How the default Windows 7 wallpaper evolved

How the default Windows 7 wallpaper evolved

Tom Warren on 06 November 2009 - 11:11 · 39 comments & 12596 views

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Gizmodo tracked down Chuck Anderson, the creator of Windows 7's box art, default wallpaper and login screen.

In an exclusive overview of the evolution of the Windows 7 wallpaper and login screen, the gadget lovers managed to secure some rare development shots of how Microsoft decided on the wallpaper that is now used worldwide. Chuck Anderson is a 20 something digital media artist living in the US. Both the login screen and wallpapers took approximately four months, start to finish according to Gizmodo. They were achieved by a mix of pen and paper, wacom tablet and Photoshop.

It's extremely unusual for Microsoft to share concept designs or early design work of its products so watching the evolution of the wallpapers is a glimpse into how Microsoft wanted to create a unique style for Windows 7. It's worth noting that there are also seven leaves, seven branches, and seven flower petals in the Windows logo.

Image Credits: Gizmodo.com

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#1 da00 on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:12

To be honest....love these.

(1 reply) #2 buzz99 on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:21

I've always preffered the beta one.

#2.1 Jose_49 on 09 Nov 2009 - 09:23

#3 EddiePwnsYou on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:30

I want the 2nd and the 3rd one.
High res someone?

(4 replies) #4 hotdog963al on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:31

I really think they look bad. Am I the only one?

#4.1 Bero on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:41

i don like them too .. the logo feels too bold
in fact that's one of the few thing i don like in 7 but it's packed with many alternatives so np 4 me

#4.2 mmck on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:54

Bero said,

i don like them too .. the logo feels too bold

I think as most people change their wallpaper the idea is its meant to be a bold "welcome to windows 7" wallpaper, rather than something people will hold onto for a long time.

#4.3 hotdog963al on 06 Nov 2009 - 15:16

^ Yeah, that's what I was thinking, in that sense it is good I suppose.

#4.4 jordan. on 09 Nov 2009 - 18:31

They are definitely ugly. But I guess the Windows logo is not an attractive logo to design with so they make do.

Also mmck makes a good point.

#5 Nikos_GR on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:37

The beta had a fish in the center! A Betta (this is a fish species)!

#6 virtorio on 06 Nov 2009 - 11:45

The default desktop image is the only thing I don't like about Windows 7.
From the above I like #3 the most, but still, not a fan of any of them.

#7 B.Wolken on 06 Nov 2009 - 12:04

Gizmodo also has a piece on the login screens. Would be excellent to get some of those images in high resolution.

(1 reply) #8 CarlosMiguel on 06 Nov 2009 - 12:04

Can we have HD of these images?

I love them

#8.1 +Pajter on 06 Nov 2009 - 12:30

CarlosMiguel said,

Can we have HD of these images?

I love them

According to the Gizmodo article, Microsoft will not hand out the full resolution wallpapers.

#9 Aergan on 06 Nov 2009 - 12:49

Could have been worse, could have been a fish...

Great job though I must say.

#10 tomjol on 06 Nov 2009 - 14:18

Preferred the fish.

#11 dota17 on 06 Nov 2009 - 15:25

i want that sec and third wall deadly!

#12 rm20010 on 06 Nov 2009 - 15:46

Never noticed there were 7 leaves on the bottom left corner. That's clever

#13 SHADOW-XIII on 06 Nov 2009 - 15:54

i want with transparent windows logo(#2 & #3) ! great for aero

(5 replies) #14 unbreak09 on 06 Nov 2009 - 16:03

I have been a designer for almost 20 years....

The first thing I do when I see a new win7 install is I change this horrid wallpaper to some other one.

How could microsoft ever accepted this in their flagship product...?

#14.1 pominator on 06 Nov 2009 - 16:33

Come on, this is a welcome wallpaper as other already said, I doubt any end user will complain about it, as everybody know how to change their wallpaper. Is their anything left in life except complaining?

#14.2 paokun on 06 Nov 2009 - 16:43

You must be a designer yourself, but you should understand that this kind of choices depend on too many factors, one above all: Marketing. I'm sure some designers at Microsoft must have drawn much better ones, but for whatever other reason this one was picked.
And as long as the majority of the users loves it, they've made the right choice ;-)

#14.3 solardog on 06 Nov 2009 - 16:57

Agree. This is horrible. Love 7, but I hate this wall. It looks like the color a fish gets after its been floating dead on the water for a week. Just hints of the color it used to be and kind of translucent. The problem is that most humans have really bad taste....Pet Rock, WWE, AOL and this wallpaper. Its simply marketing.

#14.4 ccoltmanm on 06 Nov 2009 - 18:49

Congratulations on being a designer.

#14.5 +Chrono951 on 07 Nov 2009 - 08:35

Does being a designer really make your opinion of what people like worth more? I think not.

#15 Radish™ on 06 Nov 2009 - 18:32

I love it and want the variations

Radish™

#16 ccoltmanm on 06 Nov 2009 - 18:50

I find the sailboat transforming into the tree the most unique!

(2 replies) #17 Master1 on 06 Nov 2009 - 19:35

1. for the people complaining about the fish, that was a joke, beta and the fish betta
2. this wallpaper is pretty good, and the hidden stuff is cool
3. PDC 2008 wallpaper tho was better imo

#17.1 remtiwk on 06 Nov 2009 - 20:25

you can download all the wallpapers including ones from PDC here.

http://blog.kirb.us/windows-7-wallpapers/
http://blog.kirb.us/2009/11/03/download-wi...ers-theme-pack/

#17.2 solardog on 06 Nov 2009 - 22:48

remtiwk said,

you can download all the wallpapers including ones from PDC here.

http://blog.kirb.us/windows-7-wallpapers/
http://blog.kirb.us/2009/11/03/download-wi...ers-theme-pack/

Good stuff, thanks.

#18 kiwi89 on 06 Nov 2009 - 21:43

I really love the 3rd one... the one with the transparent windows on it.

#19 Joshie on 06 Nov 2009 - 22:38

Don't really understand all the love for the third one. It's waaaay too lensflaregasmic.

#20 tuxplorer on 07 Nov 2009 - 02:06

The Vista logon screen colors were really great! This is okay-ish.

(2 replies) #21 stezo2k on 07 Nov 2009 - 10:07

i prefer the fish myself, thats an awesome wallpaper

#21.1 bluarash on 07 Nov 2009 - 19:21

It was a betta... it is surprising that it made it past the 7000 build (beta) and into the 7100 RC build. I agree though, I liked the fish as well. The others remind me of flowers in a field (with lightning bugs and butterflies).

#21.2 Jose_49 on 09 Nov 2009 - 09:34

Yeah, I'm using it right now. I really loved it. But they needed to kill it. Pllus all those landscape wallpapers. Thanks God I was able to backup them, else I would have to download them through the internet :p

#22 Jimmy422 on 09 Nov 2009 - 01:36

I can't figure out how this wallpaper was made - it's impossible to make the same deep blue and light blue glow that the wallpaper has.

#23 jordan. on 09 Nov 2009 - 18:37

I like the suttle differences in the last 2. The fact that they actually went through the trouble to make such hardly noticeable changes shows just how much though goes in to making the default wallpaper.

#24 Growled on 12 Nov 2009 - 01:03

Got to say, he did a brilliant job creating these. They are beautiful and just right for 7.

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How the default Windows 7 wallpaper evolved

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