Inverting the Mac screen with a keystroke
· 12:44 PM · 18 comments
I know only a thimbleful of OS hacks for any platform and I'm often the last on the block to learn that some arcane combination of keypresses and mouse clicks will change my laptop into an ad hoc defibrillator or something. (This would actually be useful, I think.)
I was delighted to find out the control-option-apple-8 will desaturate and invert the display on my PowerBook. Ostensibly it exists to help make displays usable in direct sunlight.
Probably, but if I turn on the iTunes Visualizer after... I'm talkin' a well-pimped distressed animation!
From the archive: 18 comments
Comments are closed. These were left by readers when the post was new.
Jason Goldman 5:28 PM
Hot! There's a second before the black and white kicks in where the display looks like a negative.
There should be an option for that.
Anonymous 2:08 PM
Hey dude! I just wanna say that you really did a great job on the Elven name generator! You rock!
~Anoname
Jeremy 1:30 PM
good stuff!
alex 10:05 AM
this is also amazingly useful when wardriving. It keeps your screen from throwing off much light, which is great when you're only glancing at it occasionally and driving.
Not that I'd do that kind of thing...
=M 8:29 PM
Imagine my surprise when I pressed this combination by accident... No, really, try to think of a reaction to your expensive color monitor suddenly switching to B&W.
Renée 4:37 AM
hehe this is soo cool. awesome stuff.
Dave Ramsey 11:40 AM
You can get to inverted without losing color... Inversion settings are in the Universal Access System preferences. If you click the buttton for switching to black on white (not the key command) it switches without losing color...
Ta Da!
Johan 9:17 AM
THANK YOU for this post!!
I just did this by misstake (dont ask how, but involved a desk full of books - and one on the keyboard apparently..) and freaked out totally! Already working overtime, and to be frank, your tip pretty much stopped me from stringing up the noose... Thanks again!
willo 8:50 PM
ooh neat trick!
Minto Toadfoot 3:15 PM
What luck. I needed this very keycombo last weekend for a presentation outside. I will be able to use it again soon.
Anonymous 1:00 PM
My one year old just banged my keys and VOILA - white on black. I almost had a heart attack. Google search led me here and hooray the solution to put it back right.
Anonymous 6:35 AM
I've been using the Hobbit name generator as an aka for a year and a half now. I turned myself into a Hobbit and put my music up as Fosco Brockhouse. I also use it to name some of my music! " Like Pippins Merimac to Needlehouse." Which means Pippins Journey to the Two Towers. Thanks much for your generator!
Anonymous 10:48 PM
thank you for saving my ass
after freaking out on accidently hitting
control apple option 8
go figure...
abecedary 5:50 PM
yah, just freaked out when i accidentally inverted screen trying to escape fom Halo
you saved my butt
Anonymous 6:27 AM
My kids had turned the Mac negative by pounding on the keys. Just a dumb combination, goofing around. This SAVED me. Thanks.
Anonymous 11:18 PM
THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUU
I accidentally typed this apple-option-control-8 in in a fit of frustration. So much for relief- caused much more stress than it was worth lol.
- how am i meant to do a graphic design assessment with an inverted black and white screen~!!!!!
all fixed now :)
gab.
Anonymous 2:50 PM
YOU ROCK!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! YOU SAVED ME!
~MISSMARYPOTTER
Anonymous 5:53 PM
Thanks soo much! I think my cat had hit those keys and turned my screen inside out... I almost panicked when I saw the screen that way....