Displaying file name of desktop wallpaper on desktop

Question

I'm running Ventura (macOS 13.2) on an M1 MacBook Pro. I typically use five desktops (spaces). I have the desktop wallpaper on each to randomly change from a specified folder every hour. Everything works.

What I'd like to do is superimpose the file name of the wallpaper image on the desktop it's being displayed on. I know this can be done, because the Particulars applet (freeware by Fraser Hess) does this, as does an older wallpaper manager, Change Desktop.

I think I could use an AppleScript or Shortcut to get the file name, but I don't know how to display it (overlay) on the image. Any ideas?

Answer 1

You can use GraphicsMagick to add the filename to the image.

Below is a “one liner” that will get the job done.

for f in *.jpg; do bname=$(basename $f .jpg); \
fname=${bname}-wp.jpg; \ 
gm convert $f xc:”white” \
-draw “text 10,10 ‘${fname}’ $fname; done

I’ve separated the commands on different lines for readability. You can put it all on one line by removing the backslashes. You can also cut/paste as is and it will execute in your shell.

This command does the following:

• parses through all of the JPEG files (.jpg) in a directory. If you use a different format (PNG, for example), just change the extensions as necessary

• it obtains the basename of the file without the extension (bname)

• it then creates a new filename (fname) with the “-wp” for “wallpaper” appended to it (Eg. image-wp.jpg)

• the gm convert command draws the text, sourced from the variable fname in white at XY coordinates 10,10 on the image

• it saves the new image leaving the original untouched.

Answer 2

I have managed to find an answer. It utilizes a combination of tools, but it works. Since I don't like answered questions to remain unanswered, here's my solution. May it help others.

Here's what I used:

• Shell script
• Shortcuts (included with macOS)
• Plash (freeware, available on the App Store)
• launchd (via launchctl)

Using the Shortcuts program, I started with a "run shell script" action that did a sqlite3 lookup into Apple's database holding the file names of wallpaper images. I then captured the result into a variable. Next, I added a text field that contained web directives as specified by Plash*. Then I replaced a placeholder text with the contents of the variable. Finally, I wrote out the contents to a local file called "index.html." This is the file Plash looks for when one specifies a "local website."

Then, I needed a way to update the overlay as images are changed. I wrote a two-line shell script to both run the Shortcut and then reload the Plash image.

Finally, I created a plist in my $HOME/Library/LaunchAgents folder to call the two-line script every ten minutes and loaded it via launchctl.

I may tweak the output display a bit, but the core operation is now established!

One thing just occurred to me that might make it even easier: Create a Shortcut that can live in my menu bar that replaces the plist/launchd automation, allowing me to update my overlay when I wish.

*Plash is a nifty piece of freeware created by Sindre Sorhus {https://sindresorhus.com}. It's feature-filled and the author is very responsive! There is a wealth of information about Plash on GitHub {https://github.com/sindresorhus/Plash}