Fav's Desktop Wallpaper



You will learn how to make a fully customized desktop background on the linux computers (or Windows computers but you won't be able to set it as the background).
Assignment rules, requirements
Each student will work on their own project, no groups or partners.
This assignment you must:
-Design a colored desktop background in Inkscape.
-Design multiple patterns and gradients to detail the background.
-Download and embed 3 to 5 pictures of your favorite things.
-Export the Inkscape file as a bitmap and set it as the background on the linux computers.

The assignment:
The goal is to learn how to follow steps in a process to achieve a goal on a computer, learn about visuals and how they are constructed, learn how to use multiple computer applications to achieve an overall completed project.




Timeline 3 days:
Day 1: Intro to project, begin the basics of the background with colors, patterns, etc.
Day 2: Download and then embed 3 to 5 pictures from the Internet.
Day 3: Continue with previous directions, finalize by exporting as bitmap and setting as wallpaper. Fill out grades form.
Basic Gradient background Steps
Step 1: Launch the application Inkscape
Step 2: Setup your File > Document Properties to Width 1024px by Height 768px. (Check border ontop of drawing).
Step 3: Draw a large rectangle covering canvas.
Step 4: Select the rectangle then click Edit > Duplicate.
Step 5: Select the rectangle then click Object > Fill and Stroke.
Step 6: Choose a darker or lighter color then on the Fill Tab click Linear Fill.
Step 7: Click the Edit paths by nodes button (F2), and make the gradient from the top to the bottom.
Making & adding a strips pattern Steps:
Step 1: Off to the side draw a rectangle.
Step 2: Select the rectangle then click Edit > Duplicate (ctrl D).
Step 3: Using the left or right arrow keys move the duplicated rectangle to the left or right.
Step 3.1: Also for best results, on Fill and Stroke, the stroke tab click None.
Step 4: Drag select both rectangles, or click on one rectangle then press and hold Shift and click on the second one.
Step 5: Click Objects > Pattern > Objects to Pattern. - Now the pattern is made, next we need to use it.
Step 6: Draw a large rectangle where you want your pattern (usually covering the entire background).
Step 7: Select the rectangle then click Object > Fill and Stroke.
Step 8: On the Fill tab click Pattern then select the pattern you made.
Step 9: Rotate and resize the pattern in Edit paths by nodes button (F2).
Pictures download and embedding steps coming soon. Today work on adding multiple patterns and layers of gradients.
How to Download a picture from the Internet in Steps:
Step 1: In the browser find an image you would like to download, an easy place to start is Google Image Search.
Step 2: Right click on the image to pull up the context menu
Step 3: Click on "Save image as"
Step 4: Designate where you want the image to be saved to, I usually put them on the desktop or in my folder, then click save.
Importing images into Inkscape and manipulating them in Steps:
Step 1: In Inkscape click File > Import
Step 2: Locate the desired image you would like to import and then click open.
Step 3: Using the "selection" tool move, resize, rotate the image as desired.
To manipulate the image so that it looks better than just a square or rectangle you need to set a clip or mask for the image to have a new boundary.
Step 1: Move the image to the side of the canvas so that you can edit it without the potentially of harming the rest of your design.
Step 2: Create a shape over the image that will be it's new boundary, the shape could be a circle, square with rounded corners, star, polygon, etc.
Step 3: Drag or shift click select both the picture and shape over of it.
Step 4: Click Object > Clip > Set, or Object > Mask > Set.
The difference between Clip and Mask is that clip only looks at the shape of the object whereas mask looks at some of the properties like the gradients / patterns / opacity also.
Once you are completed with your design and have all the requirements are met, you will need to EXPORT the file as a bitmap so that it can be set as the desktop wallpaper.
Exporting the finished design as a bitmap and setting it as wallaper in steps.
Step 1: In Inkscape click File > Export Bitmap
Step 2: Click for export area "Page" for Bitmap size "90 dpi" (the width and height will follow) for filename "Browse and designate where you want the file and what you want it to be named. Then click Export.
Step 3: Minimize Inkscape and all other programs that might be open, locate the bitmap image file you just created, open the picture into Image Viewer by double clicking on it.
Step 4: Click on Image > Set as Wallpaper.
REMEMBER SAVE OFTEN, you don't want to lose all your work because you forgot to save every 5 minutes, quick save is shortcut key (ctrl+s) WHEN YOU NEEDHELP ASK(raise your hand) but FIRST re-read the assignment guidelines.

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