Custom Mouse Cursor Installation, how to on Windows 10:
There are certainly better people to explain this than me, and I'll add a link to a site for a more in depth explanation, however some people don't wanna go to external sites, and as I am the owner of this blog, I gotta explain it. Y'know, since I am making those little ani and cur files that some of you may want to use, I know one or two things, even if I'm inexperienced.
This is a long one, so everything important is under read more. :>
Explanation on what a custom mouse cursor even is: A custom mouse cursor can either be one of two data file types, on Windows at least: .ani or .cur. Basically ani files are animated cursor files, so those are what you need if you want an animated cursor, and cur are static cursor files, if you want a non animated cursor, this is the file type you need. Each ani and cur file has an assigned hot spot, these may differ depending on what cursor role it takes on, but the hotspot is embedded into the file itself. (As an example: An ani/cur file that is intended for text selection, will have a different hot spot than let's say, the normal link select cursor.) Note for the next part: My operating system is in German, and the settings names are roughly translated, I try to explain where to find the options in addition to their names. Thank you for understanding. Okay, but how do I install those little files?: You don't install them, you simply add file that you need in the mouse control panel in windows. Let me explain how to get there: You first open Windows settings, there are multiple ways to do this, but I like going to the notification side bar, and click on all settings. However if you don't have that bar, you can click on the windows icon on the windows icon, and it should be right above above your power (ON/OFF) settings. Next, you go to the devices setting that handles Bluetooth, printers and mouses. (It should be right next to System settings, and is the second option below the search bar.) There you will want to go to the mouse tab (3rd from the top) and click on the Additional Mouse Options. (It should be found in related settings, as the second option.) Now a window should have opened called Mouse Properties. To change the cursor image, you need to go to the second tab, called Pointers. Now you can begin replacing images. Be cautious of moving the ani and cur files after this point, because if you change where they are placed on your pc, you will need to set them again even if you set them as a preset /more on that later/. To change an a cursor image, simply double click the one you want to change, or use the button under "Use as Standard", to look for it on your pc. Now you simply need to search for the cursor images on your pc, and add them to each slot. I try to name my cursor files according to what they are called in the small description to the left of each mouse cursor role, so just try to follow that and it should be alright. I recommend making a new scheme, or preset after adding all the ani or cur files you want to add. You can do this by setting your preset to none before you add all of them, and / or simply pressing save as, give it a fitting name. Voila, now you can set them again without much hassle, unless you moved the files. Mouse cursor images reset when changing the cursor size, so presets are pretty useful for that, or when you have a bunch of ani and cur files you want to switch between without much trouble.
Changing mouse cursor size: Speaking of changing cursor size, if you like your mouse cursor images to be a bit bigger, so it's clearer to see, you can do that fairly easily as well, simply go to the mouse settings again, and there you will want to click on "Change Mouse & Cursor Size" (should be the first / top option in related settings.) Once at the next page, you simply need to adjust the pointer size (it should be the first slider on that page) and re apply the preset you made of the cursor files you chose. I exported the files in 24bit colour depth, so it shouldn't blur when upscaled. Feel free to experiment with what feels comfortable for you, and be sure to give it some time. A new cursor size needs some time to get adjusted to.
Additional Links:
A website that goes into more detail, and has images:
If you want to get more custom mouse cursors RW Designer's gallery tab, and cursor sub tags, also have a lot of neat ones. This should be it, if anything else needs to be added, I will reblog this post with more information.
