Render Above Desktop?
Saturday, November 21, 2009 by Rushing Zephyr | Discussion: Fences
I know there's some sort of layering thing going on in Windows... Fences seems to render on the desktop level. Is it possible to render above that level?
You see, I'm using some free software called Screen2Dream to render a screensaver as my desktop background. When I do this, my Fences and all my other desktop icons are hidden underneath the screensaver. Fences would be that much more useful for me if it could render on top of this screensaver that has been applied as my background. Objectdock is able to do it, as well as some software known as Avedesk.
Reply #2 Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:25 PM
It appears to be a limitation of all screensaver-as-wallpaper software's I've seen. You've recommended Deskscapes, however it is not the same. If it can display screensavers as wallpaper, I will buy it.
Reply #3 Sunday, November 29, 2009 10:57 AM
And when you're not using Fences, what happens to your desktop icons? It's my understanding Fences doesn't actually DO anything to your desktop icons except rearrange them. If they don't display with Fences, they won't display without it.
Nathanael
Reply #4 Tuesday, May 11, 2010 4:17 PM
It is true that even without Fences, my desktop icons are covered up by setting a screen-saver to the desktop level. Programs like Rainlendar, Objectdock, or even Windows Gadgets render above the desktop layer... therefore they aren't covered up by the screen-saver-as-wallpaper. If only there were an option in Fences to render above the desktop level... this would solve my (and many others) issue.
I can't fault Fences for not rendering above the desktop layer... but to have an option to render above desktop would prove invaluable for a large percentage of people who want to display a screensaver as their wallpaper. You can find plenty of youtube videos of people doing just that... they all have the same problem - they lose their desktop icons.
Here's a screen of my desktop with my fish tank screen-saver 
http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/8282/desktopst.jpg
I have fences running, but you can see how no icons are visible.
Reply #5 Wednesday, May 12, 2010 1:43 PM
Most likely the screen saver app is drawing in the same place that Fences is. It is unlikely that these apps will be compatible.
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Reply #1 Saturday, November 21, 2009 9:06 PM
That sounds like a limitation of Screen2Dream.
You might want to try Stardock Deskscapes instead which allows animated wallpapers and does correctly handle desktop icons.