Switch to JXL format for Default Wallpaer
Summary
The default Fedora wallpaper will switch from PNG to JXL format.
Owner
- Name: Luya Tshimbalanga
- Email: luya@fedoraproject.org
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora Linux 42
- Last updated: 2025-02-08
- [<link to devel-announce post will be added by Wrangler> Announced]
- [<will be assigned by the Wrangler> Discussion thread]
- FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
- Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
- Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
Detailed Description
For a long time, the default Fedora wallpaper used PNG format to preserve the integrity of the design. The drawback is the large file size for packaging and for the time of day animation. The Design team switched to JXL to address the issue drastically saving the size of the media while maintaining the quality of the wallpapers.
Feedback
Benefit to Fedora
- The size of the default wallpaper is drastically reduced when using JXL format compared to PNG. An example is on this [Fedora 42 Default Wallpaper ticket](https://gitlab.com/fedora/design/team/release-artwork/default-wallpaper/-/issues/21#note_2306684940) showing both versions for comparison.
Scope
- Proposal owners:
The Design team switch the format from PNG to JXL format for the default wallpaper on Fedora Workstation and Spin variants.
- Other developers:
- Release engineering: #Releng issue number
- Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Alignment with the Fedora Strategy:
Upgrade/compatibility impact
No major impact for desktop environment supporting JXL format. If needed, convert JXL to JPEG as fallback.
Early Testing (Optional)
Do you require 'QA Blueprint' support? Y/N
How To Test
1. Up to date Fedora Linux 41 Workstation and variants (spins included). 2. Enable [COPR repository](https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/g/design-suite/fxx-backgrounds/) from @design-suite/fxx-backgrounds. 3. For Workstation Edition and variants like Cinammon spin and Design Suite, install both f42-backgrounds-base and f42-background-gnome using the command sudo dnf install f42-backgrounds-{base,gnome}. 4. For KDE Edition and variants, install both f42-backgrounds-base and f42-background-kde using the command sudo dnf install f42-backgrounds-{base,kde} 5. For XFCE and variants, install both f42-backgrounds-base and f42-background-xfce using the command sudo dnf install f42-backgrounds-{base,xfce} 6. For Budgie Edition, install both f42-backgrounds-base and f42-background-budgie using the command sudo dnf install f42-backgrounds-{base,budgie} 7. For MATE and variants like Design Suite, install both f42-backgrounds-base and f42-background-mate using the command sudo dnf install f42-backgrounds-{base,mate}
User Experience
The change is invisible for the uses with lower footprint.
Dependencies
None.
Contingency Plan
Revert to PNG format.
- Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
- Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No
Documentation
N/A (not a System Wide Change)