Your digital device is an extension of yourself. So, why settle for generic wallpapers when you can create something that makes you feel great every time you glance at your screen?
With Microsoft Designer’s free wallpaper maker, that's exactly what you can do. Whether you want to showcase your favorite quote, create a calming nature scene, or design an abstract masterpiece, the wallpaper maker lets you show off every side of your personality and experiment with all your creative ideas.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through Designer’s wallpaper maker and show you how to get the best results. Get ready to start creating gorgeous wallpapers that reflect your style, interests, and mood!
How to use the wallpaper maker in Microsoft Designer
Ready to start creating your dream wallpaper? Follow these steps:
1. Access the wallpaper maker
- From the Microsoft Designer home screen, locate Create with AI and select Wallpapers.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account. (If you don't have one, create one for free here. It only takes a few seconds!)
2. Write a prompt from scratch or modify a prompt template
Microsoft Designer offers two ways to create your wallpaper:
1. Start with a prompt template:
This approach can be helpful if you're looking for inspiration or want a starting point to customize.
- Browse through the pre-existing templates in the Explore ideas section.
- Click on a design that catches your eye to modify the prompt that generated it.
2. Start from scratch:
If you have a clear vision or prefer full creative control, you can write your own prompt.
- In the prompt box, describe your desired wallpaper in detail. Include details like colors, style, mood, and featured elements.
- In the Size box, select a size (square, horizontal, or vertical).
3. Generate and preview wallpaper designs
- Click the Generate button. Designer will process your prompt and create several wallpaper variations for you to preview.
- Take your time to scroll through the options and select the one that resonates most with you.
- If you're not entirely satisfied with your wallpaper, click Generate again to get new variations based on the same prompt. And if the wallpaper still misses the mark after a couple rounds, modify your prompt and try again.
4. Download or customize your wallpaper
Happy with your wallpaper? Select Download.
Interested in customizing your wallpaper further? Select Edit.
Designer’s AI editing tools allow you to make customizations like:
- Use the sidebar tools to add text, shapes, or additional images.
- Adjust colors, fonts, and sizes to perfect your design.
- Use the cropping tool to focus on the most impactful part of the design.
- Experiment with filters to change the mood or style of your wallpaper.
- Fine-tune brightness and contrast so your wallpaper looks great on your device’s screen.
For our current wallpaper project, we can get rid of the whiteish halo around the tree using Generative Erase. Within Generative Erase, we’ll use Brush Select to paint over the halo and remove it.
The key to creating a great wallpaper is iteration. Don't be afraid to generate multiple designs and play with different customization options until you achieve the perfect look.
How to craft the perfect prompt
A well-written prompt can make the difference between a generic image and a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Effective prompts usually include the following elements:
- Subject: What's the main focus of your wallpaper?
- Style: How do you want it to look artistically?
- Colors: What color scheme are you envisioning?
- Mood: What feeling should the wallpaper evoke?
- Composition: How should elements be arranged?
Exampleprompt: A serene Japanese garden (subject) in watercolor style (style) with soft greens and pinks (colors), creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere (mood). The composition should be asymmetrical with a small pagoda in the lower right corner (composition).
Tips for describing visual styles
To make your prompt more specific, consider including some of the following terminology:
- Artterms: Mention specific art styles like impressionist, art deco, or pop art.
- Techniques: Describe techniques like brush strokes, pointillism, or geometric shapes.
- Materials: Even though it's digital, referencing materials like watercolor, oil paint, or colored pencil can inform the texture and appearance.
- Lighting: Terms like soft lighting, dramatic shadows, or golden hour glow can significantly impact the mood.
Include personal details in your prompt
To make your wallpaper truly unique, consider incorporating personal elements:
- Favoritethings: Include objects, animals, or symbols that are meaningful to you.
- Colorpreferences: Specify your favorite colors or color combinations.
- Meaningfullocations: Describe places that are special to you.
- Personalmantras: Include quotes or phrases that inspire you.
Wallpaper ideas and inspiration
Now that you know how to write the perfect prompt, let's explore some wallpaper ideas to spark your creativity. Remember, these are just starting points – feel free to adapt and personalize them to suit your unique style and preferences.
Nature-inspired wallpapers
Nature provides an endless source of inspiration for beautiful, calming wallpapers.
Prompt: A tranquil lake scene at sunset, with silhouetted pine trees reflected in still water. Use a gradient of warm oranges and purples in the sky, transitioning to cool blues in the water.
The results:
Cosmic wallpapers
Like nature scenes, celestial scenes are a time-tested way to soothe the soul.
Prompt: A starry night sky over a silhouetted mountain range. Include a large, detailed moon and the Milky Way stretching across the sky. Use deep blues and purples with twinkling white stars.
Theresults:
Abstract and artistic designs
For those who prefer non-representational art or unique visual experiences:
Prompt: A minimalist design with thin, intersecting lines creating an abstract cityscape. Use a single color like deep navy on a light gray background for a sophisticated look.
Theresults:
Prompt: An abstract composition inspired by city lights at night. Use geometric shapes in shades of blue, purple, and yellow on a deep black background. The style should be sleek and modern with a slight glow effect.
Theresults:
Seasonal and holiday themes
Celebrate the changing seasons or upcoming holidays with themed wallpapers.
Autumnprompt: A stack of books next to a window showing fall leaves outside. Include a steaming cup of coffee. Use warm, cozy colors like burgundy, orange, and brown.
The results:
Hobby and interest-based designs
Showcase your passions with wallpapers that reflect your interests.
Prompt: A flat lay composition of baking items including a whisk, rolling pin, and cookie cutters. Use a pastel color scheme with a focus on soft pinks and mint green. Add a sprinkle of illustrated flour for a whimsical touch.
The results:
These prompts are just starting points. Feel free to mix and match elements, change colors, or add personal touches to create wallpapers that truly resonate with you. The key is to experiment and have fun with the process!
3 tips for best results
To ensure your wallpapers look their best and function well on your devices, follow these tips:
Tip #1: Consider device specifications
Different devices have unique characteristics that can affect how your wallpaper looks and functions:
- Notches and punch-holes: For smartphones with notches or punch-hole cameras, avoid placing crucial elements in these areas. Try a prompt like: A starry night sky with a crescent moon positioned in the upper left corner [leaving space for a notch in the upper center].
- Widget areas: For devices that support widgets, design wallpapers that look good partially obscured. Try a prompt like: An abstract pattern of geometric shapes, more dense on the edges and sparser in the center to accommodate widgets.
- Aspect ratios: Different devices have different screen shapes. Ensure your design works for your specific device. For an ultrawide monitor, try: A panoramic mountain landscape stretching across a wide aspect ratio, with a misty lake in the foreground.
- Resolution: Always generate wallpapers at the highest resolution your device supports to ensure crispness. When in doubt, go larger – it's easier to scale down than to scale up.
Tip #2: Balance complexity and simplicity in your design.
The key to a great wallpaper is finding the right balance.
- Simple backgrounds for busy screens: If you have many apps or widgets, opt for simpler wallpapers. Try a prompt like: A minimal gradient background transitioning from soft pink to light blue, with subtle cloud-like textures.
- Complex designs for clean layouts: If you prefer a cleaner home screen, you can go for more detailed wallpapers. Try a prompt like: An intricate mandala design with fine details, using rich jewel tones on a dark background.
- Focal points: Include a clear focal point to draw the eye without overwhelming the screen. Try a prompt like: A minimalist landscape with a single, detailed tree silhouette against a simple gradient sky.
Tip #3: Create wallpapers that don't interfere with readability
Ensure your wallpaper enhances rather than hinders your device's usability.
- Contrast with text and icons: Create wallpapers that provide good contrast for app names and icons. Try a prompt like: An abstract dark background with subtle lighter patterns, ensuring readability of light-colored text and icons.
- Avoid busy areas where text appears: Keep areas where notification text appears relatively clear. Try a prompt like: A nature scene with a detailed forest at the bottom, transitioning to a clear, gradient sky in the upper half for notifications.
- Use vignettes: Darkening the edges of your wallpaper can help center focus and improve readability. Try a prompt like: A vibrant galaxy design with a subtle dark vignette effect, keeping the center brighter.
- Test with mock-ups: Before finalizing, test your wallpaper with mock-up icons and text to ensure readability. You can do this by adding simple shapes or text elements in Microsoft Designer to imitate icons and app names.
The perfect wallpaper strikes a balance between personal expression and functionality. Don't be afraid to generate multiple variations and test them out on your device to find the perfect fit!
Common issues and their solutions
Running into trouble creating your wallpaper? Let’s talk about common issues you might experience and their solutions.
Issue: The generated image doesn't match my prompt exactly.
Solution: AI interpretation can vary. Try these steps:
- Be more specific in your prompt. Instead of a beach scene, try a tropical beach scene with palm trees, turquoise water, and a small wooden pier.
- Experiment with different phrasings or synonyms.
Issue: The colors in my wallpaper look different on my device.
Solution: Screen calibration can affect color display.
- Try adjusting your device's display settings.
- Generate a few versions with slightly different color descriptions and test them on your device.
Issue: Text or important elements are cut off on my device.
Solution: Designate “safe” areas of your screen.
- Leave some padding around the edges in your design.
- Use prompts that create centralized designs or specify placement (for example, “...with the main element in the center of the image”).
Design your dream wallpaper with Microsoft Designer
The key to getting great results in Designer’s wallpaper maker is a willingness to experiment. The more designs you generate, the more you’ll get a feel for what kind of prompts and styles motivate and energize you.
Give Microsoft Designer’s free wallpaper maker today and start creating phone and desktop wallpapers that brighten your day (and screens) every time you see them!