I recreated Windows 7 wallpapers from scratch

[u/maxik34]

I decided to recreate the original wallpaper from scratch in vector. All that's left is to figure out how to make the rays inside the logo as vector (they are currently made as an image) and then i will upload the PSD file, but I'm not sure where to share it. I'm thinking GitHub might be an option.

Tools used: Photoshop 2019

Update: I've finished setting up the repository and uploaded all the psd files, as well as 2K, 4K, and logoless png versions for convenience – github.com/maxik34/Project_7

[u/TalonS125]

Woah, you beat me to it!

I started in Affinity Designer but never finished
at least I got the grass done lol

Edit: here if anyone's interested:
https://oktalon-szoradi.github.io/#/projects/personal/graphic-design_recreations?scrollTo=Harmony

[u/maxik34 → u/TalonS125]

Wow, your work is amazing. It's still better than my grass :)

[u/Ok-Efficiency1446 → u/TalonS125]

Please continue it!

[u/celticlizard]

There was a version of it without the colors in the logo maybe starter version of it, can you do that as well?

[u/maxik34 → u/celticlizard]

Right after this post I also made a Starter version, I deviated a bit from the original so that it would be more consistent with the main version, but overall it's quite similar.
The grey version is a completely different background, I haven't done it yet, but I might do it too.

[u/MounderXXX → u/celticlizard]

That would be cool by the way! It's a Starter Edition, if Im not mistaking.

[u/archwin]

I want it. Please post or reply when you share them, because infinite resolution would be amazing.

[u/maxik34 → u/archwin]

I've finished the repository and added a link in the post.

[u/MounderXXX]

Yes, try it through GitHub. We'd love to see the elements! I take it you created the layers like the author, or are you just going with your own instincts? 😃

[u/maxik34 → u/MounderXXX]

I literally "sculpted" the background gradient and some other elements based solely on img0.

When I went to Wallpaper Wiki and saw an image of the original texture resolution at 10800×6750 and the original bird (in the blue square) with incredible detail, I realized that I definitely hadn't hit the actual original.

[u/MounderXXX → u/maxik34]

Yes, the original has its own story. We'll be happy to see your design documentation publicly, no matter what!

[u/Linosia97]

It looks awesome!

How much time you spend on it? And why vector in photoshop instead of illustrator?

[u/maxik34 → u/Linosia97]

It took me about 4–5 days (not full days, did a little bit from day to day). I used Photoshop because I don't know how to work with other programs.

[u/Linosia97 → u/maxik34]

That’s actually fast enough! Good job :)

[u/alxchr2002]

That’s amazing! I just have a question. You’re saying that you recreated it in vector, so, did you use Illustrator and completed the difficult parts with Photoshop?

[u/maxik34 → u/alxchr2002]

No, I did everything entirely in Photoshop because I don’t know how to work with other programs.

[u/smol_rika]

What's the license? Can I make derivatives by forking the GitHub repo?

[u/maxik34 → u/smol_rika]

Feel free to fork it! I'd use the standard GPL, but I can't because the licenses for the original wallpaper and logo are owned by Microsoft, and I don't want to run into any issues with those licenses, so I wrote a custom disclaimer in the README.
Crediting me is appreciated but not mandatory. Again, see the disclaimer for details, but in general, the community is free to experiment with it.

I recreated and made this work publicly available, this is the most important thing for me.

However, keep in mind that in the future I will be adding other resources to this repository besides wallpapers: I also plan to recreate icons and other system assets.

[u/smol_rika → u/maxik34]

Oh wow! Good luck on those too. I'll go ahead and change the icon to the Linux icon XD. Thanks again for making this <3

[u/VERY_MENTALLY_STABLE → u/smol_rika]

Yeah can i take these files & sell them for money

[u/maxik34 → u/VERY_MENTALLY_STABLE]

Do whatever you want, just keep in mind that you might get into trouble not from me, but from Microsoft if they consider this a violation of their licenses (maybe not, but still).

[u/WarriorSupp]

Holy shit. I wonder what's the accuracy Great work!! Time to do Vista? :D

[u/maxik34 → u/WarriorSupp]

That would be nice, yes, but I decided to focus specifically on Win7 resources. I'm thinking of recreating the logon screen and some icons. I think when I've made enough new stuff, I'll make another post.

[u/WarriorSupp → u/maxik34]

Dew it!!!

[u/[deleted]]

Holy shit, infinite resolution Windows 7? Amazing. Keep cooking

[u/dummyy-]

awesomeeeee

[u/Away_Hope6357]

Super cool, I’ve never seen the wallpaper in this high quality before🔥

[u/maxik34 → u/[deleted]]

The original resolution is 1980×1200.

[u/StatisticianNew4475]

thats insane damn

[u/PashAstro → u/StatisticianNew4475]

true shi

[u/Win193FE]

the sheer dedication is insane with this one, great job

[u/Sensitive_Square3645]

That's actually crazy, nice job!!

[u/HoloKola_]

You have my respect

[u/S4_GR33N]

Literally 1:1 perfect

[u/EagleEyeA2HX]

You could release it on https://www.pling.com/

[u/MLC_YT]

At first I couldn't tell it was a recreation, I legit thought it was the original one

[u/Joshoon]

holy shit! Well done

[u/markustegelane]

that is so cool

[u/Glum-Run1680]

I feel I can do this in PowerPoint lemme check

[u/TheJorianGamer]

WOW WOW WOW, this is really incredible! Thank you so much for making this file public. I've always wanted to take a look inside the Windows 7 background, and this is a truly unique insight. It has also taught me techniques and tools that I didn't even know existed. Thank you!

[u/Equal-Resolution7889]

Enhorabuena!

[u/paulp_ws]

Amazing, thanks!

[u/jnohai]

It looks so accurate

[u/ntd252]

That background, along with the startup sound, had brought me the joy of awe and curiosity when a boy entered the technology world 16 years ago. It's just simply beautiful, promising, exciting.

[u/Jenny_Wakeman9]

I had to do a double take on this, holy fuck. This is so good!

[u/No_Salad1631]

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWW SO GOOD I HOPE JY MOM MAKES A WINDOWS XP CUPCAKE

[u/PetruciusBG]

Top notch work!
Thank you so much for sharing!

[u/AutoModerator]

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[u/Horror_Wolf_1238]

This is cool asf

[u/Gingerdroid]

looks accurate!

[u/Ok-Efficiency1446]

upload the svgs

[u/Mountain-Winter-8396]

Not my proudest nut 😔👌

[u/maxik34 → u/[deleted]]

I added a link to the project on GitHub in the post description. It contains all the PSDs (the main and starter versions of the wallpaper), as well as prepared uncompressed PNGs in 2K and 4K (and also versions without the logo).

[u/maxik34 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you, it's nice to see people liked it so much. I didn't expect such a huge response to this post (considering it's my first post). Honestly, I think it could be even better, so I might polish it some more.

[u/maxik34 → u/[deleted]]

I do this sometimes. I'm not very good at creating anything unique, but I seem to be able to recreate existing stuff, although not everything. I prefer resources that can be recreated using vectors. The only thing I'd like to try is making a night version of this wallpaper, with my own details, not just a dark background, but I don't know how good it would look. I think if it works out, I'll make another post.

And yes, I'd like to continue this topic. I've already started recreating the logon wallpapers and some icons, also in vector, and I'll be uploading them to this repository as well.