DreamRender is an alternative to DreamScene

DreamScene is an extra that ships with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate that allows users to replace a standard wallpaper with an animated one. Microsoft is offering several videos for use in DreamScene but users can select a compatible video from their hard drive and make that their screensaver instead.

The biggest shortcoming of DreamScene is that it is only available for Windows Vista Ultimate DreamRender looks like a promising candidate for everyone else who is not working with Windows Vista Ultimate. The interface is somewhat confusing and it took a while until I discovered how to add your own videos, pictures, sounds and textures to the application.

DreamRender ships with about a dozen animations. One click is sufficient to load that animation. This does not replace the original wallpaper of the system though. It overlays the animated wallpaper and the original wallpaper will appear if DreamRender is disabled.

To create a new animated wallpaper you need to click on the File > New menu in the settings. There you have the options to select a video, a picture, slideshows and several other backgrounds for your animated wallpaper. Just play around with it for a while and you should find your way.

For complete customization of your system DreamRender can apply textures and colors to your windows, make them transparent, and produce amazing effects every time you move your mouse.

If you ask me personally than I would have to say that animated wallpapers are a waste of time. They are confusing and a distraction if you work with the computer. Guess it’s ok as a screensaver but I would never add them permanently to my desktop and since I do not use a screensaver that option is no option as well.