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CNET Editors' review
Adjusting your computer's brightness just got a lot easier. Desktop Lighter offers users a way to quickly and easily adjust how brilliant their screen appears. The only concern is whether the majority of users will find a need for it.
This freeware program hides itself in the tray until you decide your computer needs an adjustment. Clicking on the program's icon brings up a simple purple and pink screen. So simple, in fact, the only variable on this control is a slider that moves up and down. As you click and drag this bar, a small window pops up to tell the user what percentage the display's brightness is at. Users need only to let go of the mouse button to maintain a selected level of brightness. There are a few added features to this easy-to-use program. One is a hot-keys option that allows you to adjust the settings with the keyboard; another is a way to make the display larger.
Desktop Lighter is a fantastic option for those looking to quickly adjust their screen. This tray icon saves users the hassle of searching through their computer's control panel to make the adjustment, especially if they find themselves making constant changes. If you aren't one of these people, though, you may not need this application. We recommend this download to anyone who needs to adjust display brightness.
Publisher's Description
From DiMXSoft:
Desktop Lighter allows you to adjust the brightness of your screen easily and quickly. It can change the brightness level by application window trackbar slider or by keyboard command hotkeys. So you can work with office documents, browse internet pages, watch movies, or play games and it is a good idea to set the proper brightness value before. You could well do it with this program. Keep your eyes in optimum condition.
Version 1.4 features: Remember Last Settings option; Large Brightness Fader option; Various small improvements and bug fixes.
What's new in this version: Version 1.4 features: Remember Last Settings option; Large Brightness Fader option; Various small improvements and bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 13 votes
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Current version:
3.5 starsout of 11 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Default is 70%"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
May be right for some people.
Cons
This program isn't really brightening the pc, it just changes screen colors. Adds white or black color. The worst thing is - after you change the screen "brightness" with this program, that is, distort the colors, you can't set them back to default if you don't know what the settings were when you installed the program, even after uninstall or computer restart. Default "brightness""of this program is 70%.
Summary
Distorts screen colors.
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"Couldn't get into pc with my profile. Required restore."
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
None at all.
Cons
It turned the screen blue. When I adjusted the brightness it just adjusted the blue to lighter and darker. Mostly just bleached the screen.
When I uninstalled and rebooted, I kept being put into a temporary profile. Had to do a system restore to get my username back.Summary
Awful program. Useless at what it does and damaging to your system.
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"Not recommended"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
Controls screen brightness to a degree
Cons
See below:
Summary
Summary: I realized that after a certain point, this program wasn't actually "brightening" my computer. What it was in fact doing was changing the colors on my screen; after having my screen brightness set to 100% through Windows, this program continued to affect my screen's "brightness" level beyond that, except it wasn't actually brightening; It was replacing lighter shades on my computer with the color white, and sort of creating the illusion of brightness by bleaching out lighter shades. The color of the blue side panel in Windows' folders disappeared completely when increased to maximum. Basically, instead of increasing illumination, it just starts bleaching lighter colors out after a certain point.
I was also dismayed to realize during experimentation that if I set this software to minimum brightness and then uninstalled the program, my computer didn't go back to the brightness level it was at before the program was installed. The brightness level stayed dim even after this program was both closed and removed, and even though the brightness level as set through Windows was at maximum!
Therefore, this software somehow affected my computer's settings in a way that wasn't actually fundamentally tied in to my operating system's brightness mechanics, but in some other way instead. I tried reinstalling and then readjusting before closing the program again, and wish I could know that I have my screen settings the way they were before I installed this, but now I'm not sure. I now regret that I ever used this.
And FYI, I subsequently discovered through a bit of research that in Windows, you can change your computer's brightness levels with a simple hotkey/keyboard shortcut: Fn + up arrow/down arrow. -
"Desktop lighter software"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
My new LED is really bright. Digging into the monitor menu is a lot of work. This little software does the trick. I can adjust my screen brightness with a few key strokes. Amazing.
Cons
If it can adjust the contrast level. That will be awesome.
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"This is a GREAT little program."
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
It's great. It's fun. It's safe. Everyone should have it !!!! It's small but can really enhance your wallpapers/screensavers. It is cool. A true little gem. It cuts down on eye strain, very much. It's a must have goodie.
Cons
Can not find any, not a one.
Summary
Because my eyes are often sensitive from chronic sinuitis I have come to really appreciate this little gem. I can now run a low watt bulb in my desk lamp because this little gem takes care of my lighting needs in 2 heartbeats. Cllick on the desktop Icon, then slide the adjustment. Cuts down dramatically on eye strain for long hours computer useage. It's absolutely amazing in how much, this bit of adaptive lightting, can make a huge comfort improvement. Won't ever do without it now.
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"GREAT PRODUCT AND ITS FREE"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
DOES THE JOB
Cons
MAYBE THEY COULD ADD SOME OTHER OPTIONS
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"Excellent, just the job!"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
My new HP TouchSmart PC with Windows 7 won't save the screen brightness setting - this little program allows easy brightness control, and the setting is saved! (you probably need to tick the "launch with Windows" box for this to work.
Cons
None really really, would be nice if the control remembered it's position on the screen if you move it, but that's a very minor niggle.
Summary
Great - overcomes HP's & Microsoft's shortcomings!!
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"better than no dimmer switch"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
it lights up my....eyes
Cons
cant see the commands on the desktop app
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"Very Good on my Computer"
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
Eazy to work with and no problems.
Cons
Til now not any cons.
Summary
All the things you can do is okay.
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"A fine start..."
Version: Desktop Lighter 1.4
Pros
Simple interface, dims super bright displays far beyond what some OEM controls allow. Very effective. (XP Pro)
Cons
Closing the app does not restore screen to previous brightness.
Interface is somewhat crude.Summary
In low ambient light conditions, I like to be able to reduce the brightness of today's super bright monitors. This app does that quite well. When the ambient lighting conditions become brighter, I would like to return the screen to the previous higher brightness. With this app I have to move the slider.
A keyboard command or On/Off button to toggle between two preset levels of brightness or just return to the previous level would be extremely convenient.
Desktop Lighter is a huge step in the right direction.
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