Sy B
Level 1 (75 points)

Q: How does one change the login screen background in Lion 10.7.4

Hi,

 

Prior to 10.7.4 I was able to change the default Lion login screen background by replacing the file at:

 

/System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/Versions/C/Resources/NSTexturedFullS creenBackgroundColor.png

 

After updating from 10.7.3 to 10.7.4 it reverted to the original textured pattern.

 

Has the location of the default background file changed or the method for changing the background changed.

 

SyB

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), 10 GB

Posted on May 10, 2012 9:53 AM

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Sy B

Q: How does one change the login screen background in Lion 10.7.4

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  • by Gerry Brown,

    Gerry Brown Gerry Brown May 10, 2012 10:00 AM in response to Sy B
    Level 3 (795 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:00 AM in response to Sy B

    Is the png a new file that was installed with the update?  Try opening it.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black May 10, 2012 10:02 AM in response to Sy B
    Level 7 (25,416 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:02 AM in response to Sy B

    The update likely just overwrote your version of that file with its own default.  Just redo what you did before to get your custom file back in its place.

  • by Sy B,

    Sy B Sy B May 10, 2012 10:29 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 1 (75 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:29 AM in response to Michael Black

    Hi,

     

    Thanks for the quick reply.  The file at:

     

    /System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/Versions/C/Resources/NSTexturedFullS creenBackgroundColor.png

     

    is the one that I used to replace the original when running a previous version of Lion.  It does not appear that the 10.7.4 installer changed the file.

     

    The replacement file is Apple's "Classic Aqua Blue.jpg" which I converted to .PNG using Photoshop.

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe May 10, 2012 10:45 AM in response to Sy B
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:45 AM in response to Sy B

    I have the same issue.

     

    It is not "overwritten". Apple has chenged the manner in which the login background is displayed. My file is still there, but it is no longer being used. I even did a file search to see what files have been changed, and are the same file size as the old original texture file, hoping that I could find the new file Apple uses. No luck.

     

    Until someone posts a solution, I am in the same boat as you, Sy.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black May 10, 2012 10:51 AM in response to Sy B
    Level 7 (25,416 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:51 AM in response to Sy B

    I can look on my MBP later.  The way I have always changed this is through the terminal.  I save the original system background file to another name, then copy my image file to the same name as the original default image.  That way, I never have to worry about how the system calls that background image, as the file it needs is always there under the same name.

     

    Of course, if they've changed the default file name or location, it messes up.

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe May 10, 2012 10:56 AM in response to Michael Black
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    May 10, 2012 10:56 AM in response to Michael Black

    Michael Black wrote:

    Of course, if they've changed the default file name or location, it messes up.

     

    That's what it appears they have done. I have "NSTexturedFullS creenBackgroundColor.png", which is my customized file & I have "NSTexturedFullS creenBackgroundColorOLD.png", which is the original Apple file saved as backup, in case I want to change it back. 10.7.4 uses neither.

  • by Sy B,

    Sy B Sy B May 10, 2012 1:25 PM in response to Sy B
    Level 1 (75 points)
    May 10, 2012 1:25 PM in response to Sy B

    Hi,

     

    I did some digging around and found the following file:

     

    /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/LoginUIKit.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Log inUICore.framework/Versions/A/Resources/appleLinen.png

     

    If I save appleLinen.png under a different name and overwrite it with another file, the new file appears on the login screen.  There are several caveats:

     

    1.  Whatever size the new file is it must be square (height equal to width).

    2. The two text entry boxes (userid and password) show up, however the three buttons at the bottom are covered.

    3. On a two monitor setup, the new background only displays on the login monitor.

     

    SyB

  • by SP Forsythe,

    SP Forsythe SP Forsythe May 10, 2012 2:15 PM in response to Sy B
    Level 5 (5,399 points)
    May 10, 2012 2:15 PM in response to Sy B

    Sy,

     

    That changes the foreground image, but not the background image on my computer. I had not realized you were just wanting to change the Apple image to something else. I am looking to change the linen itself.

     

    This what the original appleLinen.png file looks like. An Apple.

    appleLinen.png

     

    But I am glad it solved your quest.

  • by Sy B,

    Sy B Sy B May 10, 2012 2:41 PM in response to SP Forsythe
    Level 1 (75 points)
    May 10, 2012 2:41 PM in response to SP Forsythe

    SP,

     

    Actually I want to change the linen background image.

     

    SyB

  • by Michael Wineke,

    Michael Wineke Michael Wineke May 10, 2012 3:18 PM in response to Sy B
    Level 1 (5 points)
    May 10, 2012 3:18 PM in response to Sy B

    Yes. This is broken under 10.7.4.

    My previously working NSTexturedFullScreenBackgroundColor.png image is still there, it just isn't being used. There isn't a new one at that location.

    Preview, and Quicklook confirm it is the same image.

     

    Weird.

  • by Cthulhu,

    Cthulhu Cthulhu May 10, 2012 5:37 PM in response to Sy B
    Level 1 (69 points)
    Wireless
    May 10, 2012 5:37 PM in response to Sy B

    I was able to change my linen background by changing my

     

    /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/LoginUIKit.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Log inUICore.framework/Versions/A/Resources/appleLinen.png  to a 2650 × 2650 pixel image, and even though this is not ideal, it filled the screen and "hid" the linen background. It takes a little experimenting to get the right size and positioning of an image for your screen, but it does work.

     

    Obviously I will keep looking for a more ideal solution, because if I had my way, I would send any image resource containing linen (or those ridiculous torn paper edges and similar UI vomit) to the abyss from whence they came. Why Apple uses these odd patterns in an otherwise clean and well designed UI is beyond me, and why an update seems to make it even more challenging to hack around it is even more odd.

  • by Sy B,

    Sy B Sy B May 10, 2012 6:03 PM in response to Cthulhu
    Level 1 (75 points)
    May 10, 2012 6:03 PM in response to Cthulhu

    Cthulhu,

     

    It does fill the screen.  But, on mine it covers the three buttons at the bottom.  In addition, I have a two monitor setup and the new image only covers the login momitor.

     

    SyB

  • by NetMasterCH,

    NetMasterCH NetMasterCH May 11, 2012 2:16 AM in response to Sy B
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 11, 2012 2:16 AM in response to Sy B

    Yes, i have the same problem. The File "NSTexturedFullScreenBackgroundColor.png" doesn't change after the 10.7.4 Update. Where is the new File? It's very important for us, then we have a public login information on the customized background. Why does Apple changed this location???

  • by Gerry Brown,

    Gerry Brown Gerry Brown May 11, 2012 6:16 AM in response to NetMasterCH
    Level 3 (795 points)
    May 11, 2012 6:16 AM in response to NetMasterCH

    NetMasterCH,

    If what you need is a login warning, Apple supports that in Lion. Check this support article.

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