Wallpaper Engine Complete Starter’s Guide

Summary

This comprehensive guide introduces viewers to Wallpaper Engine, a software for creating and using animated wallpapers on Steam. After purchasing the application, users can find it in their Steam library and launch it to customize their desktop. The guide covers how to navigate the application, select wallpapers from the Steam Workshop, and optimize performance settings for different PC capabilities. It also explains how to update graphics drivers and operating systems for better compatibility. For creative users, the script provides a step-by-step process for making custom wallpapers using free images from Unsplash and the Wallpaper Engine editor. Finally, it details how to publish and share these creations on the Steam Workshop, offering a complete experience for both casual and advanced users.

Takeaways

• 📌 Purchase Wallpaper Engine from the Steam store to access animated wallpapers.
• 💰 The application's cost varies by region but is typically around $3-5.
• 🗂 After installation, Wallpaper Engine will appear in the user's Steam library under 'Software'.
• 🌟 Users can customize their experience by adding Wallpaper Engine to their favorites for easy access.
• 🖥️ The Wallpaper Engine icon in the taskbar provides quick access to various options, including changing the wallpaper.
• 📱 Utilize the 'Workshop' tab to discover and subscribe to wallpapers based on popularity, recency, and other filters.
• 🎨 The 'Wallpaper Editor' allows users to create custom wallpapers using templates or from scratch.
• 🚀 Performance settings can be adjusted to optimize Wallpaper Engine's impact on system resources.
• 💻 Ensure graphics drivers and the operating system are up to date for optimal performance.
• 🛠️ Users can manage their subscribed wallpapers in the 'Installed' tab, making changes or unsubscribing as needed.
• 🎭 Share and publish custom wallpapers on the Steam Workshop, reaching a wider audience.

Q & A

What is the first step to use animated wallpapers with Wallpaper Engine?

The first step is to purchase the Wallpaper Engine software from the Steam platform.

How much does Wallpaper Engine typically cost?

The cost of Wallpaper Engine varies depending on your location, but it is usually around three to five dollars.

Where will Wallpaper Engine appear after installation?

After installation, Wallpaper Engine will appear in your Steam library under the 'Software' category.

How can you easily access Wallpaper Engine from your taskbar?

You can right-click the Wallpaper Engine icon that appears in your taskbar next to your system tray and select 'Change wallpaper'.

What should you do if you have multiple displays or an ultrawide monitor?

You can select one of the displays or split the ultrawide monitor to show a wallpaper on either side through the Wallpaper Engine settings.

How can you find out your display resolution?

You can right-click your desktop and select 'Display settings' to check your recommended display resolution under 'Scale and layout'.

What are some tips to reduce the impact of wallpapers on your PC's performance?

You can change the 'Application focused' option to 'Keep running', set the 'Display asleep' option to 'Stop', and adjust the quality settings such as anti-aliasing and FPS cap to optimize performance.

How can you ensure that your graphics card is utilized effectively in Wallpaper Engine?

In the 'Advanced options', you can set the 'Process priority' to 'Normal' and enable 'UI hardware acceleration' to make sure your graphics card runs the user interface.

What should you do to keep your graphics driver and operating system up to date?

Use applications like GeForce Experience for NVIDIA GPUs or AMD Driver's Suite for AMD GPUs, and check for updates in your system settings to keep them current.

How can you create your own wallpaper in Wallpaper Engine?

You can use the 'Wallpaper Editor' feature to create a wallpaper from scratch, edit recent wallpapers, or use a template, and add effects and layers to customize it.

What are the steps to publish your own wallpaper in the Steam Workshop?

After creating your wallpaper, navigate to the 'Workshop', click 'Share', set a title, genre, description, age rating, visibility, and upload a preview image to publish it.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to Wallpaper Engine

This paragraph introduces viewers to the Wallpaper Engine, a platform for using animated wallpapers. It instructs them to refer to the video description for a list of resources and emphasizes the use of timestamps for navigation. The paragraph explains the process of purchasing the software on the Steam platform, the cost variability based on location, and the addition of Wallpaper Engine to the user's Steam library. It also covers the basics of launching the application, customizing settings for display resolution, muting specific sections or monitors, and accessing the Workshop tab for discovering and subscribing to wallpapers. The paragraph further details the importance of checking out the recommended wallpapers linked in the video description and provides tips on managing system resources when using resource-intensive wallpapers.

05:00

🎨 Customizing and Creating Wallpapers

The second paragraph delves into customizing and creating wallpapers within the Wallpaper Engine. It begins by guiding users on how to interact with their subscribed wallpapers in the Installed tab, including options to unsubscribe, alter color schemes, playback rates, and other settings. The paragraph then transitions into a tutorial on creating a custom wallpaper, starting with downloading high-resolution images from Unsplash. It continues by explaining the Wallpaper Editor interface, the use of templates, and the addition of effects and layers. The summary also touches on the process of previewing wallpapers, applying them as desktop backgrounds, and sharing them on the Steam Workshop with appropriate titles, descriptions, and age ratings. The paragraph concludes by encouraging users to subscribe to wallpapers from the description and invites questions and comments for further engagement.

Keywords

💡Wallpaper Engine

Wallpaper Engine is a software application available on Steam that allows users to apply animated wallpapers to their desktop. It is central to the video's theme as it is the main subject being discussed. In the script, it is mentioned as the software that the viewer needs to purchase and use to apply various types of animated wallpapers on their computer.

💡Steam Page

The Steam Page refers to the product page for Wallpaper Engine on the Steam platform where users can purchase the application. It is an essential part of the process described in the video as it is the first step towards obtaining the software. The script instructs viewers to click on the link in the description to access the Wallpaper Engine Steam page.

💡Animated Wallpapers

Animated wallpapers are the dynamic and often video-based backgrounds that users can set for their desktop using the Wallpaper Engine software. They are a key concept in the video as they represent the primary feature of the software. The script discusses how to select and apply these wallpapers once the Wallpaper Engine is installed.

💡Taskbar Icon

The taskbar icon is the visual representation of the Wallpaper Engine application in the system's taskbar, allowing users quick access to the software's features. It is mentioned in the script as a way for users to right-click and access multiple options of the application, such as changing the wallpaper.

💡Display Settings

Display settings pertain to the configurations for a computer's monitor or multiple monitors, including resolution and layout. In the context of the video, understanding display settings is crucial for setting up wallpapers correctly, especially when dealing with multiple or ultrawide monitors. The script advises viewers on how to check and adjust their display settings for optimal wallpaper use.

💡Workshop Tab

The Workshop Tab within the Wallpaper Engine application is a feature that allows users to access a community-driven platform where they can find and subscribe to various wallpapers created by other users. It is integral to the video's content as it is the primary source for discovering new wallpapers. The script guides viewers on how to navigate the workshop tab and filter results to find suitable wallpapers.

💡Performance Settings

Performance settings in Wallpaper Engine refer to the options users can adjust to optimize the application's impact on their computer's resources. These settings are important for users with different PC capabilities and are discussed in the script to help viewers reduce the strain on their system when using animated wallpapers.

💡Graphics Driver

A graphics driver is a software that allows the operating system and other software to interact with the graphics processing unit (GPU) of a computer. In the video, updating the graphics driver is highlighted as a crucial step to ensure the best performance and compatibility with the Wallpaper Engine, especially for users with NVIDIA or AMD GPUs.

💡Wallpaper Editor

The Wallpaper Editor is a tool within the Wallpaper Engine that enables users to create their own custom animated wallpapers. It is a significant part of the video's content as it provides information on how users can personalize their desktop experience. The script describes how to access the editor, use templates, and add effects to create unique wallpapers.

💡Unsplash

Unsplash is a website mentioned in the video script where users can download free high-resolution images for various uses, including creating custom wallpapers. It is an example of a resource that viewers can leverage to find suitable background images for their wallpapers, showcasing an additional way to engage with the Wallpaper Engine's creative possibilities.

💡Steam Workshop

The Steam Workshop is a platform within the Steam client that allows users to share and subscribe to user-generated content, such as wallpapers in the context of the Wallpaper Engine. It is discussed in the script as a place where users can publish their created wallpapers and find a community of creators and content. The script guides viewers on how to share their wallpapers on the Steam Workshop.

Highlights

Wallpaper Engine is a software that allows users to use animated wallpapers on their desktop.

The application can be purchased on the Steam platform, typically costing between three to five dollars.

After purchase, Wallpaper Engine will appear in the user's Steam library under the software category.

Users can customize Wallpaper Engine to start with their system or run maximized and full screen.

Wallpapers can be changed through the taskbar icon or by selecting 'Change Wallpaper' from the application.

Wallpaper Engine supports multiple displays and ultrawide monitors, allowing for unique wallpaper configurations.

The software provides options to adjust display resolution and scale for optimal performance.

Users can browse and subscribe to wallpapers from the Workshop tab, filtering by popularity, recency, and other metrics.

Wallpapers vary greatly in file size and system resource usage, with some high-resolution looping videos requiring significant storage and processing power.

Adjusting settings in Wallpaper Engine can help reduce the impact of wallpapers on system performance.

Updating graphics drivers and the operating system is recommended for optimal Wallpaper Engine performance.

Users can create their own wallpapers using the Wallpaper Editor, with options to add effects and layers.

Unsplash is a resource for free, high-resolution images that can be used as backgrounds for custom wallpapers.

Custom wallpapers can be published on the Steam Workshop for others to enjoy.

The video description provides a link to a page with complete Wallpaper Engine collections, including details on file size, resolution, and genre.

Subscribing to a wallpaper in the Installed tab allows for customization and management of the wallpaper settings.

Users can save their custom wallpapers as presets for future use or as a base for creating new wallpapers.

Transcripts

welcome to the complete wallpaper engine

starters guide

everything you need will be listed in

the description below and make sure to

use the timestamps to help you navigate

through the video

click on the first link in the

description to get to this page

this is the wallpaper engine steam page

where you will have to purchase the

software

in order to use animated wallpapers

usually the application will cost you

around three to five dollars

depending on where you live after buying

the application on your steam

account wallpaper engine should appear

in your steam library

under software open up your steam

library

and in this drop down menu make sure

that software is selected

you can also right-click wallpaper

engine to add it

to your favorites in order to make it

easier to find

after launching the application the icon

should appear in your taskbar next to

your system tray

simply right-click the icon and here you

have multiple options but

for now select change ball paper

after a second or two wallpaper engine

will open up

in case you're using multiple displays

then select one of them

you can also split ultrawide monitors to

show a wallpaper on either side

in case you're unsure about your display

resolution then right-click your desktop

and select display settings

on this window under scale and layout

make sure to select the recommended

display resolution and scale

in my case my recommended resolution is

3840x1080

which is why i'm splitting it into two

1920x1080 displays

you can also choose to mute a specific

section or monitor from here

in case you don't yet have any

wallpapers installed then the installed

step should be empty

navigate to the workshop tab here

you can search for specific wallpaper

names or filter by the most popular

most recent most subscriptions and so on

under filter results you can improve

your search by using more metrics to

search by

you can change the type age rating and

resolution

to find the fitting wallpaper to use

in case you are unable to find a good

collection of wallpapers

then make sure to check out this page

which is linked in the description below

here you can find complete wallpaper

engine collections

including the file size resolution and

genre

after subscribing to a wallpaper it will

take a moment to download

these wallpapers can use of size from

less than one megabyte

to more than a couple of gigabytes

depending on what you're looking for

generally looping videos in high

resolution use up a lot of storage space

and could also use up a good chunk of

your cpu and gpu resources

depending on your system

in order to reduce the impact of these

wallpapers on your pc

i suggest making some small changes

first navigate to your wallpaper engine

settings

here under performance make sure to

change the

or the application focused option to

keep running

application maximized to pause an

application full screen

also to pause set the display asleep

option

to stop under quality make sure to set

the preset to low

in case you're using a low end pc

for mid-end systems set the

anti-aliasing option

to msaa two times enable post processing

and set the resolution to full and fps

cap to 24.

also make sure to enable reflections

in your general tab make sure that the

application does not start on system

boot

and the other options can be set to your

personal preference

in your advanced options make sure that

the process priority is set to normal

and in case your performance is

bottlenecked by your cpu

then make sure to use the ui hardware

acceleration

this will make sure that your graphics

card gets used to run the user interface

don't forget to apply your changes

you should also make sure that your

graphics driver and operating system is

up to date

i suggest using the geforce experience

application if you're using

an nvidia gpu but you can also use the

amd driver's suit

depending on how frequently you're

updating your gpu

this tweak can make the biggest

difference

in the drivers tab simply click on

download and the application will

automatically download and install the

latest driver

when this is done search for update to

open up

your check for updates system settings

window

here click on check for updates and

after downloading the latest

os update make sure to restart your pc

lastly make sure that your anti-virus

and application control is set to

trusted with the wallpaper engine

after subscribing to a wallpaper select

it in your installed tab

here you have the option to unsubscribe

again to free up some space

change the color scheme playback rate

volume if there's any sound alignment

position

and so on you can also save the

wallpaper as a preset to use again in

the future

or to use to make your own wallpaper

engine wallpaper

next we will go over how to make your

own wallpaper

this will largely depend on what you

wish to create

first we will download a free to use

existing wallpaper from unsplash

this website allows you to download and

use pictures for free

in a high resolution after finding a

background you like

make sure to download it to your system

when this is done go back to the

wallpaper engine application

and click on wallpaper editor

on this window you have the option to

create a wallpaper from scratch

to edit recent wallpapers or to use a

template

if this is the first time you're using

this editor then i suggest using a

template first

you can also drag and drop your

downloaded background picture into the

application

select a project name and color scheme

and click on ok

after a few seconds you should see your

background picture here

use your mouse scroll wheel to zoom in

and out of the image

on the right hand side you have the

option to add effects to your image

such as animation and blur effects

distortion

enhancements and you can even download

more effects from the steam workshop

by selecting browse workshop

on the left hand side you can add layers

and change your scene options

as before you can choose from different

preset and workshop assets

to add to your image or video file

in order to preview the effect and other

changes navigate to file

apply wallpaper the wallpaper engine

window will open up

and your wallpaper will show up as your

own desktop wallpaper

if you wish to publish your wallpaper

then navigate to workshop

and then share this wallpaper on the

workshop

here make sure to set a title genre and

description for your new wallpaper

set the age rating option to the right

setting the visibility to public

friends only or private and make sure to

use a preview image for the steam

workshop

to better find it in the application

everything else including a link to the

wallpaper engine collections

will be listed in the description below

simply select to subscribe to a

wallpaper

and it will be available in your

wallpaper engine application

i hope this helped you out leave a

comment if you have any questions and

see you in the next

one