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EnglishWhat wallpaper types can you create with Equinox?
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Equinox is a free, open-source macOS app for building dynamic wallpapers, and it offers three wallpaper types: Solar, Time, and Appearance. Each one changes your desktop picture according to a different trigger, so the right choice depends on what you want to control: the sun's position, a schedule you set, or your Mac's light/dark mode.
The three wallpaper types at a glance
| Type | What drives the change | Images you need | Best suited for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar | Position of the sun in the sky, based on solar calculations | A set of images mapped to sun positions | Wallpapers that feel tied to real daylight hours |
| Time | Time intervals you choose | A set of images mapped to your chosen times | Predictable, schedule-based changes |
| Appearance | System appearance (light or dark mode) | Two images: one for light mode, one for dark mode | Matching your wallpaper to macOS light/dark switching |
How each type works
Solar
Equinox performs solar calculations so the desktop picture changes throughout the day based on where the sun is. The site describes a calculator step where you select a location (with drag-and-drop support), so the timing of the changes follows that location's sun position rather than a fixed clock schedule.
Choose Solar if you want the wallpaper to track natural daylight — for example, a landscape that brightens at sunrise and dims toward evening without you setting any times.
Time
Time-based wallpapers change according to intervals you pick. Instead of sun calculations, you decide when each image should appear. This is the most predictable option: if you want a specific image at wake-up, another at the workday, and another at night, Time lets you define that directly.
Appearance
Appearance wallpapers switch with system appearance and require exactly two images — one for light mode and one for dark mode. This is the simplest setup and pairs naturally with macOS's automatic light/dark switching. If you already use dark mode on a schedule, your wallpaper will follow along.
Choosing between them
- Want the wallpaper to feel connected to the real world? Use Solar and set your location.
- Want full control over when each image appears? Use Time.
- Want a minimal setup that follows macOS light/dark mode? Use Appearance with two images.
The site notes that all creation happens locally, and you can set the wallpaper right after creating it. Equinox is listed as free and open-source, available on GitHub and the Mac App Store, with optional support via PayPal — the page does not describe paid tiers, ads, or watermarks, and user reviews on the site specifically praise it for being free without premium features.