Dual Screen Wallpapers on Ubuntu Multiple Workspaces (Linux)

This tutorial shows you how to have dual (or triple) screen wallpapers on Ubuntu's multiple workspaces.
( Gnome | compiz-config is needed | Tested on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala )


Final Result:


Before you start, you need a cool dual screen wallpaper.
Of course it needs to be cut in two wallpapers. So if your screen resolution is 1680 x 1050, you need two wallpapers of 1680 x 1050 resolution each (out of 3360 x 1050 of the original wallpaper). You may find some already cut dual screen wallpapers on the web or you may cut it yourself (with GIMP etc.).

Here you can find some dual screen wallpapers cut and ready to use: http://mandolux.com/ .

So you got your (two) wallpapers? LET'S GO:

   1. Open Compiz-Config Settings Manager ( System>Preferences)


   2. Under 'desktop' section enable 'Desktop Wall' . ( You need to disable 'Rotate Cube' and 'Desktop Cube' if you have them enabled )


   3. Under 'General' get in 'General Options' and then go to 'Desktop Size' (last) tab. Set Horizontal Virtual Size to 2 ( maybe even 3 if you want to have a triple-screen ) - go back


   4. Under 'Utility' enable 'Wallpaper' then get in, and by clicking 'new' you can add your (two) wallpapers (left wallpaper must be on top of the list to appear on left workspace – move it up if it's necessary)


   5. Now press alt+f2 to open 'Run Application' and type gconf-editor. Press enter.
On the window opened go apps>nautilus>preferences and unclick 'show desktop'.


By now you should have your wallpapers set but you don't have the right feeling of switching animation! Test it yourself by switching among workspaces... It's just not right huh? In addition if you have Avant Window Navigator, Docky etc it doesn't move along with the screen correctly. Took me a while to figure this out :


   6. Back on Compiz-Config Settings Manager again get in 'Desktop Wall' and go to (2nd) tab 'Viewport Switching'. Change Non-Sliding Windows option by removing ' type = Desktop | ' so that you will have 'type=Dock | state=Sticky' ( In the same tab you may want to increase Wall Sliding Duration. I have it around 0.6 seconds )

Done! =) Now that's what I call cool ! Test your switching.

You just may notice a smaaall graphic “error” on switching workspaces motion occurred by gnome panel's shadow ! That will be more visible if you have gnome panel not expanded and especially if you have a gnome panel on the left or right of your screen (I've got it both on the left of my screen and not expanded ). If that's annoying for you, you can resolve this by removing the gnome panel's shadow. Here's how:

6.5 On Compiz-Config Settings Manager go to 'Window Decoration' which is under 'Effects'. On bot you have 'Shadow windows' option, change 'any' to 'any & !class=Gnome-panel'.

  7. Enjoy it!

NOTE: Because you unclicked/disabled 'show desktop' (in order to have different wallpaper in each workspace) you won't no longer see any desktop icons/files. BUT all your icons/files are still there! And you can see them at /home//Desktop .
That's a price you pay – no desktop icons...

download this tutorial (.pdf)
Please comment for questions | improvements.


by E. Nim

“humanity towards others”