workspaces should use actual background image

[the ringmaster]

I am using a wallpaper that I have downloaded and modified with text. I would like for the workspaces applet to show this wallpaper in the preview window provided. Otherwise, how do i know which workspace is which?

[humdinger]

Personally, I'm not sure showing the background images would be that useful. For one, if you actually use different workspaces, the background will be largely obscured by windows. Not showing the bachground images also feels a bit cleaner IMO. Then, how do you decide to what workspace you switch to or move a window to? Probably not thinking "Hmmm... Ricci, Knightley or Portman...?". :)

I usually keep workspaces spacially in mind, i.e. nr.1 is left, nr. 2nd from left, nr.3 3rd, nr.4 4th. You can quickly switch from space to space with CTRL+ALT+CursorLeft/Right.
It's also useful to mentally assign topics for workspaces, like
nr.1: net-things - web, mail, irc
nr.2: coding - Paladin, BeBook
nr.3: file managing - Tracker windows
nr.4: empty - misc. stuff you quickly start, do stuff, and quit again

[anevilyak]

Agreed, that plus at the size the wallpaper would get downscaled to for workspaces, it'd probably lose whatever details you were intending to convey with the text anyways.

[axeld]

It could be done optionally for those who want it. Won't look good, though, since the windows still won't be shrinked versions of their originals :-)

[Meanwhile]

@ the ringmaster: to keep them apart, you could choose a background colour that matches the main colour of the background image that lies "on top" of it. In most cases that would work, I think. These colours are visible in the workspaces applet. Of course, this doesn't work if your background image is extremely and evenly colourful throughout (i.e. very funky).

[jstressman]

something like this.