Choosing computer desktop wallpaper is a completely personal decision. You are selecting a photo or a piece of visual art (or most likely, an entire collection) that you will see for days on end, every time you boot up your computer. True, you can change this image any time you want, but why use an image you'll get tired of after only a week? It's better to pick something that you enjoy looking at and will not tire of easily.

You might ask yourself: What images inspire you? What subject makes you happy? What type of art reflects your personality? Do you prefer photos, hand-drawn art, or digital images? Will they fit on your monitor(s) without being cut off or re-sized? Consider these questions carefully before choosing your computer wallpaper.

Please note the difference between wallpapers and screen savers. Computer wallpaper is a still piece of art that serves as the main "desktop" background for your monitor. Your computer's various icons will appear on top of this art. A screen saver, on the other hand, is commonly an animated collection of art or photos, which usually appears after your computer has been on but unused for a set period of time (e.g. 10 seconds, 15 minutes). This article focuses on wallpapers.

== Types of Wallpaper Art ==

Do you prefer traditional or digital art? Do you like a particular artist's drawing style or type of subject? Yes, all images are digital when they are on your computer, but your preference enters the equation when you choose the original form of the art.

- Photography: You can find photos of anything online now, many with amazing clarity. Recommendation: Magentic

- Hand-drawn: Hand-drawn or painted art is not limited by subjects the artist sees through a camera. Depending on your subject of interest, you can find plenty of wallpapers.

- Computer-generated: Digital images can emulate pictures, patterns, or anything else the artist can dream up, created with quality software and incredible precision. Recommendation: Digital Blasphemy

== Intellectual Property Rights ==

As with any creative endeavor, check for a copyright statement or similar rules from the creator before using his/her work. Some copyright owners are strict about who uses items from their portfolios, but some will allow you to copy photos only for private use. Any photographer or artist who cares about how his/her work is used will include specific details in his/her website or portfolio. Some situations you might encounter:

- You are asked to pay a small fee for each piece you use.

- You need a subscription to access a hidden part of the website.

- Everything on the site is completely free to download.

- The art is free for private use, but costs money for public/commercial use.

It all depends on how the artist wishes to make money and still provide quality computer wallpapers. Check the fine print before you download

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