ZoomText 11 Magnifier/ Reader

ZoomText 11 is a magnification application developed by AI Squared

Also referred to as a “Large Print Program”

ZoomText also has screen reader functionality

You can also access the ZoomText 11 User Guide for a full explanation of settings and features.

Starting ZoomText

ZoomText 11 runs like any other program in Windows. However, as the computer becomes more difficult to visually navigate as we increase our level of zoom, ZoomText provides users with a large variety of keyboard commands. There are keyboard commands for almost every feature in ZoomText, but users certainly don’t need to memorize them all to become efficient ZoomText users. Below are some of the basic commands which will help you control ZoomText.
Start ZoomText	Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Z
Enable/ Disable ZoomText	Caps Lock + Ctrl + Enter
Switch to ZoomText	Caps Lock + Ctrl + U
Enable/ Disable Voice	Caps Lock + Alt + Enter

ZoomText 11 Magnifier Tab

Zoom Level

Magnifies the screen from 1x to 60x
There are several ways to change the Zoom Level when using ZoomText 11.
Via the Keyboard
Decrease Zoom	Caps Lock + Down Arrow
Increase Zoom	Caps Lock + Up Arrow
Zoom to 1x Toggle	Caps Lock + Enter
Via the ZoomText Keyboard Software
Decrease Zoom	F5
Increase Zoom	F6
Via the Mouse Wheel
Mouse Wheel Zoom	Caps Lock + Shift and Roll Mouse Wheel

Window​

The Window button allows users to select the zoom window type. The types of zoom windows that are available depend on whether you are running your system with one monitor or multiple monitors that are set to “Extend these displays”. Below we’ll go over the options for users with a single monitor.
Full	The entire screen is magnified at the same level
Overlay	A magnification window approximately one forth the size of the entire screen sits on top of the screen.
Lens	A magnification window that follows the cursor.
Line	A line of magnification that stretches horizontally across the screen.
Docked	The screen is split into two vertical sections, one with no magnification and the other with magnification.

Color Enhancements

Color enhancements change the colors you see on screen. Use this feature to change background and font colors. These changes will also be applied to everything on screen, including images and video. Color enhancements improve screen clarity for easier viewing and reduced eyestrain.
ZoomText 11 allows users to choose from preset color enhancement schemes or create custom schemes. The preset schemes include:
Invert Brightness
Reverse Video
Yellow on Black
Blue Dye
Black & White
White & Black
Users also have the option of creating their own color enhancement scheme. Go to the Color Enhancements split button and select the bottom half of the control. This will open a dropdown menu with Settings. Settings will open the Enhancements window in the Color tab. Under Color Enhancement select Custom and the Custom Settings portion of the menu will become editable.
Users can change effects (including brightness and color inversion) and adjust brightness and contrast. Users can also choose how the color enhancements are applied to the screen – they can choose to apply onto to the zoom window, only to the background, or have the enhancements applied to all parts of the screen.
ZoomText 11 allows users to enable and disable color enhancements using the standard keyboard and the ZoomText Keyboard Software
Standard Keyboard – toggle keyboard enhancements on and off	Caps Lock + C
ZoomText Keyboard Software – toggle keyboard enhancements on and off	F3

Pointer Enhancements

What is the pointer? The pointer is the what most people think of as the mouse. It is the “mouse pointer”.
The pointer is typically an arrow but will take on different shapes depending on what the context it is in. For example, you might see your cursor turn into a hand icon or an I-beam.
ZoomText has several preset schemes for the pointer for users to choose from. Users can also create their own pointer enhancement scheme by selecting the bottom half of the Pointer split button and then selecting Settings from the drop down menu. This will launch the Enhancements menu in the Pointer tab. Under Pointer Enhancements, selecting Custom will enable the Custom Settings section of the tab.
Users can choose to enable or disable ZoomText smooth pointers. This feature prevents pointers from starting to look pixelated as magnification is increased. Users can also choose the size of their mouse pointer, from standard to extra large. The color of the pointer can also be customized here.
Users can also choose to enable a pointer locator in this section. Pointer locators help users locate the pointer on the screen by adding a circle or crosshairs. Users can customize the locator’s thickness, color, and transparency. Users can also control when the locator is displayed. Options including: always, when pointer is stationary, when pointer is moving, or when modifier key (Shift, Alt, Ctrl, or Win) is pressed.
Enable/ Disable Pointer Enhancements	Caps Lock + P

Cursor Enhancements

What is the cursor? The cursor refers to the insertion point in text. Say you open up a Microsoft Word document, you click into the document and you’ll see a cursor appear. With standard settings, the cursor is typically simply a blinking horizontal line.
ZoomText has several preset schemes for the cursor for users to choose from. Users can also create their own cursor enhancement scheme by selecting the bottom half of the Cursor split button and then selecting Settings from the drop down menu. This will launch the Enhancements menu in the Cursor tab. Under Cursor Enhancements, selecting Custom will enable the Custom Settings section of the tab.
Under custom settings, users can select the type of cursor locator of wedges, circle, or frame. They can also choose the size, color, and transparency of the cursor locator. Users can also control when the locator is displayed. Options including: always, when cursor is stationary, when cursor is moving, or when modifier key (Shift, Alt, Ctrl, or Win) is pressed.
Enable/ Disable Cursor Enhancements	Caps Lock + R

Focus Enhancements

What is focus? You can think of focus as whatever you’ve clicked onto. On your desktop, if you single right-click on an icon, that icon now has focus. Similarly, if you’re in a web browser and you click on the address bar, the address bar has focus.
ZoomText has several preset schemes for the focus for users to choose from. Users can also create their own focus enhancement scheme by selecting the bottom half of the Focus split button and then selecting Settings from the drop down menu. This will launch the Enhancements menu in the Focus tab. Under Focus Enhancements, selecting Custom will enable the Custom Settings section of the tab.
Under custom settings, users can select the type of focus locator from block, underline, or frame. They can also choose the thickness, margin, color, and transparency of the focus locator. Users can also control when the locator is displayed. Options including: continuously, briefly, or when modifier key (Shift or Ctrl) is pressed.
Enable/ Disable Focus Enhancements	Caps Lock + F

Navigation

The Navigation button displays a menu that opens the Navigation Settings dialog where you can adjust how ZoomText will scroll the zoom window to keep moving objects in view, including the mouse pointer, text cursor, keyboard focus and other objects that appear and move about the screen. By default, the zoom is set to follow the mouse pointer. However, you can also move the zoom around the screen via the keyboard.
Scroll Up	Caps Lock + Shift + Up Arrow
Scroll Down	Caps Lock + Shift + Down Arrow
Scroll Left	Caps Lock + Shift + Left Arrow
Scroll Right	Caps Lock + Shift + Right Arrow

Helpful Windows Key Commands

There are a number of keyboard commands for Windows that can be useful for people using magnification software. Below is a list of the most common key commands, but you can find more on the Windows Support Keyboard Shortcuts page.
Opens the Quick Launch Toolbar with focus on the Windows Search bar	Windows Button (Win)
Minimize all open applications. You can press the key combination to restore the minimized applications.	Win + D
Put focus on the Windows Taskbar. Pressing the key combination again will allow you to cycle focus between open and pinned applications.	Win + T
When focus is on the desktop, pressing this key combination will cycle focus between the Start Menu, Desktop, Taskbar, and Notification Area.	Tab / Shift + Tab
Move between open applications. Hold Alt and move through applications by pressing tab or the arrow keys.	Alt + Tab
Type Windows-Left Arrow and the active application will shift to fill the left half of the screen. Windows-Right sends it to the right, Windows-Down places it in the middle of the screen, and Windows-Up maximizes. It’s a really handy option when you want multiple application windows neatly arranged.	Win + Arrow Keys
Exits the current application.	Alt + F4
Opens up a search within the active application.	Ctrl + F
Selects all text in the current application.	Ctrl + A
Cuts the highlighted content and puts it on the clipboard.	Ctrl + X
Copies the highlighted content and puts it on the clipboard.	Ctrl + C
Pastes content from clipboard.	Ctrl + V
Opens the context menu.	Shift + F10

Need Help Remembering ZoomText Key Commands?

Feel free to bookmark or print the ZoomText 11 Key Commands Quick Reference document.