CinemaDrape - blank/dim screen outside of focus

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I am Baas
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CinemaDrape - blank/dim screen outside of focus

#1 Post by I am Baas »

Focus on your task by blanking or dimming other screen areas.
http://www.aurelify.com/cinemadrape/

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Dl portable version @ http://www.aurelify.com/cinemadrape/download/

Requirement: .net 2.0

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webfork
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Re: CinemaDrape

#2 Post by webfork »

I got confused between this and the other desktop covering thing you posted about (ColorVeil).  Evidently it's by the same group/person.  Anyway, I can see using this in presentations as a much better way to get folks to focus on what's important. 

Quick notes:
  • You can create more than one desktop window.  This is great for presentations because you can gradually add in more and more items until the whole screen is un-draped (the boxes overlap)
  • Lots of opacity options for a sort of pre and post-dimmed view, with available colors.
  • Quick on/off (essentially pause the program) (CTRL+F11)
  • Clear out all drawn boxes and start with a clean slate (ctrl+delete)
  • Writes settings to the application folder in "cinemadrape.cinemadrape"

Wishlist

== Boxes ==
  • This is the big one: you cannot make the drape boxes flush with the side of the screen.  In other words, if you draw a box that includes your task bar, part of the taskbar will be cut off.
  • Overlapping windows have black boxes around them.  I recommend against a visible border unless the mouse is hovering over it.
  • Borders around images are a little bit thick.  I know some people would prefer this so manybe an option on this point?
  • Ability to delete the last-created window (sort of an "Undo" function ... maybe ctrl+shift+del)

== Other ==
  • Somehow enable an ability to click on things outside the boxes (e.g. even if you've got the other window dimmed, you might want to type out a quick note or uncheck a box ... so while you want your focus in one place, you still want access to the other parts of your desktop)
  • Customizable hotkeys (e.g. switch from "shift" to "shift+a")
  • Doesn't extend to new monitors.  Have to restart the program.
  • Some explanation of what "area under cursor" (shift+middle click) does.

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I am Baas
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Re: CinemaDrape

#3 Post by I am Baas »


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Re: CinemaDrape

#4 Post by webfork »

I am Baas wrote:Win Viewer
Very interesting ... I'll check that out. Thanks.

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Re: CinemaDrape

#5 Post by webfork »

A possible alternative to CinemaDrape (mentioned way back when):

Zorro - http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software/index.html#zorro

Lists a portable version but hasn't been updated since '08 so may not work on later machines (Win7 isn't listed on the home page).

shnbwmn
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Re: CinemaDrape

#6 Post by shnbwmn »

webfork wrote:A possible alternative to CinemaDrape (mentioned way back when):

Zorro - http://www.gabrieleponti.com/software/index.html#zorro

Lists a portable version but hasn't been updated since '08 so may not work on later machines (Win7 isn't listed on the home page).
Just ran Zorro on Win10 x64 and it works perfectly. So it should work for previous Win versions too.

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Re: CinemaDrape

#7 Post by webfork »

shnbwmn wrote:Just ran Zorro on Win10 x64 and it works perfectly. So it should work for previous Win versions too.
Good news, thanks.

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Re: CinemaDrape

#8 Post by webfork »

New version of CinemaDrape is out. Can't find a changelog. https://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-E ... able.shtml

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Re: CinemaDrape

#9 Post by webfork »

shnbwmn wrote: Sun May 08, 2016 10:10 am Zorro
The Zorro site is offline -- here's the archive.org link:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160313143 ... index.html

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Re: CinemaDrape

#10 Post by webfork »

Found three alternative programs that do something similar.

Le Dimmer - discussed previously. https://sites.google.com/site/llemarie/ledimmer Status: Portable.

Shades (Website down unfortunately, just a Softpedia link.). Status: Untested.
https://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-E ... ades.shtml

Ghoster - exceedingly small but settings are modified via an INI file that you have to edit. Modifying the color means tracking down the hex value e.g. dark blue is "004080" ... I really quite liked setting the transparency to 100. Looks great.
https://www.dcmembers.com/skrommel/download/ghoster/

Status: Portable

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Re: CinemaDrape

#11 Post by webfork »

I came across a novel way to create unique image addendums for screen captures / software guides. Just reduce the opacity of screendrape and then draw multiple boxes around screen objects:

Image

Numbers added with ShareX Image editor.

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You can do something similar in LibreOffice Impress by:
  1. Putting two objects on top of each other (in this case an empty circle over a square)
  2. Select all (CTRL+A)
  3. Right-click and choose Shapes > Combine
Image

Result (with our logo in the background):

Image

To get the same transparent effect, right-click the object, choose Area - Transparency Tab - Transparency 50%

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Result:

Image

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Re: CinemaDrape

#12 Post by SYSTEM »

webfork wrote: Fri Dec 24, 2021 12:17 pm I came across a novel way to create unique image addendums for screen captures / software guides. Just reduce the opacity of screendrape and then draw multiple boxes around screen objects
Thanks for the tip. I like what your sample screenshot looks like.

Also: Merry Christmas. :)
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