RealWorld Cursor Editor

RealWorld Cursor Editor

RealWorld Cursor Editor provides all the tools you need to modify an existing mouse cursor or to create an entirely new one from scratch.

PROS

Integrated test area: Along RealWorld Cursor Editor’s left side panel you’ll find a testing area where your mouse cursor is temporarily replaced with the one you’re designing. In addition to being able to test the design right then and there, you can also draw with the new cursor to see if its “hot spot” is in the right place.

Support for animated cursors: You can create animated cursors by importing each animation frame as a separate image file, or you can use the handy animation tools present in the software to generate those additional images from your original one. With the built-in animation tools you can create moving cursors, circling dots, fire-like particles, and a few others.

Layer support: Like most sophisticated image editors, RealWorld Cursor Editor lets you use multiple layers in order to alter an image with non-destructive edits. You can create and delete layers, reorder and disable them, and even set a custom opacity and blending mode.

CONS

Overcrowded interface: We feel that the interface layout and the choice of functions displayed in the toolbars is not optimal. Many functions, such as the Custom JavaScript Operation function, have a dedicated button on the toolbar and yet they are not regularly used to warrant such a prominent placement; another nitpick is that the side panels cannot be hidden from the View menu.

BOTTOM LINE

RealWorld Cursor Editor tries to strike a happy medium between power and usability, and even though there’s room for improvement, the app succeeds in its goal. Whether you want to add a quick graphic to an existing cursor or create an advanced cursor from scratch, you’ll find all the tools you need right inside this software.