Desktop Curtain for Mac
Displays temporary desktop picture in front of real one.
$5.00
In English
Version 3.2When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
Desktop Curtain overview
Desktop Curtain is a simple tool to hide the clutter on your desktop. It's perfect for teachers, presenters, writers, developers, and anyone else that hates clutter and/or needs to take screenshots with a clean background.
What’s new in version 3.2
- Added "Cover Widgets" as an option on macOS 14 and newer OSes. (Hat tip to Paul W. for the suggestion.)
- All new in-app help, which is now also available on the web.
- Better handle desktop pictures in non-standard locations.
- Various minor updates to keep up with macOS changes.
- Fixed support for macOS 10.9 Mavericks. (Hat tip to Robert S. for reporting this one.)
- Worked around a bug in macOS 11 Big Sur that prevented "Isolate frontmost window" from working properly.
- The direct version once again offers Spaces support, which we had accidentally removed in an earlier update. (Hat tip to Francesco F. for reporting this one.)
- Fixed a regression in the App Store version of Desktop Curtain 3.1, where Desktop Curtain failed to request access to the user's desktop picture under certain circumstances.
- Desktop Curtain is now a universal app, built for both Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
- Resolved some minor user interface issues on macOS 11 Big Sur.
- Forced curtain to vanish when operating in menu bar mode and a full-screen window is frontmost. (Hat tip to Steve R. for reporting this one.)
- Added support for macOS 10.14's non-dynamic desktop images.
- Added support for macOS 10.14's Dark Mode.
- Worked around an occasional crash in the App Store version of Desktop Curtain.
- Fixed a bug that caused Desktop Curtain to stall for a few seconds when clicking on a desktop-covering curtain. (This bug only affected the App Store version of Desktop Curtain.)
- Behind-the-scenes changes.
- Fixes a bug where email addresses with dot characters in their user name part weren't accepted for license crossgrades.
- Retinaized menu bar icon.
- Help is now more helpful (i.e. it uses our new help system).
- App Store version is now sandboxed.
- App Store version loses support for Spaces (here's why).
- App Store users can now freely crossgrade to direct version for Spaces support.
- Fixed a bug where Desktop Curtain would crash on launch on OS X 10.7.
- Updated the Sparkle in-app update mechanism to use a secure connection (HTTPS).
- Changed Spaces detection code to more accurately identify multiple Spaces on multiple displays.
- Fixed an issue with OS X 10.11 El Capitan's Gatekeeper.
- Modified some interface elements in preparation for Yosemite (OS X 10.10).
- Prepared for upcoming Gatekeeper changes.
- Fixed a display glitch where some hot keys were displayed with a single "FN" modifier instead of the actual modifier in menus in Mountain Lion.
- Greatly improved the interaction of the curtain and Spaces/Desktops.
- Fixed an issue where curtains that show the desktop image didn't always update after changing Spaces/Desktops.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the curtain to vanish when switching Spaces/Desktops. (Hat tip to Randy B. for finding this one.)
- Improved boss key behavior.
- Worked around a bug in an Apple API that was causing issues for users of Kuvva.
- Application isolation mode keeps curtain between frontmost application and everything else.
- Assign a global hot key to instantly place the curtain behind the frontmost window.
- Optionally hide the curtain at launch.
- New contextual menu entries for hiding the curtain, changing its level, and isolating the frontmost window.
- New Dock contextual menu mirror offers control over curtain level, hiding the curtain, and isolating the frontmost window.
- Use current desktop image as curtain image
- Activate Finder when curtain clicked, if the curtain is covering desktop icons.
- Brand new curtain design is even more curtainy.
- New curtain is also translucent, making it simple to change its color.
- Desktop Curtain now works much better with Mission Control.
- Adding and removing displays no longer confuses Desktop Curtain.
- Improved design of settings panel is easier to read and better organized.
- Behind-the-scenes changes to more efficiently save previously-used desktop images.
- Added 'boss mode' hot key to immediately bring the curtain in front of everything else.
- Image names now show when hovering over images in the History menu.
- Removed a duplicate paragraph in Desktop Curtain Help.
- Added a preference (Advanced tab) to show or hide the settings panel at launch.
- Added a global hot key (Advanced tab) to show or hide Desktop Curtain.
- Exposé Behavior pop-up menu controls how Desktop Curtain interacts with Exposé.
- Added an in-app news module for providing info on updates for App Store purchasers.
- Added a hidden pref to make Desktop Curtain quit on re-launch, perfect for toggling via hot key: defaults write com.manytricks.DesktopCurtain "Quit On Relaunch" -bool TRUE.
- Moved the 'remove image' widget and added a tooltip to clarify its behavior.
- Choose > History lets you choose from recently used curtain images.
- Added the ability to select the default Mac OS X desktop image to the Choose pop-up menu.
- Showing the Desktop Curtain behind items on the Desktop didn't work as expected on Mac OS X 10.6.
- General UI overhaul.
Desktop Curtain for Mac
$5.00
In English
Version 3.2
Write a detailed review about Desktop Curtain
(8 Reviews of Desktop Curtain)
Comments
User Ratings
Nov 30 2016
Version: 3.0.7
The developer has confirmed that this app is compatible with Sierra.
Dec 3 2014
Version: 3.0.2
I use Desktop Curtain every day and love it.
The only thing which should still be enhanced is an option to hide the desktop on a second display (and only on this) when using multiple displays under the "Affected Displays" settings. In the current version one can only hide the desktop on the "Main display" as a selection.
That enhancement should be implemented quiet easily – and then Desktop Curtain would be perfect – at least for me.
Oct 27 2013
Version: 3.0
This app is the closest to my favorite and now defunct DeskShade by MacRabbit. If you opt for the MAS versus (the free version you can license both MAS and standard download) then you can change the background from the curtain. Hot keys round this out nicely in regards usability (unlocked version).
Version 3.0.1 is out and the price is now $4.99.
Jan 25 2011
Version: 2.0
Awesome! This app is a must-have for me, as I'm often running out to client meetings at the last minute and never seem to have time to clean up my desktop before a presentation. The new v2 of this app is Awesome! Now works on multiple monitors, and has lots of different customization options... all for $1.99??? This app is an absolute steal! RUN dont walk to the Appstore and grab it!
