Object Desktop: The road to DeskScapes 3

from JoeUser Forums

As discussed yesterday, I’ve retaken the reigns on Object Desktop after a 3 year absence.  And the team has some very cool stuff that is now coming together in rapid fashion.

Today I’m going to talk about something that I think is a pretty big deal: DeskScapes 3.

For those of you not familiar with DeskScapes, it is a program that applies animated wallpaper. It’s effectively the only animated wallpaper program available for users of XP, Vista, and Windows 7. 

One of the first changes I wanted to see made to DeskScapes as part of the “new regime” is for it to be a lot more practical.  I like animated wallpaper as much as the next person, which means I’ll load it up for a bit, check it out, and slowly get tired of it like any wallpaper.  But what we really wanted to see with DeskScapes 3 is for it to be even more useful to a wider population.

DeskScapes 3 (v2.91 beta) will be going out tomorrow for Object Desktop users.  What’s in it that’s new?

image

Well the most obvious new thing is the support for your existing static wallpapers. But more importantly, that you can now apply the same kinds of effects to your existing wallpapers that you could once only apply to Dreams. 

image

In the above example, I’ve taken a very colorful image and applied a Sepia filter to it in order to make (for me) a better background.

The new DeskScapes beta also introduces a pretty big new technology that has been discussed previously but now we’ve actually finally got it together: Hybrid Dreams

image

The idea is to make it so that people can take an existing image (a static one) and animate a part of it. So in this case, only the trees and the lights and some sky elements change and it’s very subtle. But because it’s such a small part, it uses virtually no CPU.  The idea is to be able to make it so that animated wallpapers need not be obnoxious but merely a natural evolution beyond the static pictures we’ve had for the past two decades.

If you don’t have Object Desktop you can get it at http://www.objectdesktop.com.  The final version of DeskScapes is due out on October 28th.

51,682 views 21 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I’ve retaken the reigns on Object Desktop
End of quote

 

So whip it, whip it goood :congrat:

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The idea is to make it so that people can take an existing image (a static one) and animate a part of it. So in this case, only the trees and the lights and some sky elements change and it’s very subtle. But because it’s such a small part, it uses virtually no CPU.
End of quote

 

:thumbsup:

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the subtle changes part, so an animated wallpaper can be used but not be drawing your attention too much. I'm still not a big wallpaper person, seeing as how its covered a lot, but its nice to have a pleasant moving background sometimes.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Nice  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sounds very good!

Reply #8 from Demigod Forums Top

Hey frog,

 

Love deskscapes, but had to return it as it did not work with fences on xp.  Just upgraded to win7x64, do you know if they work together on this platform?  I would love to pick it up, but can't part with fences, please advise!

 

Thanks

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Very Cool :CONGRAT: thanks Brad for letting us know about the new things coming up with Deskscapes3 :) :CONGRAT:
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
5 from the Redneck!!!  :CONGRAT: 
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Trigeminal, reply 8
Hey frog,

 

Love deskscapes, but had to return it as it did not work with fences on xp.  Just upgraded to win7x64, do you know if they work together on this platform?  I would love to pick it up, but can't part with fences, please advise!

End of Trigeminal's quote

On Vista / 7 fences should cooperate with Deskscapes just fine.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
where can i get that vintage Stardock design from ? Ive searched for it but cant find it :P
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The vintage dream will be coming with Deskscapes 3.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Will the final version have the ability to add addtional tabs at the bottom so we can group the static wallpapers separate from the animated ones?

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Already does with the filters.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top

I like the subtle changes part, so an animated wallpaper can be used but not be drawing your attention too much. I'm still not a big wallpaper person, seeing as how its covered a lot, but its nice to have a pleasant moving background sometimes.
End of quote

Just like Frogboy said, people on average get tired of the same old wallpaper so they change it. These subtle changes will not be very obvious but will make the picture change in a not so noticeable manner so that it doesn't seem as if you are looking at "the same old picture" all the time. I think that's great.

IIIIIIIII'm dreaming... of a DeeeeeskScape 3

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In the "History" of this latest update there is mention of documentation for Dream Maker in the installation folder (I think that is what it said). But, #1 It doesn't mention where the installation folder is. #2 In C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\Dreamscapes there is no documentation Is the ability to take a static wallpaper image and create these subtle animations currently available? If so... HOW?  :D 
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
About adding subtle animations to static wallpaper, I was wondering the same thing? How do we add these effects? Or is this not yet available in the current beta. And one more thing, does Deskscapes 3 final version address the issues of time lapse dreams such as Blissful dream? As it is, Blissful dream does not change scenes. I'm very exited about these new features and developments, Keep up the great work Stardock! Thanks!
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Hapkido, reply 17
In the "History" of this latest update there is mention of documentation for Dream Maker in the installation folder (I think that is what it said). But,
#1 It doesn't mention where the installation folder is.
#2 In C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\Dreamscapes there is no documentation

Is the ability to take a static wallpaper image and create these subtle animations currently available? If so... HOW?   
End of Hapkido's quote
On XP: C:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\DeskScapes\HybridDreamFormat.pdf

 

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Would be nice if the folder settings would include a 'include subfolders' tickbox Also in latest beta the little previews in the bottom have all disappeared. One sees only a hourglass outline.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting petrossa, reply 20
Would be nice if the folder settings would include a 'include subfolders' tickbox Also in latest beta the little previews in the bottom have all disappeared. One sees only a hourglass outline.
End of petrossa's quote

For all dreams, or just wallpapers?

Which OS are you on?