v The Arrow keys scroll the Editor one pixel horizontally or vertically. Option-Arrow keys scroll the Editor eight pixels.
v Hold down the Control key and press the Arrow keys to move the selected color one space in each direction.
v The grabber-hand temporarily becomes the current tool while you continuously depress the Command key. The eyedropper becomes the current tool while you continuously depress the Control key.
v Double-click the grabber-hand to jump the pattern’s top-left corner back to the top-left corner of the Editor.
v Select the grabber-hand and depress the Option key while you double-click, and the view will be zoomed so the pattern just fits in the Editor.
v There are a few other ways to save and load patterns: drag a pattern to the LMC to save it. Command-double-click a pattern to save it. Drag from the LMM to another pattern space to copy the desktop pattern into that space. Double-click the LMC to load a pattern onto the desktop. Drag the LMC to any position to load to that position.
v While autoscrolling is on and you’re drawing, the Command key will slow down the scrolling and the Control key will stop the scrolling.
v You can create your patterns or tweak them in any color paint program that supports Paint or PICT files. Just copy and paste to bring patterns back and forth. If you want your patterns’ edges to match, you can bring your pattern back into Wallpaper, where you can work over the Dividers.
Here are some tips we’ve discovered for making patterns:
v If you don’t want to make your own patterns, try modifying an existing pattern. For example, changes in a pattern’s color scheme can make
quite a difference. Edit the colors by double-clicking in Color Selector
or Editor.
v You can save time making a color-scheme for a new pattern if you first find a similar existing pattern. Copy it into the Editor and then clear the Editor by dragging the pattern from the Easel outside the window. You’ll have an empty Easel, but the color palette will remain.
v A good way to start a large pattern is with a small one. Make an 8x8 pattern with an interesting texture, then increase its dimensions. Draw your larger-scale pattern over the textured background. The musical equivalent of this is soloing over a sequenced riff.
v We’ve enjoyed sending patterns back and forth repeatedly, each of us making a change in them, and watching them evolve.
Working in other graphics programs
Wallpaper is optimized for working with patterns and requires no other paint program, but you can create all or part of your pattern in your favorite paint programs, pasting the patterns into any selected space in the Wallpaper window.
You may wish to create a pattern based on some existing piece of artwork, such as a scanned photo or a paint graphics file. Or you may be used to working in a paint program, and may miss a feature such programs may offer.
Trading patterns
Desktop patterns are small, they’re fun, they’re easy to make and they make a world of difference in the work environment. They brighten things up, and they’re a lot less expensive than redecorating. You can get the equivalent of new carpeting, curtains, drapes, and furniture when you install a new pattern.
Share your favorite patterns with us. If you’re a registered owner of Wallpaper, mail us your favorite original desktop patterns, (sending them to us will be taken as your authorization to us to distribute your patterns further) and include our pattern submission card. We’ll select at least 10 patterns to be featured in our twice-a-year subscription; and if your pattern is selected, we’ll send you a Wallpaper T-shirt.
If you upload Wallpaper’s desktop patterns to the telecommunication services or BBSs, indicate if they can be freely distributed. In any case, we’d like to see them. Custom icons are only retained by some of the compression programs. If you’re compressing patterns for upload, be sure to use one of the programs that retains custom icons. At the time we prepared this manual, the only released programs that did retain custom icons were Compact Pro1.31, DiskDoubler 3.7.
Trade as many desktop patterns as you like with other users of Wallpaper, but please don’t trade or lend copies of the program itself. Wallpaper is commercial software.
