OS/2 FAQ List: User's Edition (4 Apr 94)

(5.8) Displaying Background Bitmaps

My background bitmap does not display correctly.  What's wrong?

Color bitmap images used for the Workplace Shell screen or folder 
backgrounds may not display correctly (may have distorted or missing 
colors) due to incorrect matching with OS/2's default palette.  Unlike 
Windows, OS/2 does not adjust the palette to accommodate background 
bitmaps (to keep the rest of the desktop from experiencing color 
distortions).  (Palette control is now available to applications running 
under the 32-bit graphics engine with an appropriate display driver, 
however.)

To remedy the problem you may use the numerous background images which 
have been specifically prepared for the Workplace Shell [available from 
(3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources] or you may use an image 
editing/conversion utility which can create a proper, system 
palette-matched bitmap file.  For example, JoeView [available from (3.2) 
Shareware and Freeware Sources] may be used to import noninterlaced GIF, 
Windows BMP, and PCX files and save them as palette-matched OS/2 BMP 
files.

Note that background bitmap images impose some additional overhead, taking 
up RAM and disk resources.  You should probably use them sparingly.  Also, 
if you have set a Win-OS/2 background bitmap you may experience desktop 
color distortions when running Windows programs "seamlessly."  Disable the 
Win-OS/2 background bitmap to remedy the problem.

Related information:

(2.2) SuperVGA Support 
(3.2) Shareware and Freeware Sources

Inf-HTML End Run - Successful