Customizing the Root Window with `xsetroot'

The xsetroot client lets you:

The xsetroot client has the syntax:

   xsetroot  [options]

where options are:

-help: Prints a summary of the command usage.
-def: Resets unspecified root window attributes to their default values.
-cursor path/cursor path/mask: Specifies the cursor bitmap and mask bitmap to use for the root window cursor.
-bitmap path/bitmap: Specifies a bitmap file with which to tile the root window.
-mod x y: Specifies a modular grid of dimensions x by y in the foreground color, making a plaid pattern.
-gray: Specifies gray (or grey) for the color of the root window.
-fg color: Specifies color as the foreground color.
-bg color: Specifies color as the background color.
-rv: Swaps foreground and background colors.
-solid color: Specifies the root window should be colored a solid color.
-display host:display.screen: Specifies the host, display number, and screen number of the root window to change.

For example, the following command changes the workspace cursor using two custom bitmaps located in directory $HOME/bits.

   xsetroot -cursor ~/bits/shuttle.bm ~/bits/mask.bm

Technical documentation