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Preferences-Palettes and Backgrounds dialog box

How to get there

Choose Edit > and select Palettes and Backgrounds.

What it does

This category allows you to customize the appearance of all of Finale’s palettes as well as customize the background color. You can change the size and style of all the tool palettes and menu bars, as well as when you want them to appear based on the tool selected.

Size: Large • Medium • Small. You may want to change the size of your palettes from the default size to better fit within the area of your screen. You may also want to specify larger tool icons for higher quality graphics. Choose large for the highest quality graphics, which will display tool icons at 32x32 pixels. Choose medium for medium quality tool graphics, which will display at 26x26 pixels. Choose Small to specify the smallest tool size with minimal graphic quality. The small palette size will display the tool icons as they appeared in versions of Finale prior to Finale 2003. You must restart Finale before these new settings take effect.

Note. After changing palette size and restarting Finale, you may notice the palette configuration has reset on your screen. You will need to reconfigure the palettes so they fit optimally on your screen after resizing them in the Preferences.

Style.Click this drop-DOWN ARROW to choose from a variety of styles for your tool palettes. The number of options available in this drop-down list depends on the tool palette size selected. For example, the Traditional palette style is only available in the Small size.
Close Subsidiary Palettes When Leaving Tool. If this item is selected, Finale will close the Smart Shape Palette and Special Tools Palette whenever you change to another tool. If you prefer to leave the palettes displayed, deselect this checkbox.
Close Simple Entry Palette When Leaving Tool. When this item is selected. Finale will close the Simple Entry Palette whenever you change to another tool.
Show Rest Palette for Simple Entry. Select this option to display the rest palette for Simple Entry.
Document Window Background: Graphic File; Select • Default • Tile • Stretch • Solid Color; Select. Click the Select button for Graphic File to choose one of Finale's backgrounds to place behind the score, or to choose your own background graphic. Choose Tile to tile the background graphic. Choose Stretch to automatically stretch the graphic to fit the background area. Click the Select button for Solid Color to choose a solid color for your background.
Manuscript Texture: Graphic File; Select • Default • Tile • Stretch • Solid Color; Select. Click the Select button for Graphic File to choose one of Finale’s manuscript backgrounds to place behind the music, or to choose your own manuscript graphic. Click Default to use Finale’s default manuscript background. Choose Tile to tile the manuscript graphic. Choose Stretch to automatically stretch the graphic to fit the page area. Click the Select button for Solid Color to choose a solid color for your background.