Published on January 15, 2010 By Island Dog In WinCustomize News

This week a new beta of DeskScapes 3 was released.  Current users can update to the beta using Impulse, just make sure you have show pre-release versions checked.

New features and updates:

  • Folder based filtering in the filter bar
  • Include sub-folders when adding folders
  • Install background now allows you to pick a .themepack (MS Win 7 theme files) and will extract the wallpapers so you can make use of them.
  • Random .dream option
  • Various UI tweaks
  • Four new effects (black & white, edge enhance, canvas texture, paper texture)
  • Desktop icon transparency control
  • Multiple monitor support where you can pick a different background per monitor (Win7/Vista only)

DS multmode DS all mon mode


Comments (Page 3)
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on Jan 18, 2010
"If you have multiple gpus then you only need to set a copy on the non primary adapter. If the primary is running two screens then setting both to the same dream would be more efficient than setting a copy to each." Assuming you wanted the exact same image playing on both screens in sync. As for me, I want each of three monitor to be playing a different instance of PhotoDream. 8)
on Jan 18, 2010
The Watercolor Dream is not working at all. The same behavior happened with previous betas if one tries to turn on an effect with any dream other than a video dream. They all choke the same way...re: black screen on monitor, still on preview. But in this case, the preview works for Watercolor Dream, but it doesn't work on any monitor or combination thereof. 8(
on Jan 18, 2010
Fences is now working with this update.
on Jan 19, 2010

I have three monitors, 2 GPUs (1 is built in / ATI surround view). Monitors 1 + 2 are on PCI-E card, 3 is built in.

If I try to make 3 different than 1 + 2 I get an Unable to play dream error: Unable to start DirectX on your machine. Please try rebooting and if this continues try updating your video drivers. After the error 1 + 2 show but 3 doesn't.

If I change monitor 2 leaving 1 + 3 the same It applies but monitor 2 flickers between both DeskScapes. And after I am have problems changing them all back. Selecting all monitors does not change monitor 2 and when I do change it and apply it is still flickering to the old DeskScapes. Disabling DeskScapes and changing all again seems to fix it. During the above I also ran into problems with config stop responding.

Windows 7 x64
ATI/PowerColor 5750
ATI Radeon HD 3200 Built in Latest Drivers 2009.12 (without hotfix)

Your computer has a Windows Experience Index base score of 5.9 Your Windows Graphics Experience score is 7.2 DeskScapes appears to be activated on this PC DeskScapes engine appears to be running (Generic PnP Monitor) 1 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series (Generic PnP Monitor) 2 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series () 3 is attached to ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series Deskscape.dll 2010/01/15 11:19:01 Deskscapes.dll 2009/11/02 10:01:35 DreamControl32.dll 2009/11/09 09:43:17 DeskscapesConfig.exe 2010/01/15 11:19:50 UI\Deskscape.dll 2010/01/11 17:27:33 UI\DeskscapesVideo.dll 2009/11/02 10:01:54 DreamTasks.exe 2009/11/09 12:51:57 DeskscapesVideo.dll 2010/01/11 17:27:22

Edit:  I should add if I leave all 3 monitors the same it works like expected on all 3.  Also, I still have problems making the 3RD monitor different if I am using all static jpeg wallpapers not just DeskScapes.

Edit: Can anybody explain why my line returns where in this post (I had to re-insert them)?

on Jan 19, 2010

I am also experiencing problems with video playback in XBMC until I pause DeskScapes.

on Jan 19, 2010

It sounds like your HD 3200 isn't up to running the dreams when in surround view mode.

on Jan 19, 2010

Regarding the black snow, we have been able to reproduce this on nvidia boards and there should be a fix in the next build.  This should also deal with the preview UI crashing out sometimes when using snow again on nvidia boards.

on Jan 19, 2010

Thank you for the update Neil. 

on Jan 19, 2010

Neil Banfield
It sounds like your HD 3200 isn't up to running the dreams when in surround view mode.

Thanks Neil,

I should have added, if I leave all 3 monitors the same it works like expected on all 3.  Also, I still have problems making the 3RD monitor different if I am using all static jpeg wallpapers not just DeskScapes.

Sorry for my limited understanding I assumed my 5750 would be doing the work not the HD 3200.

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