Category: Tips

Capturing Alt+Tab in Citrix sessions

Posted onAuthorEmilLeave a comment

When using a Citrix client to access a remote computer then the Alt + Tab shortcut normally switches out of the client and selects other applications on the client machine. This is most likely not what you expect when being immersed in the remote Windows desktop session. Luckily, there’s a way to let the Citrix client capture the shortcut and switch between applications on the remote desktop:

https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX232298

For 64-bit Windows, put this into a .reg file for easy reuse:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Citrix\ICA Client\Engine\Lockdown Profiles\All Regions\Lockdown\Virtual Channels\Keyboard]
"TransparentKeyPassthrough"="Remote"

Execute the .reg file and restart the Citrix client and you should be good to go.

Note that this setting may be reset when updating the Citrix client so it may have to be reapplied afterwards (hence the use a of .reg file rarther manuall editing the registry).

Related tip

If you experience blurry text in the remote desktop, then this tip might help: https://lazyadmin.nl/it/citrix-receiver-blurry-in-windows-10/

/Emil

Removing haze from images with Unsharp Mask

Posted onAuthorEmilLeave a comment

This is a handy tip for removing (or lessening) haze from an image using the unsharp mask filter found in most image editing programs. Normally that filter is used for sharpening an image, but it has more uses…

Here’s an image of the Chrysler Building in New York (taken from the Empire State Building if you’re curious). It was a hazy day when I took the picture so the image low contrast:

Chrysler Building - before unsharp mask

This haze can be fixed using the Unsharp mask filter. The dialog looks like this in Photoshop Elements 5:

Unsharp Mask dialog in Photoshop Elements 5

I use the following values:

  1. Amount: 40
  2. Radius: 150
  3. Threshold: 0

The resulting image is much better:

Chrysler Building - after unsharp mask

As hazy images are almost inevitable when shooting outside with long distances, I thought this might make a good tip. BTW, I first saw it in a Swedish Photo mag called “DigitalFoto för alla”.

/Emil

How to create a transparent GIF with GIMP

Posted onAuthorEmilLeave a comment

The GIMP is a great, free image manipulation program. It can do a lot but it’s not always obvious how it can perform a certain task.

For example, creating a transparent GIF was something I could not find how to do. Luckily, there are other bloggers out there to help:

The Gimp: Making Colors in a GIF Transparent (A.P. Lawrence).

Good tip and it works great.