gnomemultiple-desktopsmultiple-workstationswallpaper
I know this has been asked to death, but I can't get it to work. I'm trying to have multiple wallpapers (one different wallpaper per workspace) and I've done the whole Compiz wallpaper plugin set the images and then use Advanced Settings to have File Manager handle the desktop. And I still only get the one wallpaper I have set in system preferences.
Also it's worth mentioning that I'm using GNOME Shell, not Unity.
Here how:
I didn't take any credit from them so i am copy the link here:
http://my.opera.com/ubuntunerd1/blog/how-to-get-multiple-desktop-wallpapers-in-ubuntu-8-4-8-10
http://ubuntuguide.net/ubuntu-11-04-unity-enable-different-wallpapers-in-each-workspaces
After you added you images to /usr/share/backgrounds you need to open the Change Desktop Background dialog by right clicking in your desktop and selecting it.
After the dialog is open you can click the + to add the backgrounds you just copied to /usr/share/backgrounds
Add all the images you have in /usr/share/backgrounds, after you have done that you can select one and it will become your background.
If you are using 12.04 that same image will become the dynamic background for the Unity Greeter. If it does not follow the Setting the dynamic switching off section of How do I change the wallpaper in LightDM? except instead of actually switching it off you use the command
gsettings reset com.canonical.unity-greeter draw-user-backgrounds
has described in the answer.
Note to summarise:
Step 1: Add you custom wallpaper to `/usr/share/backgrounds
Step 2: Is conditional if you want your custom wallpaper to appear in the dynamic unity greeter (log in) in 12.04. Right click on your custom image and select "Properties" then select the Permissions tab. Navigate to the "Other" permission and change it from None to "Read-only". Note: If you don't do this Unity's default wallpaper will appear in Unity Greeter.
Step 3: Now you need to open the Change Desktop Background dialog by right clicking on your desktop and selecting it.
Step 4: After the dialog is open you can click the + to add the backgrounds you just copied to`/usr/share/backgrounds.
Step 5: Select your image to and change your desktop background`
Step 6: Log out and see the Unity Greeters background is your custom image
.
Best Answer
GNOME Shell uses Mutter not Compiz for its window manager & effects.
Thus this Q&A will not apply to you:
GNOME Shell does not accept Compiz effects - nor can you use Compiz as an alternative to mutter.
GNOME Shell workspaces are by design "static" with a single wallpaper serving all workspaces.
There are some potential ideas to give subtle variations in workspaces:
A YouTube video gives a mock-up of what this could look like:
The video talks about subtle variations in the workspace colours/overlays - not outright different wallpapers.
As you can see - these are ideas - whether this will turn into reality is speculation.