Image always-on-top overlay software for Win?

East · Sep 2011

I (and probably others) need a program for Windows that will let me display a transparent image overlay that stays "always on top", that wouldn't pick up any mouse clicks. Preferably something with multiply/overlay/etc functionality as in Photoshop, but that's just best case scenario.

There's a Mac program called Overlay that does what I need, but there's no Win version.

Any suggestions?

I was thinking maybe running an instance of XnView and use some other piece of software to make the window transparent, but even so it would probably pick up mouse clicks.

Sean VanGorder · Sep 2011

The only Win program I know of that does this is this little utility written by another game artist.

http://www.digitalartistguild.com/misc/UtilityExplain/UtilityExplain.html

East · Sep 2011

Well now, 5 minutes and I get exactly what I need. Thanks!

BeatKitano · Sep 2011

Or you can use another software, by another game artist

(you can try demo by clicking "our products" menu)

Avanthera · Sep 2011

I really like Ghost-it

tbailen · Oct 2013

If you need the tool to honor transparent pixels in a transparent PNG or GIF, Foreground Reference Utility doesn't seem to do it, but I found one that does:
http://customdesktoplogo.wikidot.com/

MarkusSoft · Feb 2014

You can also use the screen overlay elements of
http://www.markus-bader.de/MB-Ruler/index.php
or
http://www.markus-bader.de/MB-RulerPro/index.php

Arahnoid · Feb 2014

I have Autohotkey script what allow to make any window or program to make transparent or /and keep it on top of other windows. It can be used in many ways even to hide some window or document if you see somebody is coming to you and you dont want to show what what you are working on

It don't allow yo to click thru transparent window

Win Key + Mouse wheel UP - Increase window transparency
Win Key + Mouse wheel Don - Decrease window transparency
Win Key + Midle Mouse Button - Switch window transparency
Ctrl+Space - make window to be always on top, Pressing it again will make window to behave as a normal window

Here is a link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1401690/WinOverlay.zip

thomasp · Feb 2014

you could also give floaty a try. not just from a fellow game artist, but a polycounter and my ex colleague.

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99709

BC3D · Mar 2014

I have an awesome program that does all that. I spent hours looking for it because I wanted the same functionality. It doesn't even need install you just run the .exe. The thing is I can't find the site I got if from for the life of me! I want to credit the one guy who wrote it. Anyhow it's called ImageOverlay, anyone whose interested PM me and I can send you the file, it works great!

imageoverlayutility · Mar 2015

BC3D, might you be thinking of Image Overlay Utility?

Sorry for the necro. Just wanted to plug my app and direct others to the correct place to download it if they do want it.

BC3D · Jun 2017

@imageoverlayutility
It is not that one, sorry, although that looks cool and seems to have all the functionality that someone would want!

RodolfoRubens · Aug 2017

Please, keep the suggestions coming... almost all the links are off.. I'm trying to find what is this one that she uses:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsfDFly1C1A

Axi5 · Aug 2017

I use PureRef personally, it's pay what you want, but I had to give the developers some money for it since it was so good.

alekseypindrus · Aug 2017

@RodolfoRubens Probably Kuadro.

Official website: http://kruelgames.com/tools/kuadro/

Polycount thread: http://polycount.com/discussion/146446/kuadro-free-reference-view-tool

RodolfoRubens · Aug 2017

AH, thanks a lot! Will try both!

oglu · Aug 2017

pureref it is.... genial tool..

psykon · Aug 2017

I use http://nomacs.org/ as my main imageviewer. It has a framelesse mode (F11) and a option to have the window always on top (Lock Window). It also features transparency and a lot of the usual imageviewer functions (and it is FOSS).

Image always-on-top overlay software for Win?

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