you bypass all that scaling/re-sizing mess and its easy to flip back and forth between wallpapers by just going to your image host.
But like the fella above said, make sure and use larger images. It doesn't have to be 1920x1408, but that is the target.
*You can see what I mean by googling image search for 'Honeycomb Wallpaper' and the first result is from Zebcogs.com with image name glowy_hex.jpeg. Open that image full screen in the browser and then long press ---> set as wallpaper. Much better result.

Tried that but that will automatically chop the wallpaper and it's not the full resolution.
MarcAntonyy said:
The easiest way I've found to do it is by using my ImageShack acct. You can use whatever image host, but anytime I find a potential suitor for wallpaper, I put it into my SGT folder on IS and then you open the image (full size) in the browser and long press on it and set as wallpaper. That way you bypass all that scaling/re-sizing mess and its easy to flip back and forth between wallpapers by just going to your image host.
But like the fella above said, make sure and use larger images. It doesn't have to be 1920x1408, but that is the target.
*You can see what I mean by googling image search for 'Honeycomb Wallpaper' and the first result is from Zebcogs.com with image name glowy_hex.jpeg. Open that image full screen in the browser and then long press ---> set as wallpaper. Much better result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

bd85 said:
1920*1408 is what to use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to this post, the stock wallpaper is 1920 x 1280 - I have not validated
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
http://forum.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-inch/96282-wallpaper.html

bd85 said:
1920*1408 is what to use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seemed to work perfect for me.
And because of that, I just made a .psd file to make it easier to make backgrounds in the future. Just go into slice mode, slap the picture you want into the middle area, color the other sides appropriately, then set it and forget it.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16533039/gt101template.psd

Wall paper slideshow. Since I like to rotate walls anyway it makes for easy switching (double taps).

I found that opening an image from a website in the browser; press, and hold on it and select "Save as wallpaper" sized the image correctly, and set it as the wallpaper. The only problem with this method was that it does not save the file in the wallpaper gallery.

[Q] Cannot crop photos correctly on Photo Editor

Hello everyone, i'm having a problem with the photo editor app.
It doesnt matter how much i try, or what settings i choose, i cant manage to crop a photo correctly, as you can see on the screenshot, i can't manage to ''select'' the borders of the picture, that happens with any picturei choose, i can crop freely the ''center'' but the borders, it just can't reach.
Anyone have a solution for this?
EDIT: The cropping section of the photo editor is all having problems , i have lot of difficulty to crop photos, it doesnt matter the proportion
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}

EverLost123 said:
Hello everyone, i'm having a problem with the photo editor app.
It doesnt matter how much i try, or what settings i choose, i cant manage to crop a photo correctly, as you can see on the screenshot, i can't manage to ''select'' the borders of the picture, that happens with any picturei choose, i can crop freely the ''center'' but the borders, it just can't reach.
Anyone have a solution for this?
EDIT: The cropping section of the photo editor is all having problems , i have lot of difficulty to crop photos, it doesnt matter the proportion
-img-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cannot reproduce:

HanZie82 said:
Cannot reproduce:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So i guess the photo editor is showing the picture full screen instead of adjusting it to the screen, and as the code is written to only maximize to a specific part of the screen, its not reaching the ''full screen'' picture.
So i guess i need to replace with another photo editor APK?

EverLost123 said:
So i guess the photo editor is showing the picture full screen instead of adjusting it to the screen, and as the code is written to only maximize to a specific part of the screen, its not reaching the ''full screen'' picture.
So i guess i need to replace with another photo editor APK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As soon as i press crop (on the bottom) the picture resizes so i can see all of it.
Hope that is what you meant.
Here a picture just before i pressed crop:

HanZie82 said:
As soon as i press crop (on the bottom) the picture resizes so i can see all of it.
Hope that is what you meant.
Here a picture just before i pressed crop:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get the same Han, but the thing is when i press crop, instead of adjusting the picture, it does nothing (just a bit, like 5%)
Here is before crop mode:
This is after crop mode (compare to your first screenshot, the blue crop retangle and then this)

EverLost123 said:
I get the same Han, but the thing is when i press crop, instead of adjusting the picture, it does nothing (just a bit, like 5%)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like its not completely working like it should.
I'm using Andoird 4.4.2 international version.
But only thing i can thing of is a factory reset. Else lets hope there's someone with a good idea how to fix this.
Goodluck! :good:

HanZie82 said:
Looks like its not completely working like it should.
I'm using Andoird 4.4.2 international version.
But only thing i can thing of is a factory reset. Else lets hope there's someone with a good idea how to fix this.
Goodluck! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't i just replace the Photo editor Apk?

anybody solved this already? i'm also having this problem.

I have the same problem as you
Please try to tap the left button then select the crop option ..dont use crop option from the edit list..
It works with me..
---------- Post added at 01:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 AM ----------
Please see attachment

Was a solution to this problem ever found? I have the same issue, when trying to crop a photo in the default photo editing app on my Note 3, I can't extend the crop area to the extreme left or right of the screen. The crop line sticks about 1cm from the edge of the screen and won't allow me to drag it any wider. Also I can't zoom out far enough to crop to the top or bottom of the photo either (they are obscured by the menu bars).
Andre

still doesn't work for me either
I still have this problem as above
Has been this way since I got the phone before kit Kat and after
Also after factory reset and rooting it
The crop tool won't let my drag all the way to the border of the photo being cropped
Is this actually a problem limited to a few ?