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Can I Use a Smart Folder As a Source Of Desktop Pictures?

I have tons of pictures in various categories: seasons, art, vehicles, etc. I’d like to be able to quickly change Desktop Pictures to fit my mood without having to move pictures from their normal folders or use an entire folder when there are only a few pictures in it I want to see.
If this can’t be done with SmartFolders, is there ANY way to do it?
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Kirk Edgar Aplin

Comments: 4 Responses to “Can I Use a Smart Folder As a Source Of Desktop Pictures?”

    11 years ago

    Why not try it and see? Report back and tell us how it worked.
    An alternative to creating a smart folder would be to just create a folder and use aliases. So make a normal folder. Then drag and drop files to it as aliases (hold down the option key while dragging). You can put as many aliases into the folder as you want without moving the original files. Then add that folder to your System Preferences, Desktop & Screen Saver, Desktop list.
    Or, alternatively, you can just have that folder somewhere convenient and open it up and Control+Click on a file and choose Set Desktop Picture.
    You could do the same in iPhoto by making an album. Then accessing that in the System Preferences list.

      Kirk Edgar Aplin
      11 years ago

      I tried. I placed "grouping" words in the Spotlight Comments for the desired pictures, and then created a Smart Folder whose search rule was Spotlight comment>contains>; in this case "xmas". I then accessed Desktop in System Preferences, but was not allowed to add the folder using drag & drop or the "+" button.

        11 years ago

        OK, so then use it as a regular folder and Control+Click on a file and set the picture that way. Or, use the folder of aliases idea.

    Kirk Edgar Aplin
    11 years ago

    Looks like folders containing aliases is going to be the most convenient solution. Thanks.

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