Backgrounds

Backgrounds are special images designed to decorate one's player card. When placed on, they are located behind your penguin. They were first available on May 30, 2006. They are always available to all players if it is found in the Snow and Sports catalog or the Penguin Style catalog. Backgrounds can be bought in Penguin Style, Costume Trunk, Snow and Sports Catalogs and sometimes on Party Catalogs for 60 coins each. Most backgrounds can be obtained by both members and non-members, but a few backgrounds (such as the Coral Reef Background) are members only. This means that in order to obtain all backgrounds you need to be a member as well. In every new sport, costume and clothing catalog, Club Penguin either releases a new background or brings back an old one.

If you meet Rookie,  Rockhopper, the Penguin Band, Gary, Cadence, Aunt Arctic, or Sensei they will give you a signed background when you click on a special button on their player card. Also, players can obtain backgrounds by completing Scavenger Hunts such as The Band's Instrument Hunt, Light Bulb Hunt, Easter Scavenger Hunts and Halloween Candy Hunts.

Backgrounds can also be bought in the Costume Trunk at The Stage ever since the encore of the Space Adventure play.

When Rockhopper is at Disney World, a code is given and you can unlock the Exclusive Background online.

This means that all backgrounds are either bought, given out free, or unlocked.

Trivia

 * The rarest backgrounds are The Penguin Band's '06 Background (Probably the rarest, only obtained from finding all the bands instruments after they lost them during the first Wild West party), Rockhopper's, Gary's, The Penguin Band's Newer Background, Aunt Arctic's, Cadence's, Sensei's, Rookie's and the Unlockable Exclusive Background.
 * The only secret backgrounds are the Noir Background, the Penguin Awards Background, and the Balcony Background in the Costume Trunk during the Ruby and the Ruby play, the Penguin Play Awards 2009, and the A Humbug Holiday, respectively.
 * On newer backgounds, there is a shady part under where your player is standing. Some of the oldest Backgrounds does not have this part.
 * Before 2009, three Backgrounds were released in the Penguin Style. Then, from unknow reason, four Backgrounds were released each month.