xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

       Mark Lillibridge, MIT Project Athena

X Version 11                                     xsetroot 1.1.3                                      XSETROOT(1)

       The xsetroot program allows you to  tailor  the  appearance  of  the  background  ("root")  window  on  a
       workstation display running X.  Normally, you experiment with xsetroot until you find a personalized look
       that  you  like,  then put the xsetroot command that produces it into your X startup file.  If no options
       are specified, or if -def is specified, the window is reset to its default state.  The -def option can be
       specified along with other options and only the  non-specified  characteristics  will  be  reset  to  the
       default state.

       Only one of the background color/tiling changing options (-solid, -gray, -grey, -bitmap, and -mod) may be
       specified at a time.

       xsetroot - root window parameter setting utility for X

       The various options are as follows:

       -help  Print a usage message and exit.

       -version
              Print a version message and exit.

       -def,-default
              Reset unspecified attributes to the default values.  (Restores the background to the familiar gray
              mesh and the cursor to the hollow x shape.)

       -cursorcursorfilemaskfile
              This lets you change the pointer cursor to whatever you want when the pointer cursor is outside of
              any  window.   Cursor  and  mask  files  are  bitmaps  (little pictures), and can be made with the
              bitmap(1) program.  You probably want the mask file to be all black until you get used to the  way
              masks work.

       -cursor_namecursorfontname
              This  lets  you  change  the  pointer  cursor to one of the standard cursors from the cursor font.
              Refer to appendix B of the X protocol for the names (except that the XC_ prefix is elided for this
              option).

       -xcfcursorfilecursorsize
              This lets you change the pointer cursor  to  one  loaded  from  an  Xcursor  file  as  defined  by
              libXcursor, at the specified size.

       -bitmapfilename
              Use  the  bitmap  specified  in  the file to set the window pattern.  You can make your own bitmap
              files (little pictures) using the bitmap(1) program.  The entire background will  be  made  up  of
              repeated "tiles" of the bitmap.

       -modxy
              This  is  used if you want a plaid-like grid pattern on your screen.  x and y are integers ranging
              from 1 to 16.  Try the different combinations.  Zero and negative numbers are taken as 1.

       -gray,-grey
              Make the entire background gray (Easier on the eyes).

       -bg,-backgroundcolor
              Use ``color'' as the background color.

       -fg,-foregroundcolor
              Use ``color'' as the foreground color.  Foreground and background colors are  meaningful  only  in
              combination with -cursor, -bitmap, or -mod.

       -rv,-reverse
              This  exchanges  the foreground and background colors.  Normally the foreground color is black and
              the background color is white.

       -solidcolor
              This sets the background of the root window to the specified color.  This option is only useful on
              color servers.

       -namestring
              Set the name of the root window to ``string''.  There is no default  value.   Usually  a  name  is
              assigned  to  a window so that the window manager can use a text representation when the window is
              iconified.  This option is unused since you can't iconify the background.

       -d,-displaydisplay
              Specifies the server to connect to; see X(7).

X(7), xset(1), xrdb(1), Xcursor(3)

xsetroot  [-help]  [-version]  [-def]  [-display  display]  [-cursor  cursorfilemaskfile] [-cursor_name
       cursorfontname] [-xcf cursorfilecursorsize] [-bitmap filename | -mod xy | -gray | -grey | -solid color]
       [-bg color] [-fg color] [-rv] [-name string] [-d display]