Using wallpaper when Mac is locked

tebucky wrote:
I know this is a silly question but how do I use my Mac desktop image when I lock my machine (whether it be manual or auto)? Meaning, when I have my login prompt (username & pass) instead of the background being black can I replace it with my desktop wallpaper?

no. that's not possible.

Last time I used this was under 10.4, but I'd assume it would work in Leopard as well. Open the Terminal and paste in the following:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow DesktopPicture -string "

Next, drag the image file you want to be your new login window background onto the Terminal window. The path to that file will be inserted. (Just don't move it afterwards... move it now if it's not where you want it to be.) Then add a " character at the end and press return. Logout and see what happens. (You may or may not need to restart to see the change... I don't honestly remember.)

that terminal command is for changing the login window background not the screen you get when you lock the screen. as I said there is no way to make it anything but black.