Two monitors, two wallpaper?

[Rich Pasco]

I think this is probably a Windows issue, or perhaps a display driver
issue. I have an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 display card with two
monitors configured to work side by side: a built-in LCD at 1920 x 1200
pixels and an external LCD panel at 1440 x 900 pixels.

I've noticed that the same wallpaper is displayed on both monitors.
Since they are of different resolutions, depending on the image size
either there is a black surround on the built-in monitor or the image
extends beyond the edges of the external monitor. If I set my
wallpaper to "stretch" it is always stretched to fit the built-in LCD
exactly--whicb leaves it extending beyond the edges of the external one.

That is, the wallpaper is sized to fit the high-res monitor, and thus is
"too big" to fit the external low-res one.

Ideally I'd like to set a separate wallpaper for each monitor, but
apparently Windows does not support this. Alternately could the
wallpaper be scaled differently for the two monitors?

- Rich

 

[M.I.5¾]

I think this is probably a Windows issue, or perhaps a display driver
issue. I have an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 display card with two
monitors configured to work side by side: a built-in LCD at 1920 x 1200
pixels and an external LCD panel at 1440 x 900 pixels.

I've noticed that the same wallpaper is displayed on both monitors.
Since they are of different resolutions, depending on the image size
either there is a black surround on the built-in monitor or the image
extends beyond the edges of the external monitor. If I set my
wallpaper to "stretch" it is always stretched to fit the built-in LCD
exactly--whicb leaves it extending beyond the edges of the external one.

That is, the wallpaper is sized to fit the high-res monitor, and thus is
"too big" to fit the external low-res one.

Ideally I'd like to set a separate wallpaper for each monitor, but
apparently Windows does not support this. Alternately could the
wallpaper be scaled differently for the two monitors?

Correct in that Windows does not support different wallpapers on multiple
monitors. The stretch function always scales the wallpaper for the primary
monitor*. Otherwise the wallpaper is always scaled the same on both
monitors (which makes them look different sizes).

*Where the dual head installation supports primary/secondary monitors (which
the ATI Radeon does). The windows native dual graphics support treats the
second monitor as an extended desktop and will stretch the wallpaper over
both monitors, each showing a portion of it.

 

[Malke]

I think this is probably a Windows issue, or perhaps a display driver
issue. I have an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 display card with two
monitors configured to work side by side: a built-in LCD at 1920 x 1200
pixels and an external LCD panel at 1440 x 900 pixels.

I've noticed that the same wallpaper is displayed on both monitors.
Since they are of different resolutions, depending on the image size
either there is a black surround on the built-in monitor or the image
extends beyond the edges of the external monitor. If I set my
wallpaper to "stretch" it is always stretched to fit the built-in LCD
exactly--whicb leaves it extending beyond the edges of the external one.

That is, the wallpaper is sized to fit the high-res monitor, and thus is
"too big" to fit the external low-res one.

Ideally I'd like to set a separate wallpaper for each monitor, but
apparently Windows does not support this. Alternately could the
wallpaper be scaled differently for the two monitors?

You need third-party software to do this. UltraMon works well but is not
free (around $30). Recently I found a reference to DisplayFusion on one
of my favorite sites, Lifehacker.com. I haven't tried it but it looks
good. Here's the Lifehacker link TinyURL'd:

http://tinyurl.com/29j2zs

Malke

 

[Rich Pasco]

You need third-party software to do this....
Recently I found a reference to DisplayFusion on one
of my favorite sites, Lifehacker.com. I haven't tried it but it looks
good. Here's the Lifehacker link TinyURL'd:

http://tinyurl.com/29j2zs

Malke

Thanks, Malke! DisplayFusion looks like exactly what I want.
I'll report back after I've tried it.

- Rich

 

[Rich Pasco]

Thanks, Malke! DisplayFusion looks like exactly what I want.
I'll report back after I've tried it.

I just now installed DisplayFusion from
http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/
and it works perfectly, exactly as advertised, allowing
me to set different wallpapers on my two monitors.

I am a "happy camper" now. Thank you again, Malke!

- Rich

 

[Malke]

I just now installed DisplayFusion from
http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/
and it works perfectly, exactly as advertised, allowing
me to set different wallpapers on my two monitors.

I am a "happy camper" now. Thank you again, Malke!

- Rich

Thanks for letting me know how DisplayFusion worked for you. I'll be
recommending it to my clients.


Malke

 

[Rich Pasco]

Correct in that Windows does not support different wallpapers on multiple
monitors. The stretch function always scales the wallpaper for the primary
monitor*. Otherwise the wallpaper is always scaled the same on both
monitors (which makes them look different sizes).

*Where the dual head installation supports primary/secondary monitors (which
the ATI Radeon does). The windows native dual graphics support treats the
second monitor as an extended desktop and will stretch the wallpaper over
both monitors, each showing a portion of it.

Thank you for corroborating my observations, M.I.5¾. Please see my
other posts in this thread. DisplayFusion supports two different
wallpaper images, each stretched independently for its own monitor.
Get it from http://www.binaryfortress.com/displayfusion/

- Rich