Utility for 2 monitor setup at game table

[Dagda]

I just made an utility for having a "players view" map on a second monitor, while having the control for it on the dm's monitor. It's a very simple tool (I got to learn javascript). It basically will show an image and allow zoom/pan of the image.

Here's how I'm using it. During the game I
1. paint over what they can/can't see in photoshop
2. press F5
3. click on the PVControl's Update button

Voila - the image is displayed on the player's monitor

Details: I run this tool PVControl (for player view control) to view a file called map.jpg. I also run photoshop (but other programs will work). In photoshop I edit the map image, and I added a second layer that I can use to cover over the spots that the players can't see. I also wrote a simple macro, which upon my pressing F5 will set the current layer to fully opaque, then save it as map.jpg, then set the current layer to 50% transparent.

It is a very simple tool, written as an HTML page. I've tested it only with IE 6. I've even got it on a web page for you to try it out. Be aware, that running with the images on the web like this is slower than it is if you have the images locally. I have two images to test with 'map.jpg' and 'map2.jpg' If you want to use the tool, just use the 'save page' feature of your brower on the PVControl.htm document.

You can get it HERE .

 

[Psionicist]

Okay, now this only works on computers that ALREADY have two monitor support, right? So I need to run out and get a second video card if I want to use this?

True. You can also get a DVI->VGA adapter if your video card has a DVI port, and use two monitors on one video card.

 

[Dagda]

It is for a computer with two video cards really. Just two monitors of the same video signal will mean the players can see everything the DM does. I've got a setup where I have a dual video card with two monitors. On one monitor (the DM's) I run a whole bunch of stuff (DMs Familiar, photoshop, etc.) and the other shows images for the players to see (images of the creatures they encounter, images to add ambiance, and maps.

 

[JDragon]

Sounds very cool, I'll have to check it out when I have some free time.

JDragon

 

[Dagda]

Actually, you can check it out with a single monitor just by clicking on the link in the original message. It's just using a web browser to view the file. It will open two windows. You can get the idea on one monitor.

 

[Psionicist]

It is for a computer with two video cards really. Just two monitors of the same video signal will mean the players can see everything the DM does. I've got a setup where I have a dual video card with two monitors. On one monitor (the DM's) I run a whole bunch of stuff (DMs Familiar, photoshop, etc.) and the other shows images for the players to see (images of the creatures they encounter, images to add ambiance, and maps.

You don't need two video cards to configure your monitors the way you've described. Most newer cards can run two or more monitors as one big monitor or several "smaller".