# How to make an overlay that overlays over other program
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784
**Category:** Coding Questions
**Created:** [September 15, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784 "2022-09-15T17:33:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@5x9x7x2x7x9](https://discourse.processing.org/u/5x9x7x2x7x9)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:33pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/1 "2022-09-15T17:33:07Z")
Hello, I was wondering if there was any way to make it so I could have a program, that if you switch to another program, it would still be on your screen and you could interact with the other program normally?
For example, a line that points from the middle of your screen to your mouse cursor.
Or maybe even effects
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### Author:  [@NumericPrime](https://discourse.processing.org/u/NumericPrime)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/2 "2022-09-15T17:37:14Z")
Do you mean that you want to detect if your sketch is the “active” window?
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### Author:  [@5x9x7x2x7x9](https://discourse.processing.org/u/5x9x7x2x7x9)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/3 "2022-09-15T17:44:39Z")
No I want it to go ontop of other programs without affecting the programs in any way, for example if you clicked on the program it wouldnt switch between them
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### Author:  [@NumericPrime](https://discourse.processing.org/u/NumericPrime)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:47pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/4 "2022-09-15T17:47:05Z")
So you mean that the program only puts a graphic on the screen and doesn’t interfere with any of inputs “meant” for another program?
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### Author:  [@5x9x7x2x7x9](https://discourse.processing.org/u/5x9x7x2x7x9)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:48pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/5 "2022-09-15T17:48:05Z")
For example, Im playing a game, and I have a white line pointing from the middle of my screen to my mouse
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### Author:  [@NumericPrime](https://discourse.processing.org/u/NumericPrime)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/6 "2022-09-15T17:49:36Z")
I understand… There maybe is some trickery to be done with plain Java but processing graphics aren’t intended for that purpose.
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### Author:  [@5x9x7x2x7x9](https://discourse.processing.org/u/5x9x7x2x7x9)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 5:54pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/7 "2022-09-15T17:54:05Z")
Okay, I’m sorry for wasting your time.
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### Author:  [@NumericPrime](https://discourse.processing.org/u/NumericPrime)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/8 "2022-09-15T18:26:28Z")
I just did some research on that and you can create overlays using Java (and therefore processing) take a look at this code:
```auto
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.MouseEvent;
JFrame drawingFrame=new JFrame("CustomWindow");
drawingFrame.setUndecorated(true);
drawingFrame.setBackground(new Color(0,0,0,0));
drawingFrame.setSize(640,640);
drawingFrame.getContentPane().setLayout(new BorderLayout());
drawingFrame.getContentPane().add(new JTextField(10),"North");
drawingFrame.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
drawingFrame.setVisible(true);
drawingFrame.getRootPane().putClientProperty("apply.awt.draggableWindowBackground",false);
drawingFrame.pack();
```
I could try if I can manage to force the normal processing window in such a state.
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### Author:  [@NumericPrime](https://discourse.processing.org/u/NumericPrime)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/how-to-make-an-overlay-that-overlays-over-other-program/38784/9 "2022-09-15T19:03:43Z")
@5x9x7x2x7x9
Here is the program you described! I hope thats what you need!
```auto
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
Canvas canv=new ResultOutput();
JFrame drawingFrame=new JFrame("CustomWindow");
void setup() {
size(50, 50);
//creates an empty window
drawingFrame.setUndecorated(true);
drawingFrame.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
drawingFrame.add(canv);
canv.setBackground(new Color(0, 0, 0, 0));
drawingFrame.setSize(displayWidth, displayHeight);
drawingFrame.setAlwaysOnTop(true);
drawingFrame.setVisible(true);
drawingFrame.getRootPane().putClientProperty("apply.awt.draggableWindowBackground", false);
drawingFrame.pack();
//hides the Processing window
getSurface().setVisible(false);
}
Point p=MouseInfo.getPointerInfo().getLocation();
void draw() {
//get the mousePosition
p=MouseInfo.getPointerInfo().getLocation();
canv.revalidate();
//refresh the canvas
SwingUtilities.updateComponentTreeUI(drawingFrame);
}
void mousePressed() {
}
public class ResultOutput extends Canvas {
public void paint(Graphics g) {
int strokeWidth=5;
Graphics2D g2=(Graphics2D) g;
//here you can paint the screen
g2.setColor(Color.BLACK);
g2.setStroke(new BasicStroke(strokeWidth,BasicStroke.CAP_ROUND,BasicStroke.JOIN_ROUND));
g2.drawLine(displayWidth/2,displayHeight/2,p.x,p.y);
//g2.drawOval(p.x,p.y,strokeWidth/2,strokeWidth/2);
//This allows you to always click
g2.clearRect(p.x,p.y,1,1);
}
}
```
Edit: added a way to set a custom strokeWeight