New Wallpaper

[niallabrown]

Hi,

I wanted try my hand a creating a unique, from scratch SVG wallpaper that had an ICEY Mint flavor to it. I really agree with the philosophy of the project and want to support it in some way.

Sample thumbnails:
Opps the old versions died with their server, here is a newer update Jan 3 2007 See the latest post encase a more updated version has been created:




These are the SVG files for Inkscape:
Please play with them as much as you like and I would like to get a cut out version of the final logo best in vector if possible to add to it.

http://www.box.net/public/m72jeg9s5j
http://www.box.net/public/2fk9jh4hlf


Thanks,

Niall

[techne]

How does one use a SVG file as a wallpaper? I would like to test the existing designs as a desktop wallpaper. The thumbnails intrigue me.

[niallabrown]

The idea behind the SVG graphic is that you can modify the image to any size or aspect to fit any monitor or resolution. So before exporting go to file>document properties and change the page size (in px) to match your screen resolution. Then drag the image so it lines up the way you like it. Be careful to keep the aspect ratio of the text.

The best way to use these SVG's as wallpaper is to install the Inkscape package (a beautiful vector art program). You then go to file>export bitmap and select page. If your image has been sized correctly it will fit your screen exactly.

Hope this isn't too complex, sorry for the book.
Niall

[niallabrown]

Here is a screen shot of the wallpaper at 1680X1050 it can still use some work if anyone has any ideas. I would like to make the swooshes look glassy or 3d in some way.

[clem]

Nice, thanks for these wallpapers niallabrown.

[niallabrown]

NP, do you think they are usable?

[clem]

Some people liked them, and some didn't (Scorp123 not to mention him ). At the moment I wouldn't replace the default wallpaper, but I would definitely include them in the wallpaper options from /usr/share/backgrounds.

I think we could really do something with the white version. There seems to be too much white on the left of it though... but depending on the theme and widgets it could actually be really nice. I'm not exactly an expert on this though..

[techne]

Pure white tends to be blinding on computer screens (CRT and LCD). One idea is to extend the waves to the left some more. Another idea would be to tint the white, so it is off-white instead of pure white.

I like what you are doing, but there is something problematic about white on computer screens.

[AlsaPhil]

Thanks Niall,

Me too have adopted your wallpaper. It's very nice and original.
Just replaced the white part by a mint green colour. The result is fine (my wife said this morning "hey! super picture..." It's a sign
Thank you for this

[clem]

my wife said

Best barometer there ever was Before Barbara was released I made sure to ask mine what she thought of the wallpaper, and the one that comes with Barbara/Bea was actually her choice.

[scorp123]

Some people liked them, and some didn't (Scorp123 not to mention him ).

Sorry to say so, but I simply don't like that color scheme I just can't associate that with the term mint. When you think of this term what do you associate it with? I personally think of peppermint, the freshness and cool trickling sensation this stuff gives you on your tongue. And I think of the color, that particular blueish-greenish color tone.

I fail to see that in those wallpapers. Sorry to say so. Those wallpapers would be truly excellent if we did something called Jamaica Linux as the colors chosen for those wallpapers are pretty much similar to the Jamaican flag. But "mint" ? Sorry, I don't see that.

I don't claim to be a gifted artist ... in fact I am a total amateur. But if I would have to create a wallpaper for a Linux distribution that calls itself mint and given above associations with freshness and the cool sensation of mint on one's tongue it would probably be stuff like this ("img" tags removed as the pictures have a resolution of 1600x1200 ... !)

http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/scorp123_2006/minty-1600x1200_softglow.jpg

Or this:
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/scorp123_2006/minty-1600x1200_softglow_bumpmap.jpg

And before you ask ... yes, that's the default wallpaper of OpenSuSE 10.2 ... turned upside down so that the triangular shape in the center resembles a triangular mint-plant leaf, colors rotated away from the blue-white color map towards a blueish-greenish one, some light effects and bump mapping and other stuff added for good measure, and some softglow effects ...

Again ... I am an amateur. I did this stuff in just a couple of minutes in GIMP (not difficult at all if you know where to click ...). But this is the (soft) blueish-greenish-coolish color scheme I would think of when thinking of "mint" as a term ...

I am pretty sure those guys here with greater graphical talents than me can come up with something better.

My issue is just that ... this Linux distribution is called "mint" ... so why not create themes and wallpapers that support the associations people probably have with this term anyway?

Please, my criticism is in no way meant as "ad hominem" attack. I am just expressing my own personal thoughts here.

Regards,
scorp123

[clem]

I have to disagree with the Jamaican thing... green/black/yellow. Predominance of black and yellow.

Clem

[scorp123]

I have to disagree with the Jamaican thing... green/black/yellow. Predominance of black and yellow.

Whatever ... it just doesn't reflect the term mint ... it would probably help a great deal if the colors were changed away from that green-black scheme towards something more blueish-greenish-silverish ... again, that's just my personal opinion

[scorp123]

Sorry if I am boring you people with this ... but I did one with all the things combined:

- background SVG by niallabrown (some colors slightly modified)
- Logo by TipTup300 ? (lens flare added ... why? because! )
- background by myself (modded from an image that ships with OpenSuSE 10.2)

And now it looks really really nice IMHO



Hi-Res version is here:
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/scorp123_2006/Wallpapers/LinuxMint_wallpaper_combined.png

Ok ok ok ok ... I'll stop here

[clem]

Waoo.. this is brilliant! We're getting close here guys.

Clem

[Alephcat]

I really like Scorp123's wallpaper, but am not certain about the lensflare, it seems to obscure the logo too much for me, is there anyway it could be toned down a bit?

[scorp123]

I really like Scorp123's wallpaper, but am not certain about the lensflare, it seems to obscure the logo too much for me, is there anyway it could be toned down a bit?

With the original and my modified SVG you can replace the Logo with anything you want, e.g. with the original one here from the forum. In fact you could also replace the background wallpaper with anything you want, e.g. you could super-impose (is that the right word?) the SVG over your favourite background and then export the new combo to .PNG ... Anyone know a good server / service where one can host files for free? I guess I'll put the files there and anyone who wants can then play around ...

[darkNiGHTs]

Wow, that looks fantastic! That's going to be my default desktop now.

[scorp123]

Oooops, I did it again My baby-daughter has finally fallen asleep so I all of a sudden had too much time on my hand



Hi-Res image is here:
http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o217/scorp123_2006/Wallpapers/LinuxMint_Tux.png

- it's clearly Linux-ish
- it's greenish-blueish + mintish + coolish
- it contains the SVG some people loved and I didn't
- it contains the Mint logo without lensflare
- but it contains a Tux with a very large lensflare
- nope, I didn't add the lensflare this time
- and given the different origins of the various picture elements one might even call this a "community created wallpaper"

So how's this one?

Regards,
Scorp123

[clem]

I like the first one better. The main reason being that the green doesn't blend in as nicely as the light blue did.. this second one would be a great poster because it does catch attention, but as a wallpaper I'd rather use something that can blend in nicely in the background...