Mousecape

Mousecape is an application that allows modifying the appearance of the system cursor on macOS computers. The tool loads cursor files with the .cape extension and applies temporary or permanent visual changes. Users can create custom schemes or use packages created by others.

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• Integrated cursor editor. Mousecape includes a visual editor that allows modifying each frame of an animated cursor. The editor displays the image sequence, allows adjusting the delay between frames, and defines the hotspot point (the actual click point of the cursor).
• Importing cursor files. The application supports importing individual image files (.png, .tiff, .gif) and animated sequences to convert them into system cursors. It converts grayscale images into bitmaps with an alpha channel for transparency.
• Cursor package manager. Organizes cursor collections into themed packages that can be globally activated or deactivated. Each package contains definitions for all cursor states: default, pressed, text, link, and others.
• Sound assignment to events. Associates custom sound effects with different cursor events such as click, drag, or movement. Sounds must be in formats compatible with macOS (aiff, caf, wav) and integrate with the audio system.
• Real-time preview mode. Displays cursor changes immediately during editing without needing to apply changes permanently. The preview activates when hovering over the demonstration area within the application.
• Exporting configurations. Generates .cape files containing all cursor definitions for sharing or storage. Exported files retain metadata such as author, version, and theme description.
• Support for high-frame-rate animated cursors. Handles animations with high refresh rates (up to 60 fps) and precise delay times between frames. Automatically calculates optimal duration for smooth animations.
• Hotspot editor. Precisely defines the active point of each cursor using X and Y coordinates. Displays an overlaid grid to correctly align the click point for irregularly sized cursors.
• Modifying system cursors. Temporarily replaces default macOS cursors without affecting system files. Changes revert upon system restart or disabling the cape.
• Support for multiple resolutions. Supports cursors in standard (@1x) and high pixel density (@2x) resolutions for Retina displays. Automatically scales lower-resolution cursors when necessary.
• Configuration backup manager. Creates backups of current cursor customizations and allows restoring them later. Stores system version metadata for future compatibility.
• Command-line interface. Includes a CLI tool for applying cursors via scripts or automations. Supports basic operations such as listing, applying, and removing cursors from the terminal.

Mousecape was initially developed by Alex Zielenski starting in 2012. The first public version was released in 2014 as closed-source software for macOS. In 2015, the project was migrated to Objective-C using Cocoa and Quartz frameworks for graphic rendering. The application interacts with private macOS APIs to temporarily modify system cursors. Active development continued until 2018, with updates for compatibility with new versions of macOS. The application maintains compatibility with systems from OS X Mavericks (10.9) through macOS Mojave (10.14).

Alternatives to Mousecape:

System Font Bold

System Font Bold is a utility for modifying the font settings of the Windows operating system.

Price: Free   Size: 0.441 MB   Version: 2.2.1.14   OS: Windows