How to Make an Image Wallpaper on a MacBook
Anyone can change the background image -- or wallpaper -- on a MacBook, but for professional use, companies often prefer to use a corporate image such as a photo of headquarters, a group photo of your employees or your corporate logo. Once you've set a customized desktop image, whenever you open up your MacBook, the image will help set your laptop apart from others, as well as give you an opportunity to display an eye-catching marketing image.
-
1.
Click the Apple logo on the upper left of your MacBook, and then click “System Preferences.”
-
2.
Click “Desktop & Screen Saver.”
-
3.
Click “Desktop.” The names of folders on your MacBook appear in the left pane of the preferences window.
-
4.
Click the folder on your MacBook containing the image that you want to use. For example, click “Pictures” to access the default location for your images. If you don’t see the folder you want to use, click the “+” symbol below the list of folders, navigate to the folder, and then click “Choose.” Thumbnail images appear in the preferences window.
-
5.
Click the thumbnail of the image you want to use to set it as the wallpaper for your MacBook. The image immediately appears as your MacBook’s new wallpaper. Click the pull-down menu above the thumbnails, and then click an option for displaying the image, such as “Fill Screen,” “Fit to Screen” or “Stretch to Fit.” Depending on the specifications of your MacBook, you can use images of varying degrees of resolution.
-
6.
Click the red button at the top left corner of the Preferences window to close it after you have set the wallpaper image.
References
Resources
Tips
- MacBook Pro models support resolutions ranging from 1,440 by 900 pixels to 1,680 by 1,050 pixels, depending on screen size and configuration. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display supports 2,800 by 1,800 pixels. MacBook Air models support resolutions ranging from 1,366 by 768 pixels up to 1,400 by 900 pixels, depending on screen size and configuration.
- Right-click an image file in the Finder if you want to check its resolution, then click “Open With, and then click “Preview” to view the image in Apple’s native Preview application. Click “Tools” from the Preview menu, and then click “Show Inspector” to see details about the image’s size and resolution. Return to using the Preferences window to select the image for your MacBook’s wallpaper.
Writer Bio
Julius Vandersteen has been a freelance writer since 1999. His work has appeared in “The Los Angeles Times,” “Wired” and “S.F. Weekly.” Vandersteen has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from San Francisco State University.