Always on Spotlight on mouse pointer

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

While the behaviour of leaving the circle around the mouse the same and dimming the rest of the screen is often a very good choice, allowing a customization where the area around the mouse is changed in color and/or opacity and the rest of the screen is left as normal can be very useful.

Scenario when this would be used?

When I am teaching photo editing, I often want to highlight the location of the mouse pointer (for example when I am showing how to change the contrast of an image using a slider), but I want the image I am editing to remain "normal" (i..e not dimmed) so people can see the effect of the slider on the photo being edited.

Supporting information

No response

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

Just in case it is not obvious where this ability to flip what is dimmed is useful, I am attaching an example. In it, I am trying to teach people how to adjust tonalities in a photo editor. The top example is how "Find My Mouse" now operates. I can clearly see the location of the mouse pointer, but since the rest of the screen is dimmed, it is hard for people to see the effect of my dragging a slider around to adjust "midtones".

In the lower example, people can clearly see the location of the mouse pointer as it is in a red, semi-transparent circle. But because the rest of the screen shows normally, they can also see the effect on the photo when I drag the "midtones" slider back and forth.

So both techniques are very useful, just in different circumstances, so the ability to flip between the two using a hotkey would be VERY useful

I think the ability to adjust the size, colour, and opacity of the circle around the mouse pointer is important.

Thanks.

[crutkas]

Think you want #14496

correct?

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

Thanks. From what I see, it covers a lot of things I thought would be great additions. However, unless I am wrong, it would still not be possible to toggle so that the location of the mouse pointer is shown as my second image above - where ONLY the circle around the mouse pointer is changed. This is not while clicking a mouse button. It would show this way when moving the mouse pointer around. So basically there would be 2 main "modes" - like the current "Find My Mouse" works - where the whole screen is dimmed and then an effect applied to a circle around the pointer and then a mode where the whole screen EXCEPT for around the pointer is left normal.

[crutkas]

You want a presentation always on then I think. I still think it is within that “heart” of an idea but yes, currently it can just always be o

[crutkas]

One idea could be the big mouse club to help. https://montemagno.com/windows-mouse-pointer-features-for-presenting/amp/

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

Thanks! That sounds great. For me, most of the time, I like the background left normal and just highlight the circle around the pointer. But there are times when I like it as the PowerToy now works - with dimming the whole screen except for the circle around the pointer. Having the choice, and being able to flip between the two modes with a hotkey is ideal. I could then give up a separate utility I now use (Cursor Highlighter - https://sites.google.com/site/boisvertlab/computer-stuff/online-teaching#h.6uj1pu69f7rt) Cursor Highlighter works well, but since I already have PowerToys installed, using "Find My Mouse" makes sense if it does everything I need.

[crutkas]

In theory, when we add in additional options for configuration, this may be enabled by a side effect

[Speedylux]

I have discovered for my daily work two tools that support me for all the online collaboration, presentations, video calls etc.
Those are currently still exceeding the PowerToys Feature for highlighting the mouse cursor:

• Key n Stroke: (https://github.com/Phaiax/Key-n-Stroke)
• Pen Attention: (http://www.math.uaa.alaska.edu/~afkjm/PenAttention/download.html)

Key n Stroke is currently a little buggy (at least on my computer) but the software features and the simplicity are just amazing. It also allows visual highlighting of left and right mouse click while continuously showing the highlighted

PenAttention is a little easier, but the key-element for me using it is the continuous highlighting of the mouse pointer to ensure that everyone in online sessions can continuously follow my actions and explanations.

Would appreciate if the PowerToys functionality would be extended similar to above mentioned tools.

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

@Speedylux - I have looked at Pen Attention, but not Key n Stroke.

I have used Cursor Highlighter which takes a little more than normal to set up (you need to install AutoHotKey and then a script written in AutoHotKey (both free). You can then (if you want) create a stand-alone EXE file and dispose of both AutoHotKey and the script. But works very well and is highly configurable.

https://sites.google.com/site/boisvertlab/computer-stuff/online-teaching#h.6uj1pu69f7rt

I wrote a review of Cursor Highlighter that describes why I like it so much.
https://opcug.ca/Reviews/CursorHighlighter.pdf

Since I always have PowerToys installed, if the capabilities of Cursor Highlighter get included, I will dump Cursor Highlighter and just go with Find My Mouse / Mouse Highlighter.

[ChrisJohnTaylor]

@Speedylux - Wow, I looked at Key'n'Stroke and it is really feature-rich. I love how you can have a picture of the mouse appear showing if you are clicking the left or right button or the scroll wheel, and even show if you are rolling the scroll wheel (and in which direction!). The main feature of "Indicate cursor position" is exactly what I need to highlight the location of the mouse pointer.

I suspect this goes well beyond what the devs of "Find my Mouse / Mouse Highlighter" envisioned. It is really aimed at those who give demos or teach how to use programs.

But, if the features of Key'n'Stroke were incorporated into Power Toys, I would definitely use them there.

I found a few times that Key'n'Stroke just crashed and disappeared. Fortunately, it is very quick to reload :-). I also found the "Keystroke history" was a little strange - in particular, moving and sizing the history window.

Thanks much for the pointer to Key'n'Stroke.

[crutkas]

If that software works for you, please use it. One doesn’t have to lose for another to succeed.

[Jay-o-Way]

This is one popular request

[jaimecbernardo]

This issue has been worked on during the 0.72 development cycle. Please update your PowerToys installation to the latest.
https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases
Thank you!

[mbartlett21]

This request isn't completely done. This request was meant to include two modes, including one that dims the screen like Find My Mouse:

But there are times when I like it as the PowerToy now works - with dimming the whole screen except for the circle around the pointer. Having the choice, and being able to flip between the two modes with a hotkey is ideal.
#14137 (comment) (@ChrisJohnTaylor)