1. Overview
Windows 8 automatically changes the size of mouse pointers (cursors) depending on DPI settings of display. The relations between DPI and the size of cursors are roughly as follows:
- 100% : 32x32 pixel
- 150% : 48x48 pixel
- 200% : 64x64 pixel
This is done by the OS's selecting one image from multiple images of different sizes contained in a cursor file. The problem is that Windows 8's standard cursor files have only 32x32 pixel and 48x48 pixel images. It will cause, when DPI is set to 200%, an image of smaller size than 64x64 pixel to be stretched and such cursor will show dirty outlines.
This software lets you easily change cursors to high DPI cursors that contain 64x64 pixel images and have similar appearance to default ones. With these cursors, even when DPI is 200%, cursors will look clean and clear.
2. Environment
The images of these cursors are specially designed for Windows 8.
3. How to use
- Start CursorChanger.exe (it needs to be run by administrator).
- Making cursors to be changed checked, press [Change]. The change will be immediately reflected.
- To revert cursors to default ones, press [Revert to default]. It will do the same as pressing [Change] with all cursors unchecked.
4. Reference
For reference to changing cursors manually, the following table shows the correspondence relation with default cursors.
| Description | File name | File name (default) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Select | HighDPI_arrow.cur | aero_arrow.cur | |
| Help Select | HighDPI_helpsel.cur | aero_helpsel.cur | |
| Working in Background |
HighDPI_working.ani | aero_working.ani | animated cursor |
| Busy | HighDPI_busy.ani | aero_busy.ani | animated cursor |
| Unavailable | HighDPI_unavail.cur | aero_unavail.cur | |
| Vertical Resize | HighDPI_ns.cur | aero_ns.cur | North to South |
| Horizontal Resize | HighDPI_ew.cur | aero_ew.cur | East to West |
| Diagonal Resize 1 | HighDPI_nwse.cur | aero_nwse.cur | North West to South East |
| Diagonal Resize 2 | HighDPI_nesw.cur | aero_nesw.cur | North East to South West |
| Move | HighDPI_move.cur | aero_move.cur | |
| Alternate Select | HighDPI_up.cur | aero_up.cur | |
| Link Select | HighDPI_link.cur | aero_link.cur |
As for HighDPI_touch.cur and HighDPI_grasp.cur that are not in this table, they are cursors for dragging the desktop itself but the way to change them is unknown. If you have any information, please let me know.