CNET Editors' review
"Cursors, foiled again!" There's no need to swirl your cape and twirl your mustache, if you have Aha-soft's ArtCursors program. This shareware cursor creator and manager lets you design your own cursors for Windows. You can build and edit whole libraries of cursors with it. A simple wizard-type process makes it so that almost anyone can use ArtCursors to customize a computer's cursors, and in ways that maybe you haven't even thought of yet!
From ArtCursors' installer we chose between the registered version and the trial version, which is free for 30 days and includes a nag screen. We opted for the trial. We had the options to associate ArtCursors with each cursor file type separately and set its cursor library as the Windows default. The program's no-nonsense user interface takes its style from Explorer, with a toolbar and menu bar above a main window displaying a countdown of our trial period.
The program opened with the New Cursor wizard activated. This simple dialog offered selections for our new cursor's Size, Color Depth, and Conversion Mode (where applicable), plus the option to designate it as the default cursor in Windows. When we made our selections, the user interface's colorful array of tools filled the main window, including a grid-based Workspace for designing our cursor. ArtCursors' tool palette, color picker, effects, and other controls will be familiar to anyone who has used a basic graphics or image editor or drawing tool, such as Paint. Choices included a variety of preconfigured shapes, plus lines, curves, and objects.
No one wants to spend a lot of time learning to use a fun tool, so you'll be happy to hear that the best way to get started with ArtCursors is simply to dive right in and add stuff to the screen. The program's intuitive layout and tools make that easy, though the Help file clearly explains each feature and function, if you need more guidance. We quickly whipped up and applied a few basic cursors as experiments, and then went back and jazzed them up; simple, and fun, too!
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of ArtCursors 5.22.
Publisher's Description
From Aha-soft:
ArtCursors contains all tools you need for creating and editing Windows cursors and managing cursor libraries. The program is friendly enough for the casual user who wants to tweak a couple of standard .CUR files, yet powerful enough for the professional graphic designer who needs to create complex animated cursors and manage large cursor libraries. With this program you can create and edit static and animated cursors with image formats in either standard or custom sizes, with color depths up to 16 million colors. It supports smooth cursors in 32-bit color depth with 8-bit alpha-channel. Paint tools include: color replacer, color selector, spray can, pencil, brush, flood fill, text tool, line tool, rectangle, curve, ellipse, 3d frame and enhanced gradient and chess fill. You can set cursor hot spots and test cursors.
What's new in this version: Version 5.22 includes updated splash screen.
More Products to Consider
- Place favorite Web links, program shortcuts, and widgets on a f...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Bring back the Windows "Start" menu to Windows 8.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Return the Windows 7 style Start menu to Windows 8.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Choose from tons of adorable icons and cursors.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Give your Windows 7, XP, or Vista cursor a wide range of effect...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create multiple alerts which can alert you at a specific moment...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Run Windows 8 Modern applications in resizable windows on your ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Clean up icon clutter on your desktop.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and maintain icons and cursor graphics.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Enable clock with countdown, reminder, stopwatch, and desktop s...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and edit Windows 32-bit icons and cursors.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Enhance your desktop with different widgets.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and edit static or animated cursors for Windows.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create, edit, import, export and find icons and manage icon lib...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and edit icon files with easy-to-use TrueColor icon edit...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and edit icons, cursors, and graphical user interface co...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and modify animated and static Windows cursors.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Set unlimited numbers of alarm clocks on Windows.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Show your team spirit with these Colts cursors.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create JPG/JPEG files from multiple Web-sites.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Get dock with live icon reflections and speed up access to your...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create your own pixelized animated movies.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Create and stick electronic notes on your Windows desktop.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Personalize your Windows 8 start and lock screens with your own...Download
Installed
Smart Install






