If you’re a Linux user who wants a powerful yet simple way to change your desktop wallpaper automatically, then Wallch (short for Wallpaper Changer), might be worth a look. Wallch is designed for those running the GNOME desktop (both the GNOME 2.x or 3.x series are supported), and is incredibly easy to configure and use.
First, you’ll want to head over to the Wallch website.
Once there, click the large green button to find the correct download for your system.
You’ll be taken through a few different pages; available are Debian/Ubuntu installers, as mentioned for both GNOME 2.x and 3.x systems, as well as a standard Gzip archive. In this instance, we’ve downloaded the GNOME 2.x Debian installer. First, we’ll need to launch the installer.
If you use GDebi (as we did in the example screenshot above and the one below), you’ll be able to install Wallch along with all its required dependencies. You can also read some features in the description itself, as seen below.
Once the installation is complete, you’ll find Wallch in the Applications menu under Accessories.
Launching Wallch will take you to one of the configuration screens.
From here, you can add individual images or entire folders. You can also determine how long individual wallpaper images will be shown (or select the option to pick a random interval), as well as the order the images are used. You can also (assuming the proper hardware is available and your webcam properly working), use the Wallch interface to take a webcam photo or a screenshot for use as your wallpaper.
Under the Edit menu you’ll find options for History, Extras and Preferences. The History option (not shown here), displays your previous images used, while the Extras and Preferences show different options for you to use.
Under Extras you’ll first find the Live Earth Wallpaper option.
If launched, this has the ability to use a “live” image (updated every 30 minutes), of the actual conditions around the globe as your wallpaper. An Internet connection is required for this feature.
Next is the Lock Screen Background option.
If you have your system configured to automatically lock the screen when your system is idle for a certain amount of time, Wallch can configure the background for the window that appears when you wake your system.
Finally you have the Wallch Preferences. This is a bit of a misnomer, since in reality all Wallch offers is preferences (the main configuration window and the Extras could all easily fall under the “Preferences” umbrella).
Here you can choose to set Wallch to launch at startup, as well as to minimize to your system tray when minimized (or closed).
You can also set the default behavior for images that don’t perfectly match your screen’s dimensions, as well as the program’s interface language. You can configure how Wallch keeps your history, and set up notification preferences. If you want, you can see a notification every time your wallpaper is changed as well as hear a sound. Or you can choose not to receive notifications. It’s up to you.
Wallch is very customizable, yet can be used very simply as well. If you keep your favorite images in a single folder, add it to Wallch (which supports JPG, PNG, GIF and BMP images), and Wallch will cycle through them in order. Add multiple folders or images, or use any of the more advanced features. Wallch is as simple or complex as you want it to be.