Backgrounds

Revision 3 as of 2007-09-30 00:18:55

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This is an unofficial wiki page designed to help artists make backgrounds for ubuntu that look good and have lasting appeal. Please feel free to improve on my words if you feel you have my IQ or better.

RULES

Number one : Colors. Try to use colors that are gentle , not vibrant or fluorescent. Being Ubuntu, Orange is our primary color , and the template colors to be used in creations are in the below image. https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Artwork/Incoming/GutsyIdeas?action=AttachFile&do=get&target=oldpalette.png Using at least three of these as primary colors in your creation , and having no more than four colours among those not in the palette (not including white and black), ensures that your creation matches the overall theme to be used. This action on your part will help make Ubuntu's theming consistent.

Number two : Shape. Scalability is a must with Ubuntu.Creating your image to conform to a 4:3 ratio screen ensures that it will be correctly displayed on the majority of the monitors used by Ubuntu users.Some resolutions in this frame include 1600x1200,1280x1024, 1024x768,800x600, and 640x480. For widescreen wallpapers a 16:10 ratio is advisable: 2560x1600, 1920x1200, 1680x1050, 1440x900 and 1280x800. You can read [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_display_standard this article] on Wikipedia or [http://users.tkk.fi/~tgustafs/screensize.html this one] as a reference.

Number three : Size. Size is not much of a concern , but a faster display time means faster booting. Basically , this means that if you should use image formats that compress more easily. Most art, especially landscapes or larger creations in terms of file size should be saved in .jpg format for release. However , if you are into vector art like LasseGullvågSætre2 , you should create your art in .svg format. What this does is , it saves the exact instructions used to paint the image , and apon you loading it as your wallpaper , it instantly carries them out to create the image. The Ubuntu logo can be found in .svg format. Doing this ensures a re-paint of your image for any resolution and any display, as you have supplied not a premade artwork but a art work that remakes itself on every screen. Doing this also guarentees massive bandwidth savings as the svg equivalents are much smaller than the same image rendered into a static .png.

.jpg - smaller file size for rich and detailed large images. No transparency. .svg - very small file size , transparency . Only applies to vector art. .png - largest file size , transparency, but as is static image can be used for any application.

Number four : Elements. Somewhere I read that you should fade out towards the edges and corners. Many people will put their Icons in corners and along edges, and for part of your creation to be obscured by a panel is distracting. Also words in a image is distracting , using the Ubuntu logo by itself as many have done is much more pleasing.

Number five : Content. As a worldwide community attempting to appeal to humanity of every race and nation , we have done a very good job of not creating images that could offend anyone. Let us keep this in mind as we move foward.

Number six : Theming. Somehow Ubuntu should have values moral values like strength and love for others. It is in the name, you know. So the images we make should have something representing these in it as well.