[SFW] January Desktop Thread

It does no good to anyone if that awesome desktop you posted doesn't come with a source!  If you've forgotten the source, use a website such as Google Images or TinEye to identify the source (or to find a higher resolution of the image).  That measly thirty seconds you spend linking the source can make a lot of people happy, so there's no reason not to.  In addition, if your wallpaper is from a specific anime, it would be great if you mentioned which anime it's from, so like-minded users can further investigate the series they like.

This one is important; if you don't use the resize tool, your image may be cut off and will not be fully displayed, and that makes it difficult to appreciate your desktop. The Upload feature resizes the image to follow TL's format, so please use that tool every time you wish to upload a wallpaper.  It's easy to do and makes everything more legible.

+ Show Spoiler [Upload Image location] +

Simply put, if you post multiple wallpapers without spoiler tags, you're cluttering up the thread unnecessarily.  You may have a bunch of desktops that you think are super cool, but it's pretty annoying to other people when they're forced to scroll down for five minutes to see other posts.  Be respectful, and put your wallpapers in spoiler tags to save space.  Obviously, if you're only posting a single image, feel free to dispense with the tags.

Many people like to use the Rainmeter program to customize their desktops.  While it's not required, if you have a particularly awesome Rainmeter setup, it'd be great if you explained how you got that setup, since odds are you'll be asked about it anyway.  For those who don’t know what Rainmeter is, or would like to use it for their own desktops, please follow this link to reach the Rainmeter website.

Many people have shown distaste at some of the female-focused wallpapers in previous threads, due to the suggestiveness they present.  Most of the complaints stem from wallpapers with anime-style girls on them, and I agree that some cross the line.  However, I feel this also applies to the various wallpapers with real-life women on them, since to discard the anime-style while preserving the real is setting a double standard that we can do without.  Therefore, this and subsequent threads are to be treated as “safe for work” (SFW). This means that any wallpapers that exhibit excessive bare skin (defined as bare breasts, asses, or any other sort of pornographic exposure) or risqué poses (defined as convenient censoring of the genitals, blatant panty shots, or similar things) are forbidden from being posted without spoiler tags.

This doesn't mean that you can't post girl wallpapers; I'm not a prude by any means, and I'm sure that all (most?) of us are adult enough to handle stuff like that.  However, please show some restraint for what may and may not be appropriate in a workplace setting, and use spoiler tags for NSFW material.

+ Show Spoiler [Elaboration on what must be spoilered] +

ALL discussions of the sort that have occurred in previous threads have only served to start unnecessary controversy and hostility.  Nothing is gained from those sort of debates.  Warnings and bans have been handed out each time, which speaks for the productivity of such talks.  Therefore, no such arguments shall occur about whether or not a user's desktop has merit, and this goes double for arguing about the display of anime-style wallpapers.  You've been warned.

There have been some slight issues with people continuing to post in earlier desktop threads, even though the thread for the current month has been made.  In lieu of having to bother a mod to ask people to direct conversation to the current thread, I'd like to make it known in the rules. When a new month's thread has been created, please direct all desktop and Rainmeter discussion to the new month's thread, instead of posting in the prior thread.  If you have a specific question about someone's wallpaper or Rainmeter setup from a previous thread, PM the person instead of making a post about it in said previous thread.  It helps to avoid clutter and confusion as to which thread to post in.

As an addendum, I post new desktop threads based on KST (Korean Standard Time), the timezone that TeamLiquid has adopted.  This means that I will post the next month's thread around 00:00 <month> 1st KST.  For those outside of Korea (the majority of TL users), it will appear that I've posted the thread too early.  No, I haven't; I'm simply basing the cycle around KST.

Overview

This will be a detailed and organized guide of how, as well as why, you should modify your desktop.  There will be links to separate websites that rely on YOU to do the research and image-searching.  As you do this more, you will get better and more well-versed in what it is you should look for and how to find it.  Practice makes perfect!

Websites

tineye.com - Search for wallpapers you want.  See a desktop without a source?  Don't ask, just check on TinEye!  If it yields no results, try the following:

wallbase.cc - A collection of wallpapers rivaling any source on the Internet.  If TinyEye does not give you what you seek, search something in the photo on wallbase (blur, lightning, cake, sexy, etc.).

rainmeter.net - The first step towards success.  This tool is vastly more user friendly and versatile than any other available (more detail in following sections).

deviantart.com - A great source for wallpapers, Windows themes, skins, and icons.  

stardock.com - A dock to replace the Windows toolbar (my personal preference).

cdartdisplay.com -  An amazing program used to do exactly what it says, display album art.  Customizable skins and displays.

foobar2000.org  -  A media player superior to WMP, WinAmp, and iTunes.

dafont.com - The stock fonts for both Windows and Mac are terrible.  Get some shiny new ones!

rocketdock.com- A similar program to Objectdock.

customize.org
interfacelift.com
simpledesktops.com
4chan.org/wg/
4walled.org

Terminology (most common questions)

Lomo - This method of photography has caught on in wallpapers.  It allows for a mellow vibe and lends itself to a more laid back feeling, like pictures from years past.

Blur - Pretty self-explanatory.  Relatively simply put, it's images of colors blurred together.  Use these in minimalist and simple desktops.

Resolutions

Using an image with a smaller resolution than that of your screen looks absolutely atrocious.  NEVER do this.  You will notice a big difference in the quality and appeal of your desktop if you change this immediately.

Square monitors -  While absolutely awful in every way, shape, or form, these monitors are highly used.  Refer to these resolutions if you're looking for a square monitor/desktop/wallpaper.

1024x768 - 15"  Square Monitor
1280x960 and/or 1280x1024 - 17-19" Square Monitor
1600x1200 - 20" Square Monitor
1024x600 - Netbooks

Widescreen - The highly preferred monitor of gamers and tech junkies alike.

1440x900 - 19" Widescreen Monitor
1680x1050 - 22" Widescreen Monitor
1920x1080 - 20" HD Widescreen Monitor
1920x1200 - 24" Widescreen Monitor
2560x1600 - 24" Widescreen Monitor (quantity > quality in this case)

Special Cases - This is for TV's and Laptops.

1366x768 - "HD-Certified" TV
1280x720 - 720p HD TV
1920x1080 - 1080p/i HD TV

1280x800 and/or 1440x900 - 15" Widescreen Laptop Monitor
1440x900, 1680x1050 and/or 1920x1200 - 17" Widescreen Laptop Monitor

(Some laptop resolutions will not match these.  CHECK FOR YOURSELF!)

More to be added.  If you have questions, toss me a PM. (TL user Mortal)

The Do's and Don’ts of Desktops

• As mentioned previously, NEVER use a picture that is below your desktop's resolution.  The loss of pixels and quality is an absolute sin in the world of customization.  If you can't find a proper resolution, it wasn't meant to be.  Also, making an image that's larger than your monitor SMALLER will never make it better quality.  Your monitor only has so many pixels.  Shrinking an image doesn't magically make more appear.
  
• Whenever possible, avoid ANYTHING stock.  This can be said for Rainmeter skins, program icons, program settings, and OS themes.  Your desktop is your own space, so make it reflect that in every way possible!
  
• Laziness will reward you with sub-par satisfaction and visuals.  If you spend hours a day on your computer, shouldn't it be as beautiful as it can be?  You wouldn't just throw pictures around onto your walls arbitrarily, would you?  Unless you have no sense of internal decor, and if you're arguing that, you're beyond help here...
  
• NEVER hesitate to ask questions.  If you've expended all resources provided in the aforementioned sections, there is no shame in admitting you don't know something.  We are all new to things at some point (even me)!
  
• Regardless of what anyone (including and especially me) tells you, however you want your desktop is exactly how it should be.  If you want a color scheme, theme and icon setup that someone doesn't agree with, that's their opinion, and you have yours.  Discuss it, and don't make anything personal.  
  
• Consistency is key!   If you use a gray or black theme for Win7, make your wallpaper, desktop, and icons reflect that.  If you can make a cohesive product, it will not only make you feel accomplished, but it will look rather sexy!
  
• Be resourceful.  If you think you can't find what you're looking for, you probably haven't tried hard enough.  There are thousands of themes, skins, and wallpapers at your disposal using the links above.  Get good at using them and you will be rewarded!
  
• Less is more.  Despite what you may think, having a ton of meters, clocks, etc. is absolutely unnecessary.  If you have a simple date/time/weather display, you don't need anything else (unless you use a laptop and would like a battery display).  Minimalism is in the now, and simplicity is (simply) beautiful.

RED FLAG: This is by far the single most important rule for everyone.  Never, EVER have icons, files, or program-launching icons on your desktop!  This is the most common and upsetting problem people have.  They're unsightly and unnecessary.

As of now, that is all the information necessary to get your desktop from stock and ugly to personal and awesome!  I am always accepting questions, suggestions, and extra information.  Thanks to Aeres for making the desktop threads on a monthly basis, thanks to all the people on all of the sites mentioned for making their content and allowing all of us to use what they have given us.
Have fun and remember, happy customizing!