Slash Dot Dash: Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)

Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)

ben@slashdotdash.net (Ben) — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:45:00 +0000

A minor annoyance with OS X; by default you can’t have a black desktop background. Even from the “Solid Colours” section there are only a few blue / green / grey colours to choose from.

I can understand why the list of colours might be restricted; (a) time to implement a colour chooser or (b) preventing ugly backgrounds(!!) but that doesn’t help me. I actually want a black background because I have a 24” Dell monitor as my main display with the MacBook Pro sat to one side. It makes sense to have a black background since unless I have lots of apps open there’s nothing to show on the laptop screen (and I want to save energy and the pixels).

This is easily fixed by creating you own .png image and placing it in the correct location (example file below):

/Library/Desktop Pictures/Solid Colors/

Finally, I can have my nice Solid Black background:

Download Solid Black.png

Hope that helps anyone who stumbles across this!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Paul Larguinho

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:08:27 +0100

Finally!!!!!! Back in Black!!!!b :)

Thanks a mil!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by ae

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:37:08 +0100

YES!!! HAHAHAHA. We got you know Steve! hehehe

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Tim

Tue, 13 May 2008 11:44:49 +0100

VMT.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Peter

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:47:12 +0100

Thanks!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by me

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:52:41 +0100

buyahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Kevin

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:54:30 +0100

Thank you. I thought I was the only one!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by jaap

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:16:31 +0000

Thanks! I love how for every tiny problem, there is a solution waiting for you a google query away. Cheers!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by George

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:11:26 +0000

Thank you.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by http://kmadisonmoore.blogspot.com

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:32:39 +0000

This is simply awesome. I have been wanting this for years…and so simple. Thanks a lot for this. You made many mac users so happy.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by mm

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:16:47 +0000

OMG!!! THX SOO MUCH! IF U WANT 2 SAVE THE ENVIROMENT, DOWNLOAD THI BLACK BACKGROUND TO UR DESKTOP, AND ALSO CHANGE “BLACKLE.COM” TO UR HOMEPAGE. BLACKLE IS THE SAME THING AS GOOGLE, EXCEPT THE BACKGROND IS BLACK, SO THE COMPUTER DOESNT HAV 2 LIGHT THE SCREEN, WHICH USES ENERGY! DO IT!!!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by anty

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 06:51:21 +0000

thanksssssss.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Basic

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:26:51 +0000

Finally….

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Merlinn

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:03:44 +0000

This so fab. Many thanks!! Made my day!!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Genaro

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:55:33 +0000

Thanks a lot your the best

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Energy Saver

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:54:44 +0000

To be truthful, a black pixel on an LCD will use more slightly more energy to darken the pixel (as that is how LCD pixels work) from white to black. The only energy used on a White LCD is the backlight. The energy used on a black LCD is the backlight + the energy used to polarise the middle part of each pixel).

Look at the following if you don’t believe me.

http://commonmansthoughts.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html

http://www.colorado.edu/physics/2000/laptops/laptop_screen.html

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Sonny

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 22:27:32 +0000

Cheers, saved at least… 15 minutes of my life…. Add up all the 15 minutes from all the happy comments above + people who didn’t comment and thats a fair chunk of time you’ve saved the mac loving public.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by jed

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:52:42 +0100

C’est la kickass! Thank you very much.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by jogreets@gmail.com

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:40:39 +0100

just curious—is there a nice and tidy way to delete the Solid Colors folder within the Desktop Pictures dialog; ir seems while I can do aways with that folder, that Solid Colors with the color wheel in the dialog box, has to remain…

...any thoughts?

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by duder

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:28:16 +0100

Still useful, still appreciated.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Andrew

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 01:23:54 +0100

Another happy Mac here. Thanks. =)

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Dezza

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 10:05:40 +0100

Just got my MacBook Pro and wanted a black desktop… Push and clicked on everything I could see, no black desktop.

But now, black desktop.

Thank you so much!

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by mesats

Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:16:41 +0100

that was a terrific tric. i tried to do something with photoshop and putting in the center and then choosing a black background, but this option, directly lets you choose a black background under solid colors. thats gr8, i like this solution, ITS VERY EFFECTIVE.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Antitheos

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 21:05:49 +0100

You are my hero….

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Alvin

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 03:03:37 +0100

You complete me.

"Mac OS X desktop black background (wallpaper)" by Leo

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 21:40:38 +0100

Many Thanks you completed what Apple missed