Make your desktop a moving image in Windows Vista

DeskScapes is a great new program for Windows Vista that turns your desktops into animated wonders. If you're not content with the many backgrounds on dream.wincustomize.com, you can still import your own moving pictures into the program, so your desktop could be the latest home movie, for example. Here's how to get it there.

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Fortunately, the Internet can expand the size of that hand to one of a giant, giving almost anyone the chance to start their own radio show. So if you've ever wanted to be the next Jimmy Saville, here's how to do it.

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1. Camera Choice

The first thing you need is a recording device. Digital cameras can record video but you need something with more oomph to get the quality and resolution – ideally an HD-ready camcorder.

2. Pick a scene

Pick your subject carefully. Here, we’re using a garden. The movement comes from the wind in the grass and the movement of the trees, both easily looped when the wind dies down.

3. Edit Film

Import your footage into Windows Movie Maker (or any other video editor). Apply any necessary effects and cut your raw footage down to length. In this instance, we need 32 seconds.

4. New Resolutions

DreamScene can stretch video, but export the MPEG/WMV file in as high a resolution as you can without the bit rate slowing your machine to a crawl. Microsoft recommends a bit rate of 4,991.

5. Film Distribution

Try it out by dragging the movie into the DreamScenes window. If it works well, why not package it up using DreamMaker so that other people can enjoy the fruits of your labour?

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