Windows 11 Stolen Wallpaper!

Stigg · Nov 19, 2023

Stigg said:
That's great, atinfo.
Thank you.

1920 x 1080 is my current display resolution.
Do you have larger ones that may come in handy at a later date? I can easily resize if I have a large one.

Stigg · Nov 19, 2023

That is a fantastic minimalistic desktop wallpaper free of distractions with the iconic ICQ logo.
I love the glow behind it.

atinfo · Nov 19, 2023

Stigg said:
I can easily resize...

I recommend that you don't resize current wallpaper sizes. A raster image (unlike vector image) would be foggy (with jagged edges) if you enlarge it and lose its effects (fx) when reducing its size.

I think it has no banding side effect on the blurred layer (green shadow). Is this good?

4K Download Link (PNG - 16 Bits)

atinfo · Nov 19, 2023

Stigg said:
I love the glow behind it.

I like such (subtle) glow, too. I like to play with it and never get tired.

Stigg · Nov 19, 2023

atinfo said:
I recommend that you don't resize current wallpaper sizes. A raster image (unlike vector image) would be foggy (with jagged edges) if you enlarge it and lose its effects (fx) when reducing its size.

I think it has no banding side effect on the blurred layer (green shadow). Is this good?

View attachment 78329
4K Download Link (PNG - 16 Bits)

Thanks for the images, and thanks for the tips. They are much appreciated.
I'm not much of a digital images person, so I don't know much about those things.

atinfo · Nov 19, 2023

Stigg · Nov 29, 2023

atinfo said:
I like such (subtle) glow, too. I like to play with it and never get tired.

I'm still using this amazing wallpaper.
I'll probably be using it for a long time.

atinfo · Nov 29, 2023

If you have any new ideas (about this twilight fog), let me know to make it real with layers. :thumbsup:

atinfo · Nov 29, 2023

Bliss in 11!

4K Download Link

Stigg · Nov 29, 2023

atinfo said:
Bliss in 11!

View attachment 79403
4K Download Link

I always thought that the new Bliss wallpaper from the Windows XP Royal theme looked better than the original.
There is a version here that's been upscaled to 4K.

Stigg · Nov 29, 2023

atinfo said:
If you have any new ideas (about this twilight fog), let me know to make it real with layers.

Is that what the glow around the ICQ icon is? A twilight fog? It looks very good already. I'm not sure what to suggest. Surprise me.

atinfo · Nov 30, 2023

Stigg said:
I always thought that the new Bliss wallpaper from the Windows XP Royal theme looked better than the original.

IMO, it's too dark (stormy sky) and doesn't have many details. But the original image is better. It has light-green grass and a crystal-clear blue sky with a touch of foggy white (cloud) to balance the combination of green and blue.
BTW, I added a (subtle) light burst to the image on both the left and right sides of the grass.

You can download the original 4K remastered by Microsoft (or download from here). They named it the Nostalgia wallpaper pack.

Stigg said:
Is that what the glow around the ICQ icon is? A twilight fog?

Yes.

atinfo · Dec 10, 2023

"Windows Ugly Sweater" wallpaper pack. Higher-res version of the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper.

Download (MEGA)

Stigg · Dec 18, 2023

I'm pretty sure that this is a different version of the Windows XP Bliss Wallpaper Official 4K Version from what has already been posted.

Neowin posted it in the following article.

There is an official 4K version of the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper, download it here

Captured by Charles O'Rear, Bliss is the name of the default desktop wallpaper on Windows XP. You can download a high-quality 4K render of the popular wallpaper made by the Microsoft Design team.

www.neowin.net

atinfo · Dec 19, 2023

Yes. Those are not the same.

Stigg · Dec 19, 2023

The story behind the Windows XP Bliss wallpaper is pretty cool.

The Story Behind the Windows XP ‘Bliss’ Wallpaper, the Most Viewed Photograph in History

Ask any computer user today and s/he would instantly recognize the green hills, blue skies and the fluffy white clouds — the default wallpap...

www.vintag.es

The Most Viewed Photograph In History Only Cost Microsoft $100,000

In 1996, Charles O'Rear would unknowingly capture the most viewed photograph in history: the Windows XP wallpaper dubbed "Bliss" by Microsoft.

www.bosshunting.com.au

atinfo · Dec 19, 2023

If you like I can share a YouTube link to see an awesome short documentary about this wallpaper (I have nothing to do with this YouTube channel's owner).

atinfo · Dec 19, 2023

I found the link! I have the video in my archive, but maybe the author is not satisfied with sharing this video as an offline video.

Bliss - The Story of Windows XP’s Famous Default Wallpaper

This was my last post here (on tins forum). If you like to be in touch with me (for any reason) let me know, and I will DM my email (then social net links via my email), I'll check this post in the next 24 hours (for the last time). I said that because I didn't like my post to be like a rough cut here. It was as a respect to you and your interest. Thanks for any kindness and harshness (!) of you

.

Stigg · Dec 26, 2023

atinfo said:
I found the link! I have the video in my archive, but maybe the author is not satisfied with sharing this video as an offline video.

Bliss - The Story of Windows XP’s Famous Default Wallpaper

This was my last post here (on tins forum). If you like to be in touch with me (for any reason) let me know, and I will DM my email (then social net links via my email), I'll check this post in the next 24 hours (for the last time). I said that because I didn't like my post to be like a rough cut here. It was as a respect to you and your interest. Thanks for any kindness and harshness (!) of you .

That's a very interesting story. Especially the back end of the video where he visits the actual place. Although it looks a bit different to the Windows XP default wallpaper.