Chapter 11: Setting Up Your Desktop

Changing the Desktop's Visual Effects

Windows has a number of cute -but inconsequential visual effects that create the illusion of motion or three-dimensionality on the desktop, like the thin shadow that surrounds the Start menu. You can control these effects from the Effects dialog box (shown earlier in Figure 11-9). To open this dialog box, first open the Display Properties dialog box by right-clicking any open space on the desktop and selecting Properties from the shortcut menu. Then click the Effects button on the Appearance tab.

The check boxes in the Effects dialog box are self-explanatory. The effects themselves are harmless, so don't be afraid to experiment with them.