When should a desktop mockup include wallpaper?

Put it into practice

1. Decide whether operating-system context is relevant.
2. Compare a desktop scene with a focused window.
3. Keep wallpaper contrast lower than the main interface.

What this looks like

A detail to keep clear

A desktop scene should not imply support for an operating system that the product lacks.

Using MockupX

Browser framing communicates that the image shows a web product. Choose the browser appearance and adjust image sizing in MockupX, but use the original screenshot to decide which content matters. Decorative browser chrome does not make the underlying interface interactive.

Check the result

Keep the original screenshot, then review the exported file at the size where people will see it. Check the message, the visible interface and the final crop separately. For a handoff, record the destination and the approved file so another person can distinguish the final version from a draft.

References and further reading

Use the official references for format behavior and current destination requirements. The composition advice above is a practical design approach, not a promise of platform approval.