Can I Expand the Number of Solid Colors for the Desktop Background?


  1. Posts : 36
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can I Expand the Number of Solid Colors for the Desktop Background?


    Hello, everyone. I am using Windows 10 Anniversary Edition.

    I have a question about setting solid colors for the desktop background.

    I am currently in Settings/Personalization/Background. I've set the Background option to Solid Colors. There is a limited quantity of colors. If I recall correctly, previous versions of Windows let you select a wider variety of colors, and also had the color wheel, from which you could select various shades of the colors.

    Also, I noticed there is no solid white!

    What I've done to work around this was to use paint.net to create jpg images, containing solid blocks of whichever colors I want. I put all of the jpg images in one file, then set the background to Slide Show, pointing it to that folder.

    But I'm really surprised Windows 10 has a far more limited palette. Is there any way to widen the number of solid colors, or am I limited to what's there?

    Thank you! Jd
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 27,181
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #2

    Go to this tutorial from @Brink and install 'Personalize (classic)' context menu - Add in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums Then right click your desktop and select "Desktop Background":
    Can I Expand the Number of Solid Colors for the Desktop Background?-image-003.png
    Then select "More" in the bottom left.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Okay, that works, and I thank you. But now I have a follow-up question.

    In the taskbar, there is a colored line under the icons for open-and-running programs. I know how to change the color for that, but once again, the palette is limited. I want solid white, and the closest color to that is light grey. Can I use the Personalize (Classic) tool to set that, as well? If so, how?

    Lastly...am I correct in assuming all of this cannot be done without editing the registry, or using a third-party utility?

    Thank you.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 27,181
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #4

    I really don't know if there is anything in the registry for that, it's probably in some .VisualManifestElements XML as a layer mask.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 36
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    The taskbar issue is not a big deal. I was mainly concerned about the solid colors. Thank you for your help.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 27,181
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #6

    You're welcome:)
      My Computers


 

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