Creating GNOME Dynamic Wallpapers

Create a simple light/dark dynamic wallpaper:

Bash
# Create directory structure
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/backgrounds/my-wallpaper
mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gnome-background-properties

# Copy your images
cp light-wallpaper.jpg ~/.local/share/backgrounds/my-wallpaper/
cp dark-wallpaper.jpg ~/.local/share/backgrounds/my-wallpaper/

# Create wallpaper definition
cat > ~/.local/share/gnome-background-properties/my-wallpaper.xml << 'EOF'
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE wallpapers SYSTEM "gnome-wp-list.dtd">
<wallpapers>
  <wallpaper deleted="false">
    <name>My Dynamic Wallpaper</name>
    <filename>/home/$(whoami)/.local/share/backgrounds/my-wallpaper/light-wallpaper.jpg</filename>
    <filename-dark>/home/$(whoami)/.local/share/backgrounds/my-wallpaper/dark-wallpaper.jpg</filename-dark>
    <options>zoom</options>
  </wallpaper>
</wallpapers>
EOF

Creating Light/Dark Dynamic Wallpapers

Progress:

• Prepare images: Create or obtain light and dark variants of your wallpaper
• Create directory structure: ~/.local/share/backgrounds/[name] for images
• Copy images: Place light and dark variants in the directory
• Create XML definition: Define wallpaper in ~/.local/share/gnome-background-properties/
• Test wallpaper: Check in GNOME Settings > Appearance

Creating Time-Shifting Wallpapers

Progress:

• Create background XML: Define timing and transitions in wallpaper directory
• Reference in properties: Add time-shifting variant to properties XML
• Verify timing: Test that transitions occur at specified times

Example 1: Basic Light/Dark Wallpaper Input: Two images (light.jpg, dark.jpg) Output: Dynamic wallpaper that switches with GNOME theme

Example 2: Time-Shifting Configuration

XML
<background>
  <starttime>
    <year>2024</year>
    <month>1</month>
    <day>1</day>
    <hour>8</hour>
    <minute>0</minute>
    <second>0</second>
  </starttime>
  <static>
    <file>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/light.jpg</file>
    <duration>36000</duration> <!-- 10 hours -->
  </static>
  <transition type="overlay">
    <duration>7200</duration> <!-- 2 hour transition -->
    <from>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/light.jpg</from>
    <to>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/dark.jpg</to>
  </transition>
  <static>
    <file>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/dark.jpg</file>
    <duration>36000</duration> <!-- 10 hours -->
  </static>
  <transition type="overlay">
    <duration>7200</duration> <!-- 2 hour transition -->
    <from>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/dark.jpg</from>
    <to>/home/user/.local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper/light.jpg</to>
  </transition>
</background>

Example 3: System-Wide Installation Use /usr/share/backgrounds/ and /usr/share/gnome-background-properties/ instead of local directories.