I used to be able to customize my screen saver by just dragging the picture I wanted into the screen saver window. Now with Catalina I can't do that. I looked online but still couldn't find how to do it. Does anyone know how?

Clarification, please, Rita: screensaver or desktop?

Screen saver. It's a video of jelly fish. Thought it would be neat to see when the screensaver pops up. I tried putting it on the desktop too, but it just springs back to where I keep it.

Is it an actual screensaver or an ordinary video?

As far as I can tell, a screensaver must be in either a .saver or .qtz file format.

I don't think a .mp4 or other "regular" format video can be a screensaver.

If it's properly formatted, try dragging it to ~/Library/Screen Savers.

I was reading where people did use videos in that way, but I think it was .mov or mp4 or something like that. Oh, well, it's not that important. Thanks, Artie.


But,

Does this help? https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-use-video-as-screensaver-on-mac/

This? https://www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-mp4-to-screensaver-on-a-mac

A search on the App Store for video screensaver turned up at least 40 or more moving screensavers, some of which can use your video at prices ranging from free through a few dollars to in app purchases. A quick run through found these possibilities:

• Wallpaper Video ($0.99)
• Desktop Cinema ($5.99) will play your movie or stream movies from the internet
• Desktop Player ($0.99) will continue playing in background while using other apps
• Video Wallpaper ($1.99) looks very promising

NOTE: I have not personally tested any of these. My personal screensaver of choice is the Open Source Aerial because of the gorgeous Apple images it uses, including multiple jellyfish scenes, and its ability to span those images across two monitors.

Thanks, Joe. When I get a chance I will definitely look into the jelly fish scenes!

Hi Artie: Busy today, but I will look at your links when I can. Thanks.

I suspect the images of jellyfish are from the AppleTV screensaver. You can see them all here. Scroll down to Alaskan Jellies to see most of the jellyfish, but there are others in other ocean collections in the set. It is not a desktop, but all of these and more are available as part of the Aerial Screensaver which is a free Open-Source version of the AppleTV screensaver for Macs with even more images. As fascinating as the jellyfish are, many of the other images are stunningly three-dimensional and beautiful. The ones from China and Hawaii forests are breathtaking on a 4G monitor.

I don't know how to use them as a desktop -- yet --, but I am certain it is doable. The images download as JSON packages and I have no idea what the actual file format is.

I don't know how to use them as a desktop, but I am certain it is doable. The images download as JSON packages and I have no idea what the actual file type is. [/quote]

So, thank you? LOL!

Try the screensaver, it is free and I think you will like it.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your intent, you can take a command-option-3 screenshot of a running screensaver and turn it into a desktop by dropping the .png into ~/Pictures.

I went to the free site and I am assuming I download it and then pick the pictures I want? I've never seen anything like this.

Sorry! I meant command-shift-3 screenshot

There is a panoply of options. You download the sets of images you like, there are both Apple and non-Apple images available. Not only can you choose which sets to download, you can activate or deactivate sets as desired. I have two monitors and you can have different images on each monitor or a single image spread across both monitors. (I had never been interested in going to Catalina island until I saw Avalon spread across both monitors in beautiful color and 3D.) Images adapt to the time of day and show night images at night and day images during the day. I prefer this as a screensaver because the images would be too distracting as a desktop.

Well, as usual, I'm having a problem with the screensaver app. Is says it's installed but when I clicked "launch" nothing happened. Also, my Finder side bar has now disappeared. I checked my settings and it shows that I want to see my sidebar but now I can't.

I finally got it opened and picked a picture but can't figure out how to get it onto my screen. As you know, I get easily confused. And, I'm still concerned that I lost my side bar. I used that often in Finder.

OK, finally got my sidebar back by clicking on show toolbar. I'm done for now. Too much thinking for now. Thanks for the app recommendation though.