changing aspect ratio of wallpaper on windows 7

[runner001]

I have a new laptop running windows7. I am trying to have my wallpaper as a picture I have saved on the laptop. Since it is a widescreen, the picture gets stretched and the aspect ratio gets distorted. I tried to go into the settings [control panel --> appearance and personalization --> personalization --> desktop background] and select where it says "picture position" and choose anything but "stretch" and each time, it goes right back to "stretch".

Yes, I saved changes. I've tried right clicking on the desktop and selecting "graphics properties" and choosing to maintain aspect ratio. It keeps reverting to the stretched version. Please help!

[CertifiedTHX]

I'm assuming your laptop has a 16:9 display, and your wallpaper is 4:3.

Honestly? I would open the wallpaper in a paint program and crop it to 16:9, as long as its composition wasn't destroyed by the modification.

I've always thought that's what I would do once I get a 16:9 monitor.

--THX

[btbrossard]

Definately crop it to match your monitors resolution.

Just about any free photo editing program will work for you. Or you could use an online service, like Photoshop.com to crop your photo.

Find out the resolution your monitor is set at by going into display prefs. You should see a number like 1900 x 1200.

Use this number to set your preferred crop size in the program of your choice (remember to make sure your cropping to 1900 PIXELS wide instead of 1900 INCHES wide, I've made this mistake myself if I'm in a hurry).

Some light starter reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_resolution


Enjoy!

[runner001]

Thanks for the suggestion. So basically every image i want to be my wallpaper, i'll have to manually edit it? That sucks!

Why is it possible to keep the original image dimensions on my previous laptop running XP but not possible on my newer laptop running Win7? Seems like a step backwards.

[CertifiedTHX]

Originally Posted by runner001

Thanks for the suggestion. So basically every image i want to be my wallpaper, i'll have to manually edit it? That sucks!

Why is it possible to keep the original image dimensions on my previous laptop running XP but not possible on my newer laptop running Win7? Seems like a step backwards.

Are you using an HP laptop? I'm finding others who have the same problem on those. There is a fix you can download, but it's only for HP.

--THX

[Chrisedge]

Have you tried the "center" setting?

[D.Pham4GLTE (>60GB)]

wtf, that is a weird problem. i'm using win7 and it lets me center it. another option would be to create a "blank" section to the left for the icons, i do that so the icons don't get crowded onto my wallpaper.

[runner001]

THX, yes, its an HP. Please share what info you have regarding a fix.

Chrisedge, yes, i've tried using "center" and all the other options. it all reverts back to "stretch"

D.Pham00, what do you mean by creating a "blank" section? How do you do that?

[CertifiedTHX]

Originally Posted by runner001

THX, yes, its an HP. Please share what info you have regarding a fix.

Chrisedge, yes, i've tried using "center" and all the other options. it all reverts back to "stretch"

D.Pham00, what do you mean by creating a "blank" section? How do you do that?

It's called the Wallpaper Picture Position Enabler, and you can download it at the HP web site. Go to http://www.hp.com/#Support, and fill out your information.

Or, alternatively, you could just go to http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...roduct=4041402 for a direct download link.

That should do it.

--THX

[runner001]

FINALLY! just downloaded and installed. worked like you said. finally my daughter's picture doesn't look warped on my desktop. ThankS!!

[CertifiedTHX]

Originally Posted by runner001

FINALLY! just downloaded and installed. worked like you said. finally my daughter's picture doesn't look warped on my desktop. ThankS!!

Excellent! Most welcome! Glad it worked.

--THX