How to set up different wallpapers on dual screens – Windows

Using two monitors can be incredibly practical when you need to check a lot of information, or access different programs at the same time. Many people can benefit from the convenience of having two monitors for their job, including graphic designers and IT workers. Avid gamers and technology lovers may also prefer to have two screens at home to enjoy their favourite applications.

Dual monitor backlit computer setup

Part of the fun of using two screens is the possibility of seeing different wallpapers on each of them. The problem is that Windows displays the same image on both monitors and although that may not be a big thing for some users, others really want a way to make their computer’s screens different. Changing your wallpaper can help you feel like an individual, even if you work in a large corporation with thousands of employees.

Having the option to display a different image on each screen would make your computer truly unique and while Windows doesn’t make things as simple as they could be, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a wallpaper from your favourite movie on the left monitor and a picture of your family on the right monitor. Here we share a couple of tricks that will enable you to set up different wallpapers on both screens.

Make it happen with IrfanView
A practical solution to bypass Windows limitations when it comes to wallpapers in dual monitors, is to use IrfanView. IrfanView is a free, light and easy to use graphic viewer for Windows (7, 8, Vista, 2008, 2003 and more), which supports multiple file formats, toolbar skins and paint options. The tool allows you to view, convert, optimize images, create slideshows, play movies/sounds and much more. You can use irfanView to put together two images with a combined width that equals the combined width of both screen resolutions.

Let’s say that your two monitors have a screen resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. This would make their combined width 3840 pixels (1920×2), which means that you need to find two 1920×1080 wallpapers and stitch them together to create a new image of 3840×1080 pixels. To get the best results, make sure that you select high quality images, or wallpapers. Once you have downloaded IrfanView and have selected your two wallpapers, you can follow the below steps to start the process of combining the images.

1. In IrfanView, click Images in the menu bar and select Create Panorama Images.
2. Click Add images to add your wallpapers. Check that the monitors are set to the same resolution and that they are arranged in the same direction.
3. When you are ready to get the combined wallpapers on your screens, click Start and then type: Desktop Background and set the picture to Tile.

Dual Monitor Tools – The most convenient way
IrfanView is a good solution, not only for image stitching, but for many other purposes. However, if you have two screens, the easiest way to get different wallpapers (and to enjoy many other features that suit a dual monitor arrangement) is to download Dual Monitor Tools from http://dualmonitortool.sourceforge.net.
This open-source, free software package is a great option for users who work with multi-monitor setups. One of the tools available is Dual Wallpaper, a simple way to set up a different image on each monitor. Dual Wallpaper also allows you to stretch an image across two or more monitors and you can also zoom, clip, or center the image. Dual Wallpaper (along with all the other tools that are part of the Dual Monitor Tools package), is incredibly easy to use and it offers a fast way to personalize your monitors.

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