About wallpaper and background images

Q: What are wallpaper or background images on a computer?
A: Wallpaper or background images are used to set a backdrop to our computer screen. Individuals like to set their background screen to images that display their personality, inspirations, family pets, or are just outright silly. The background image sits behind your programs, icons, and menus. Even though sometimes you can't see it, it'll always be there for you. In other words, wallpaper is for your own enjoyment.

Q: Where do the images come from?
A: The background images provided by lynda.com on this site are from the covers of both books and CD-ROM training courses developed over the last 7 years.

Q: Who creates the background images?
A: The background images here have been developed and created by Bruce Heavin, the other half of lynda.com. In other words, Bruce is the husband of the Lynda of lynda dot com.

Q: Can we watch the cover artwork being made?
A: Yes! Bruce creates some of the covers on his training CD-ROMs including Learning Illustrator 9, Illustrator 10, and Photoshop 7 Brushes. You can actually watch videos of Bruce in the process of creating the covers and listen to him narrating as he works. The videos are available in Quicktime format in the lynda.com library, or as training CD-ROMs which can be purchased from the lynda.com store.

Q: What media are these cover images made in?
A: The images have all been created slightly differently depending for a number of reasons. Some are made entirely on the computer using Photoshop and/or Illustrator. Others are made in After Effects + Photoshop, such as the Learning After Effects 5, and After Effects 5 H•O•T (Hands-On Training) book. Some of the covers have nothing to do with the computer at all and are painted with acrylic paint and crayola crayon on 4x8 foot pieces of paper and then photographed with a camera that has a polarizing filter on the lens, and that is lighted so as not to pick up highlights reflecting from the paint. The Mac OS X Jaguar H.O.T. book and Learning Mac OS X Jaguar were made on 8.5x11 inch laser printer paper with black Uni-Ball pens, spit (to smear), and Photoshop 7 brushes. In most cases, before creating a cover Bruce approaches the design with a series of small 1 inch rough thumbnail sketches until he is happy with general composition and/or concept. The medium doesn't usually matter to Bruce in the end, but the idea conveyed by the covers remains important even if abstracted.

Q: Can I purchase the Background images to use for myself or my company?
A: Unfortunately the images are for lynda.com products & product promotion only. But feel free to use them freely for your desktop background.

Q: What platforms do the background images work on?
A: Both Mac OS X - 9 and Windows.

Q: Is there a special format images must be in to be background images?
A: Not really. You can use any image format the computer can natively understand. It's is safe to use JPEG and GIF files, and they are in many cases preferred since they don't take up much hard drive space.

Q: What if the background image is bigger or smaller than my monitor size?
A: Both Mac and Windows will stretch or squish an image to make it properly fit to the screen if you get the wrong size or cannot find a background to match the exact size of your monitor. The most important thing is to get the proper aspect ratio in the image. On some systems, background images will tile if too small, or if the option to tile is checked.

Terms: The wallpaper images provided by lynda.com are for personal use & enjoyment on your computer screen only. Other use is strictly prohibited. These images may not be reproduced without the express written permission of lynda.com. Droves of hairy evil fez monkeys will fly off to seal your fate of impending doom if you fail to comply. Please note that the monkeys are also property of lynda.com and must be returned after your certain doom takes place. Thank you for your cooperation.