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Getting started with Wallpaper Engine
By Biohazard
This guide will provide you with a brief overview of the editor and compare the different wallpaper types, so you can decide more easily which wallpaper type to choose for your own first wallpaper.
   
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Created by
Biohazard
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Category: Workshop
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
23 Sep, 2016 @ 6:54am
1 Feb, 2021 @ 3:01pm
315,482 Unique Visitors
1,930 Current Favorites
Guide Index
Overview
NEW DOCUMENTATION WEBSITE OUT 
Translations 
Opening the editor 
Choosing a wallpaper type 
Editor overview for scene wallpapers 
Editor overview for video, web and application wallpapers 
Creating your first wallpaper 
Comments
NEW DOCUMENTATION WEBSITE OUT
Please check out our new documentation website, the guides on Steam are old and deprecated!

https://docs.wallpaperengine.io
Translations
The following translated versions of this guide are also available:

简体中文:
http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=835780076
Opening the editor
Open the editor by right clicking the tray icon of Wallpaper Engine and choosing Create Wallpaper.



After starting the editor, a modal dialog will allow you to either begin creating a new wallpaper (left side) or quickly open a wallpaper project that you have created in the past (right side).

Choosing a wallpaper type
There are four different wallpaper types to choose from: scene, video, web and application. They have different requirements and features, so you should choose a type based on what you are most comfortable with:
  • Scene wallpaper will require you to import images and/or 3D models. You'll need knowledge of an image editing program (like Photoshop, GIMP) and, if you want to import 3D models, a modelling software like Maya, 3DS Max or Modo.
  • Video wallpapers will require you to supply a looping video file.
  • Web wallpapers are based on HTML, JavaScript and WebGL.
  • Application wallpapers will run a game as a wallpaper, e.g. based on Unity.
Best performance can generally be achieved with scene and video wallpapers, web and Unity (application) based ones will be more resource demanding. Although you will have a lot more creative freedom with web and Unity based wallpapers.
Editor overview for scene wallpapers


While creating a scene, the editor will be split up into 4 main panels. The panel on the left side (Scene Graph) lists all object instances that are currently part of your wallpaper, in the example above we've got 4 models: Dome, Car, Grid and Shadow. You can also switch this panel to 'Camera' to edit the camera animation of your scene.

The panel on the right will show you various properties that you can configure of the currently selected object. Certain shaders also allow you to tweak the appearance of your model. The panel at the bottom lists all imported model files. Drag them into the Scene Graph to create a new instance of them.

Finally, the panel in the center gives you a preview of the scene. Use the left and right mouse button and WASD on your keyboard to navigate around.
Editor overview for video, web and application wallpapers


When you are creating a video, web or application wallpaper, you will merely use the editor to preview and check your imported files and publish them to Steam. The left panel will contain all imported files and the preview will show you the running wallpaper.