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Colour-Coded Mouse Cursors Offer Higher Visibility
Posted by Gina Trapani at 9:00 AM on December 6, 2007
Windows only: Wish your mouse pointer was easier to see? Try installing the smart and colourful XsX alpha blended package of mouse cursors. These cursors change colour depending on the possible action (like clicking a link or resizing a window), and blogger Aaron Tiensivu's put together a convenient installer for both Windows XP and Vista. Especially good for laptop screens, be sure to follow Tiensivu's installation instructions to get these going (it's not a regular installation wizard.) Having become a bit of an interface design snob (yes, the Mac's ruined me), I like the idea of these cursors; just wish they were better-looking. The XsX cursor installation package is a free download for Windows only.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Gordon
Posted 6:15 PM 5/12/07
So why not just use the Mac ones?
[www.winmatrix.com]
Gordon
Empyrean
Posted 6:12 PM 5/12/07
Looks like it should be easy enough to change the graphics. Anyone know of a good (and preferably free) program that can import say, something I make in Photoshop and format to .CUR? I googled a little to no avail, will try again later if no one has any suggestions.
Empyrean
weizilla
Posted 6:10 PM 5/12/07
the colors are interesting but don't most people have cursors that change to dramatically different shapes depending on the actions? like the ring in vista vs hand and stuff.
weizilla
pdok
Posted 7:56 PM 5/12/07
@Gordon: Thanks for the Winmatrix.com link! That had a GREAT tutorial on making a WinXP ultimate installation CD and some terrific resource links. Stuff I've wanted, but too lazy to google it all.
That's why I love LH.
pdok
Empyrean
Posted 7:41 PM 5/12/07
@xious:
Thats awesome, thank you! I'll check that out too.
I found something else, AWicons Lite, seems to work pretty good. Ive already altered a few to match up with my overall theme and reduced them in size. I cant stand giant mouse cursors like the originals in this pack, makes me feel like I am mentally challenged lol.
Empyrean
xious
Posted 7:05 PM 5/12/07
@Empyrean:
Microangelo has always been a great icon and cursor editor. I haven't used it in awhile, but it was quite useful in editing cursors that I didn't quite like.
xious
That Bastid
Posted 9:19 PM 5/12/07
Found the Vista cursors in an XP-installable package (site registration required.) They're kind of Mac ripoffs (surprise), but much nicer than the stock XP ones. (Also come in extra large, for those with big displays.)
[www.wincert.net]
That Bastid
muffinimal
Posted 3:48 AM 6/12/07
On all the windows-machines I work with I always set the cursor to a ridiculously huge set (the extra large system scheme). As the mousecursor is one of the most important interaction elements on the screen I like it to be easy to find.
Somehow the text-select cursor that comes with the extra large set is not set properly, so I use the default text-selector. What happens when I use the default one is this: with my mouse I enter some text area, the mouse cursor then changes into the text selector. Then, somehow windows decides that the mouse cursor is no longer in the text area, so it reverts back to the regular pointer. Then it decides it's in the text area, so it changes again... Etc, etc.
By the way: I really like the default windows pointer (the normal select). It's not beautiful, but it does please my eye ;-)
muffinimal
devinburn
Posted 4:50 AM 6/12/07
I was just wondering if anyone had any good tutorials on how to make your own cursors and how to get them to work. Its probably not that hard, but a little tutorial would be nice :)
devinburn
Beldar
Posted 7:32 AM 6/12/07
After trying different non-MS cursors on XP and getting frustrated with some conflicts, I found the built-in choice under Mouse/Pointers: Windows Inverted (large)(system scheme). The cursor is then an inverted (opposite?) color according to the color beneath it. It even will be multi-colored when it's over a mix. I never lose my cursor any more.
Beldar
SciotoSurfer
Posted 9:04 AM 6/12/07
Installed these at home last night. Missed the finger pointer at first but after I got used to it, I like these. Installing on work computer now. Thanks, LH.
SciotoSurfer
Andrewski
Posted 9:09 PM 7/12/07
I like the colors, but I think they're a bit overtrumped here. I also consider myself a design snob, and I don't think a mouse cursor theme should need a legend.
I'm currently using the DMZ theme (in black), pictured here: [jimmac.musichall.cz] and available by default in Ubuntu.
Andrewski
atiensivu
Posted 10:48 PM 5/12/07
@Empyrean: If you wouldn't mind, could you send me your modified cursors, so I can include them in the next release? With your permission and credit, of course.
I tend to be a high resolution "snob" so the cursors end up decent sized on a large monitor/LCD, but for 800x600 or 1024x768, I agree with the size comment.
My e-mail is on my site - I'd really appreciate it!
atiensivu