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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

Reply
36 replies

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

How does one change the login screen background in Lion 10.7.4

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