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Magnifying The Screen In Mac OS X

This page gives you step-by-step instructions on how to launch and use Zoom, the Magnifier built into OS X.

Note: Mac key convention: 'Ctrl' is used for 'Control', 'Apple' is used for 'Command' and 'Alt' is used for the 'Option' key.

Note: For keyboard access make sure 'Full keyboard access' is turned on - you can turn it on or off; by pressing 'Ctrl' + 'F1' at any time.

Instructions

1. Make sure you are in 'Finder' - press 'Apple' + 'Tab' if necessary to cycle through open applications until you return to 'Finder'.
2. Click on the 'Apple' menu or press 'Ctrl' + 'F2'.
3. Click on 'System Preferences...' as shown in Fig 1 or press the 'down' arrow key to highlight it and then press 'Enter'.
   
   
   Fig 1
   
4. Click on the 'Universal Access' icon or press 'Tab' repeatedly (you might need to press 'Ctrl' + 'F7' first) to cycle through the icons until the 'Universal Access' icon is highlighted with a blue border as shown in Fig 2 and then press the 'Spacebar'.
   
   
   Fig 2
   
5. Click on the 'Seeing' tab or press 'Ctrl' + 'F7' (once or twice) to highlight one of the four tabs for example 'Keyboard' and then press the left or right arrow key to select the 'Seeing' tab (highlighted in blue).
6. Click on the 'Turn on Zoom' button shown in Fig 3 or press 'Tab' to highlight the 'Turn on Zoom' button and press the 'Spacebar'.
   
   
   Fig 3
   
7. To zoom in press 'Alt' + 'Apple' + '+' (plus), this zooms to your maximum level of magnification set in 'Zoom Options...'. The 'preview rectangle' (black bordered box) shows the area of the screen that you will see at maximum zoom (see Fig 3 above). To step back or zoom out press 'Alt' + 'Apple' + '-' (minus). Move your mouse around the screen to view the magnified page.
8. To change the Maximum and Minimum Zoom settings click on 'Zoom Options...' or press 'Tab' until 'Zoom Options...' is highlighted and then press the 'Spacebar'.
9. Click on the 'Maximum Zoom:' gauge bar to increase or decrease the Magnification level or press 'Tab' (you might need to press 'Ctrl' + 'F7' first) to highlight the 'slider' on the gauge bar as shown in Fig 4 and use the 'left' and 'right' arrow keys to increase or decrease the maximum magnification level.
10. Click on the 'Minimum Zoom:' gauge bar to increase or decrease the Magnification level or press 'Tab' (you might need to press 'Ctrl' + 'F7' first) to highlight the 'slider' on the gauge bar and use the 'left'and 'right' arrow keys to increase or decrease the minimum magnification level.
    
    
    Fig 4
    
11. When you have finished click on the 'Done' button or press 'Tab' until it is selected and then press 'Enter'.
12. Finally click the 'Close' (red) button at the top of the 'Universal Access' window or press 'Apple' + 'W' to close the window and return to the Finder desktop.

To turn magnification on or off at any time press 'Alt' + 'Apple' + '*' (asterisk).

Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings cannot be changed due to local IT policies - contact your local IT support for further help.

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