Tint and Track V3 is screen tinting and reading support software from Crossbow Education. It places a coloured overlay or a moving reading ruler over anything on your computer screen. It is designed to help reduce visual stress, a form of visual discomfort that can make text on a bright white screen appear to blur, float or move. It works on Windows PCs, Windows tablets and Mac computers, and is supplied as a single licence download.

How Tint and Track V3 helps

Tint and Track V3 gives you two ways to change how the screen looks. Overlay Mode tints the whole screen or a selected area, with adjustable colour, opacity, size and position. Reading Ruler Mode adds a coloured tracking line that follows your mouse pointer, so it is easier to keep your place in documents, webpages, PDFs and spreadsheets. A lock function holds the ruler in place when you need it to stay still.

All 16 Crossbow coloured overlay colours are included as standard, matching Crossbow's physical overlay range. You can also create your own custom colour and adjust the depth of colour. You can keep typing and clicking through the overlay or ruler, so your normal work carries on as usual.

For schools

• Gives pupils who already use Crossbow coloured overlays the same colour on screen, keeping support consistent between paper and computer work.
• Works in front of most applications, including Microsoft Office, web browsers, PDF readers and learning platforms.
• Can form part of a pupil's reasonable adjustments within the graduated approach set out in the SEND Code of Practice.
• Supports projected displays, which is useful for whole-class teaching on an interactive screen.

For the workplace

• Can be offered as a reasonable adjustment for an employee who finds long periods of screen reading uncomfortable.
• Works with email, business software and remote desktops, so it fits office, hybrid and home working.
• Multi-monitor support detects each screen automatically and lets you set the overlay and ruler independently on each one.
• V3 is published by Crossbow as a verified Microsoft publisher, with improved support for modern installation and deployment, which helps IT teams.

For parents and home use

• Makes homework, online reading and research more comfortable on the family computer.
• Personalised presets let each user save favourite settings and switch between them quickly.
• Keyboard shortcuts turn the overlay on or off and switch modes without hunting through menus.
• A free 14-day trial is available from Crossbow Education, so you can check it suits your child before buying.

Supporting visual stress and Meares-Irlen syndrome

Visual stress, sometimes called Meares-Irlen syndrome, describes discomfort when reading text, often black text on a bright white background. Text may appear to move, blur or float, which makes reading tiring. Different colours help different people, so being able to choose and fine-tune a precise tint matters. Tint and Track V3 lets each user find the colour and depth that feels most comfortable, and then use it across every program on screen.

The thinking behind colour

Crossbow Education's coloured overlay range follows the approach of Arnold Wilkins, whose research into visual stress and reading through colour informed the design of Crossbow's overlays and reading rulers. Tint and Track V3 brings that same colour range to the computer screen.

If you would like to try before you buy, the free trial is a simple first step. For schools or teams needing more than one licence, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

• Overlay Mode: tint the whole screen or a selected area, with adjustable colour, opacity, size and position.
• Reading Ruler Mode: customisable tracking-line styles, a ruler that follows the mouse pointer and a lock function.
• 16 Crossbow overlay colours included: six more than the previous version, plus a custom colour option and adjustable colour depth.
• Type and click through: keep working normally while the overlay or ruler is active.
• Multi-monitor support: detects the number of screens automatically, with independent overlays and rulers on each.
• Keyboard shortcuts: turn the overlay on or off and switch between modes.
• Personalised presets: save favourite settings and switch between them.
• Wide compatibility: works in front of most applications, including Microsoft Office, web browsers, PDF readers, email, learning platforms, business software, remote desktops and projected displays.
• Platforms: Windows 8, 10 or 11 PCs and tablets, and Mac (macOS Big Sur or newer).
• Format: single licence software download.
• Publisher: Crossbow Education, a verified Microsoft publisher.

• Matches the overlays users already know. All 16 Crossbow overlay colours are built in, so on-screen support matches paper-based support for visual stress.
• Two tools in one. Switch between a full or partial screen tint and a coloured reading ruler that follows your mouse.
• Works across classroom, home and office. Sits in front of Microsoft Office, browsers, PDFs, email, learning platforms and remote desktops.
• Ready for multi-screen set-ups. Each monitor gets its own overlay and reading ruler settings, set independently.
• From a long-standing UK specialist. Made by Crossbow Education, a verified Microsoft publisher, and supplied by The Dyslexia Shop.

Software, Apps and Updates

Tint and Track V3 is installed on your computer from a download. Version 3 has a simplified, cleaner interface and improved support for modern installation and deployment. A free 14-day trial is available from Crossbow Education.

Compatibility

Windows 8, 10 or 11 PCs and tablets, and Mac computers running macOS Big Sur or newer. The overlay works in front of most applications, including Microsoft Office, web browsers, PDF readers, email, learning platforms, business software, remote desktops and projected displays. Chromebooks are not listed as supported.

Delivery and Returns

This is a digital product and nothing is posted. See our Delivery and Returns page for full details.

Accessibility Notes

Keyboard shortcuts let you turn the overlay on or off and switch modes without using the menus. Saved presets mean settings do not need to be set up again each session.

• What is Tint and Track V3?
  Tint and Track V3 is screen tinting and reading ruler software from Crossbow Education. It places a coloured overlay or a moving coloured reading ruler over anything on your computer screen. It is designed to help reduce visual stress and make on-screen reading more comfortable on Windows and Mac.
• Does Tint and Track help with visual stress or Meares-Irlen syndrome?
  Yes, Tint and Track V3 is designed to help reduce visual stress when reading on screen. Visual stress can make text appear to blur, float or move. The software lets you choose from 16 Crossbow colours or a custom colour, and adjust the depth, so each person can find the tint that feels most comfortable.
• What is new in Tint and Track V3 compared with V2?
  V3 adds a simplified interface, six more overlay colours and independent overlays on each monitor. It now includes all 16 Crossbow overlay colours, and each screen can have its own overlay and reading ruler settings. Crossbow is also now a verified Microsoft publisher, with improved support for modern installation and deployment.
• Does Tint and Track V3 work on Mac and Chromebook?
  Tint and Track V3 works on Windows PCs, Windows tablets and Mac computers. Supported systems are Windows 8, 10 or 11 and macOS Big Sur or newer. Chromebooks are not listed as supported, so please check with us before buying for a Chromebook.
• Can schools use Tint and Track in the classroom?
  Yes, Tint and Track V3 works in front of most classroom software, including Microsoft Office, browsers, PDF readers, learning platforms and projected displays. Pupils who already use Crossbow coloured overlays can use the same colour on screen. This keeps their support consistent between paper and computer work.
• Can Tint and Track V3 be used as a workplace reasonable adjustment?
  Yes, screen tinting software can be provided as a reasonable adjustment for employees who find screen reading uncomfortable. Tint and Track V3 works with email, business software and remote desktops. Multi-monitor support suits office and hybrid set-ups. It may also be considered as part of a workplace needs assessment.
• Can I use Tint and Track at home for homework?
  Yes, Tint and Track V3 can be installed on a family Windows PC or Mac for homework, online reading and research. Each user can save their own presets. A free 14-day trial from Crossbow Education lets you check it suits your child before buying.
• Who is Tint and Track suitable for?
  Tint and Track V3 is suitable for anyone who reads on a computer and experiences visual discomfort, from school pupils to adults at work. It is used in homes, schools, colleges and workplaces. No particular age is specified by the publisher.
• Can Tint and Track be used in exams?
  Exam use is decided by the student's exam centre in line with current JCQ regulations. Coloured overlays are commonly permitted as an access arrangement where a candidate has an established need and uses them as their normal way of working. Whether software can be installed on exam computers is for the centre to decide. See the JCQ access arrangements page: https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/access-arrangements-and-special-consideration/
• Can I type while the overlay is switched on?
  Yes, you can type and click through the overlay or reading ruler while it is active. This means you can read, write and edit documents, emails and spreadsheets without turning the tint off.