CNET Editors' review
RealWorld Graphics' Cursor Editor is a nifty free app that you can use to create and edit special Windows cursors, including both static and animated designs. Drag-and-drop functionality, built-in drawing tools and image filters, correction capabilities, and support for sophisticated image-handling features such as layers and arbitrary selections give it capabilities we've usually seen only in large graphics packages that typically have correspondingly large prices. It can create custom icons, too.
A full Windows installer includes an optional component to support translations via community-made language packs, which we appreciate as a feature but declined to install. The clean and basic but well-designed interface opens with a full range of online tutorials in the main window, which together with a fully indexed and searchable Help file make it easy to take advantage of this program's many capabilities. You can create an optional free account from the interface, which offers yet more assistance with features like translations. We tried the Animated Water Drop cursor, which was fun, for a while. But that's the beauty of Cursor Editor: it's easy to create, modify, and save cursors until you find "keepers." We like its cool plug-ins, too, especially the fractal generator. It even accepts homemade plug-ins.
RealWorld Cursor Editor is freeware and works in Windows editions 2000 to 7. It installs desktop icons without asking but is otherwise completely well mannered. It has the capability to add numerous custom cursor effects that can be as easy or sophisticated as you like, and we recommend it to all users.
Publisher's Description
From RealWorld Graphics:
RealWorld Cursor Editor allows users to reorder, duplicate, or append frames to animated cursors. Images in cursors can be modified by drawing tools such as Lines, Curves, Polygons, Rectangles, or Ellipses. Application contains several predefined filters covering color corrections, sharpening, softening, motion blur, and other effects.
What's new in this version: Version 2012.1 adds support for animated GIFs and can convert animated cursors to animated GIFs (or PNGs) for web publishing or vice versa and interface of the editor was adjusted to allow comfortable editing and application of effects.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 17 votes
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Current version:
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"Works just as described!"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2009.1
Pros
Very sweet little program.
Cons
None so far!
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"Let your imagination fly!"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2009.1
Pros
Easy to use; you'll find your imagination perking up!
Cons
Haven't found any yet!
Summary
I recommend it. It's fun to make your own cursors! I have a nice little custom set where the pointing finger got... ummm... changed just a wee bit.
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"Sweet little program!"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2009.1
Pros
Free, easy to use, helpful people
Cons
None that I can think of
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"Freeware application, with optional shareware module"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
Complete program for cursor editing. Editing or creating 2D cursors with this program is a breeze for those who are more than familiar with graphic editors. Don't want to create? Plenty of cursors to download from their own on line cursor library.
Cons
Petty they added a shareware 3D module with this excellent program. However, installation of this module is optional! When skipped during install; the program runs fine without any (time) limitations. This might confuse people, though.
Summary
The good:
Very powerful cursor editor/creator. With a nice set of tools on board. The GUI is pleasing and clean and therefor user friendly. The tools to edit or create a cursor (animated or not) are amazing. Expert features and tools like editing the time of an individual frame in a animation or setting the transparency of (a color with) a drawing tool; it's all there. Importing graphics for cursor creation/editing is no problem (PNG with alpha transparency is no problem, it will be imported with all transparency values; which is good for creating high quality cursors with smooth edges that can be used with Windows XP/Vista). Adding or editing frames to or in an animation is a breeze. Creating an animated cursor from a static cursor is simple.
The location of the so called 'hot spot' of a cursor can be edited and you can test this immediately within a test area that's always visible within the program.
And if you are less experienced in editing or creating graphics (or simply don't want to spent any time with this for whatever reason), there's plenty of free goodies to be downloaded from their own on line library, accessible via the program itself (which fires up your browser). There you can browse for cursors that other people made and download the ones you like.
The (slightly) bad:
It's a petty there's a shareware module added to the installation procedure. Although it's installation is optional (i.e.: you'll have choose to add this module or not), this might confuse people. As can be seen in some of the reviews here, thinking that RealWorld Cursor Editor is actually shareware (Let's be clear: it's not, only the optional 3D module is shareware). Personally, I find it an unnecessary addition to this otherwise very fine product. On the other hand, it's similar to the tactics we commonly see with other freeware products that include optional shareware or (free) toolbars during installation. I wish freeware publishers could do without these 'tactics', but I can fully understand why they are added. It's a user-annoyance that's just a part of todays freeware-reality, I'm afraid. And as long as it's all optional, as it is in the case of RealWorld Cursor Editor, it's a small annoyance. And to emphasize: Not installing the 3D module will NOT limit RealWorld Cursor Editor in any way! When you don't need it, do not install it! Otherwise, try it out and if you like it; be prepared to pay for it.
Conclusion:
Without installing the shareware module, you'll have a very powerful cursor creation tool in your hands that can handle anything and everything for free. With no limitation whatsoever. And therefor, I'm giving it 5 stars; it's indeed a spectacular piece software. Very nicely done, thank you for offering it to me for free. Thank you very much! -
"Worth having"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
A very detailed application. A nice link to web page with several cursor themes.
Cons
Not freeware after all.
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"like it"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
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"beautiful"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
User-friendly and efficient
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"It is freeware, and it works reasonably well."
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
This program takes some getting used to. There is a full feature set, but the interface doesn't make it easy to readily identify all the tools. The Help file is not a model of clarity, either. It would be helpful to have a dynamically updated cursor image displayed during the editing process. The opening of multiple working windows, e.g.: after creating the actual cursor from a bitmap file, is confusing. As I haven't found another freeware program that offers as complete a package, and considering the exorbitant licensing fees of some of the more well-known cursor editing software, I am prepared to recommend RealWorld to users, like me, whose application is occasional cursor editing. Note: The core program is, in fact, freeware, with no limitation that I have found. During installation there is an option to install an additonal part of the package (I forget what function it served, evidently nothing critical) which does require licensing.
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"Amazing"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
This software is easy and simple to use. It is great for creating animated cursors because of the way it was designed. Has preset designs, just pick your primary color and secondary color and click the design and then click the cursor and it does it for you. When doing an animated cursor, the software copies the image (if wanted). The software is also programed to save the file automatically as an ani. or a cur. file unlike JustCursors 1. This software is way better than JustCursors 1. All I can recommend is to download it because it is Awesome and Amazing!
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"Listed as freeware incorrectly"
Version: RealWorld Cursor Editor 2007.1
Pros
The license lasts for 30 days and then you have to buy or loose all settings
Cons
I feel that if filtered for free this app should not mislead
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