How can I invert all the display colors in Windows Vista?

How can I invert all the screen display colors in Windows Vista?

The majority of my screen is white and I would prefer it the other way round.

The closest I could get is using High Contrast [Left-Alt + Left Shift + PrntScrn], but it doesn't quite work how I expect; the Windows features are mostly made black, but for example web pages still load in their original color, which again, is mostly white.

Is there a way I can just make the colors invert on the whole screen on a laptop?

Lazer

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 13 841

Answers

PowerStrip is the solution (not free though)

Right click the PowerStrip tray icon and select Color > Configure.

Check the Invert Gamma Ramp (negative image) box. If Write Directly to Palette DAC is not enabled, check that as well.

Optional: tweak the brightness, contrast, gamma, and temperature of the global colors or of the different components.

Molly7244

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation:

if it would have just been free :( – Lazer – 2009-09-14T23:17:42.837

it's shareware, try before you buy. Inversion is only a gimmick, the program does far more than that. :) – None – 2009-09-14T23:19:58.433

It does do a lot more, but is sort of overkill for just this one function. However, I don't know if there is another option. – Joshua Nurczyk – 2009-09-14T23:50:28.060

I recently asked myself the same question: "how can I invert my screen's colors easily" (on Windows 7) and I was so disappointed to find there was no solution except the Magnifier trick, that I developed my own.

NegativeScreen is a simple but complete program written in C# (sources open).

You can try it out here.

Melvyn

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 671

@Yaurthek, thanks for your work. I noticed you said your app doesn't work on XP. F.lux and redshift do work on XP, so I guess it is possible to invert the screen on XP also. Here's a relevant link: http://jonls.dk/2010/09/windows-gamma-adjustments/ Perhaps you could try that technique with NegativeScreen? There's a demo app here: http://www.nirsoft.net/vc/change_screen_brightness.html I wanted to write a shorter demo but my windows build env is broken and I don't have time to fix it right now!

– Sam Watkins – 2015-06-12T02:34:18.610

1This is now my daily application. I am even considering compiling it for ARM on my Surface RT. – Aphelion – 2013-02-21T16:15:55.980

2@Aphelion: Can you upload and share the ARM-compatible version if it works after jailbreaking the Surface RT? – Karan – 2013-02-22T03:45:38.500

Just to explain: all browsers will render web pages in the colours specified by the page author - unless you override this.

Johannes has explained where the option is in IE.

In Firefox it's at Tools > Content > Colours > Allow pages to choose their own colours, instead of my selection above.

Uncheck this option and set the text and background colours you like.

I can't seem to find the equivalent option in Google Chrome.

ChrisF

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 39 650

I fear, though, that the browser is just one example of things where it doesn't quite work. – Joey – 2009-09-14T22:25:52.910

from the answers, i dont think that there is an application that can do what I want :( – Lazer – 2009-09-15T18:13:56.663

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. – ChrisF – 2009-09-15T20:46:01.957

For web pages you can usually set custom colors in your browser. In IE you can find this in Internet Options > General > Colors.

Joey

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 36 381

You could use the Windows Magnifier, set to 1x magnification, with invert enabled.

tsilb

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 2 492

Yes, the simple way, I hope he has some steel-eyes :D – None – 2009-09-15T03:56:06.277

that does it for only half of the screen :( – Lazer – 2009-09-15T18:10:50.383

eSKay: You can resize it using the mouse. – tsilb – 2009-09-15T19:17:05.180

Google Chrome has a high contrast extension that inverts colors on most text things on web pages while maintaining appropriate colors on most pictures and things. I use it constantly.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/high-contrast/djcfdncoelnlbldjfhinnjlhdjlikmph?hl=en

Jared Gregory

Posted 2009-09-14T22:03:24.420

Reputation: 1