Can I Customize the Look of a Break Message?

Updated

Yes. Break Message lets you change the background color, set a background image (from a URL or a local file), adjust the image size, and define a separate look for when you're past your return time. All of these are set on the same screen where you write your message and return time, so there's no separate settings page to hunt for.

What you can customize

Element What you control Notes
Colors Background color Set alongside the message and return time
Background image None, a URL, or a local file You can click to select a file or drag one in
Image size Size value for the background image Applies to whichever image source you chose
Message The text shown on screen Includes an example format like 12:34
Out-of-time appearance Separate colors and background image Used once the return time has passed

The "out of time" state is the part worth paying attention to. Rather than showing the same screen after your break ends, Break Message lets you give that state its own colors and background image, so anyone glancing at your screen can tell at a glance that you're overdue rather than still on break.

How to set it up

  1. Open Break Message and enter your message and return time.
  2. Pick your colors for the normal state.
  3. Choose a background image: leave it as None, paste a URL, or select/drag a local file.
  4. Set the image size if you want it scaled differently.
  5. Switch to the out-of-time options and set different colors and a background image for that state.
  6. Start the break. The screen shows your normal look until the return time passes, then switches to the out-of-time look.

Things to keep in mind

  • The return time is parsed by your browser, so accepted formats vary by browser. Military (24-hour) time in your local time zone generally works, and you can append a Z to use UTC.
  • The example formats shown are 12:34 for a message and 6:54:32 for a time, with -0:12:34 illustrating the out-of-time case.
  • Background images can come from a URL or a local file, so you don't need to host an image somewhere just to use it.

If you only need a plain notice, the defaults are fine. Customization is mainly useful when you want the screen to match your setup or to make the overdue state obvious without anyone reading the text.