Windows 7 Magnifier Tool

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Craig Gerard
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Windows 7 Magnifier Tool

Post by Craig Gerard »

Windows 7 Magnifier Tool

This tool has most likely been available in Windows for years; but I only noticed it for the first time recently. Vista also has a similar 'magnifier', but the Win 7 version appears to be more refined.

It has many useful attributes and can be easily configured according to your requirements.

The tool can be found in the Start Menu under Programs > Accessories > Ease of Access > Magnifier. I've now 'pinned' a shortcut to the taskbar.

I have found it particularly useful for magnified inspection, applying adjustments and retouching, etc, in Photoshop and Zerene Stacker (I missed the magnifier built into Helicon Focus).
The tool obviously has many other benefits, such as reading small text, etc....

Image


Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"

seta666
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Post by seta666 »

That is a good use for the magnifier tool, I will give it a try.
Shortcut to the magnifier tool is Windows symbol and "+" key

Charles Krebs
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Post by Charles Krebs »

I used this on occasion, but it always really messed up the locations of the icons on my desktop when I exited it. (And I've got a bunch of them!). So I stopped using it, too annoying. Do you find it "messes" with your desktop icon organization?

SONYNUT
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Post by SONYNUT »

does the whole page...better if it was just a square...
like

http://magnifier.sourceforge.net/#download

much nicer

it gives you a tray icon...click it on.. use mouse to move and click to remove







.
Last edited by SONYNUT on Thu Oct 06, 2011 2:09 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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ChrisLilley
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Post by ChrisLilley »

SONYNUT wrote:does the whole page...better if it was just a square...
By default it gives you the whole screen, yes. Click on the icon and you have options for magnification (default 200%) and view - full screen (default), rectangle which follows the mouse, and a docked rectangle.

--
typed on my Windows7 machine

ChrisLilley
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Post by ChrisLilley »

Charles Krebs wrote:I used this on occasion, but it always really messed up the locations of the icons on my desktop when I exited it. (And I've got a bunch of them!). So I stopped using it, too annoying. Do you find it "messes" with your desktop icon organization?
Was this on Windows 7 or an earlier version?

I'm using it now... (stops using it) ... no effect on icons or anything else.

Charles Krebs
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Post by Charles Krebs »

Chris,

I also just re-tried it. (Win 7 64 bit). By default it started up with a magnified viewing window running fully across the upper part of my screen. When I use it in this manner and then exit, it "compresses" my icons together (eliminates any spacing and icon locations I had). However... if I re-size and move the magnified window down (viewing in a box in the manner that Craig showed in his first screen-shot) there appears to be no desktop problem on exiting. When I open the magnifier again, it returns to the last view used. Good to know. So now I'll be able to make use of it again without the need to re-order my desktop each time. \:D/

Craig Gerard
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Post by Craig Gerard »

By default it started up with a magnified viewing window running fully across the upper part of my screen.
By default it is 'docked'. I found it better to uncheck the 'docked' button via the configeration menu and select 'Lens', so it acts as an independant loupe.

To find the configeration menu, postion the magnified window over the magnifier icon.


Craig
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"

ChrisLilley
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Post by ChrisLilley »

Aha. Thanks for the supplemental details.

Yes, I exited it in small box mode. Also, I have (by conscious choice) few desktop icons, and they are auto-arrranged.

yeatzee
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Post by yeatzee »

All my icons got moved, and it was the same style as the Op's :x

Dang now everything's messed up.... oh well still a cool feature

Craig Gerard
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Post by Craig Gerard »

The initial default 'Fullscreen' and/or 'Docked' setting may be responsible for the displacement of desktop icons. If only using the 'Lens' option(which acts like a loupe) the icons behave themselves.

In the past, my desktop was usually covered with icons; but now, I have storage folders on secondary hardrives and folder shortcuts on the desktop. As an example, if printing and saving an electronic copy of a forum post (using bioPDF), I elect to save it to the 'Photomacrography Articles' shortcut folder on the desktop; but the folder and its contents are actually stored on Drive:E as opposed to Drive:C

Image

You can drag 'n' drop or save files directly to those shortcut icons on the desktop. As mentioned earlier in this post, the actual files are stored on a secondary drive(s) which are synced with additional drives twice a day.



Craig

*edit typo and adjusted content
Last edited by Craig Gerard on Fri Oct 07, 2011 1:33 am, edited 2 times in total.
To use a classic quote from 'Antz' - "I almost know exactly what I'm doing!"

ChrisR
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Post by ChrisR »

My mouse has a couple of programmable buttons, one of which will do that instantly. Microsoft wireless 6000v2.0 (2008)

You can alter the zoom (2x upwards) and window size whenever you use it. Here it's shown as I hold the button in to adjust those. otherwise the symbols with arrows aren't there.
Wouldn't be without it now.
>

Image

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