Screen Mask

[Clive]

Am after something which will allow me to mask all of a screen except for the part (define-able area) needing to be read. Would be good if transparency adjustment was included along with a color picker. I have tried Zorro and found it buggy on my Win7 system.
Not sure if this will be a simple task. No programming knowledge so apologies in advance if this doesn't fit here. Thanks in advance to anyone out there tempted by this idea.

[jgpaiva]

How about Ghoster?

[Clive]

That looks promising. Is it possible to set hot keys to activate & deactivate?
Thanks for pointing this one out.

[tomos]

That looks promising. Is it possible to set hot keys to activate & deactivate?
Thanks for pointing this one out.

here's the last post in the related thread
http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=326.msg253618#msg253618
Might be worth posting there (as well)

[Clive]

Thanks for your help tomos & jgpaiva. Of course thanks to Skrommel et al for their work in creating this elegant piece of software.

[badonodab]

Tunnelvision is the best I've ever found for this purpose. It hasn't been improved since 2005, but it works well.

http://www.cockos.com/tunnelvision/

[Clive]

Thanks for taking the time to point this solution out. I gave it a whirl & it doesn't seem to have the ability to adjust "opening size" on the fly so not so good for my needs.

[badonodab]

I think it's a good start though. Too bad it's abandonware. Some trick with the mouse scroll wheel controlling the "opening size" would have made it faster and easier to use. That's the same reason I don't use it.

[pilgrim]

Clive,

Did you try the installer or the portable version of Zorro?

I have the x64 portable version on Windows 7 Pro and it is working without problems.

[Clive]

I used the Zorro installer. I'll give the portable version a shot. Thanks for the suggestion.

Clive

[Clive]

I've been doing this for my partner (migraine sufferer) & I didn't quite understand what she wanted. Which was to simply dim the whole screen. So now I'm using DeskTop Lighter. Apart from not being able to return to the default (calibrated) setting it fits the bill. Thanks everyone for your support.

Clive

[kip]

Clive, if you want to dim the whole screen may I suggest trying DarkScreen - http://www.fxc.btinternet.co.uk/assistive.htm
Variable screen dimming and simply close to return to your previous settings.

[Clive]

Thanks Kip. Sorry I've taken a while to respond. Appreciate your suggestion. DarkScreen & other apps at this site were most helpful.

[IainB]

@Clive: You might find f.lux of use, from http://stereopsis.com/flux/
It apparently effects a change in certain brain chemicals that affect sleep patterns, so it could make a difference to migraine sufferers. Suck it and see.

Notes on sleep pattern research. here: http://stereopsis.com/flux/research.html

I'm finding it quite useful - less glary laptop screen. Too early to say yet whether it is affecting my sleep pattern.

[badonodab]

Thanks for the tip on f.lux! It might fix a problem I wasn't aware I had until I read your post.

[IainB]

Thanks for the tip on f.lux! It might fix a problem I wasn't aware I had until I read your post.

Yes, it is easy to overlook that we creatures seem to be all one with and inseparable from our environment, and that sunlight is a part of the environment and can affect us multifariously via the skin and the eyes.