u/MaltesePhantom

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

I originally built PhantomLayer as a simple Windows image overlay tool for keeping reference images visible while I worked. The more I used it, the more I wanted to pin other things too.

It eventually evolved into a customizable Windows workspace where you can pin almost any app, turn it into a PiP window or desktop widget, save complete workspaces, and restore everything exactly where you left it.

I use it daily for Discord, AI assistants, tutorials, documentation, Spotify, and reference images, but I think it could also be useful for developers, gamers, designers, architects, students, and anyone tired of constantly Alt-Tabbing.

It's free to try on the Microsoft Store. I'd love honest feedback on the idea, the UI, the features, or any workflows you think it could improve.

https://i.redd.it/9asoyvrn2mhh1.gif

A while ago I built a small Windows utility that simply let me overlay reference images on top of my desktop and work through them. I mainly used it for UI work and other reference-heavy tasks where I was constantly switching between windows.

As I kept using it, I found myself wanting to pin other things besides images.

Today PhantomLayer can pin almost any application, shrink it into a PiP-style window, or collapse it into a tiny draggable anchor that stays out of the way until you need it again.

The feature I'm probably happiest with is Widget Mode. It lets you turn almost any application into your own personalized desktop widget, whether that's Discord, documentation, tutorials, Reddit, AI assistants, monitoring tools, Spotify, or anything else you want to keep visible while you work or play. Since they're real applications, you're not limited to a predefined set of widgets.

Another feature I use every day is Workspace Restore. PhantomLayer allows you to save your entire setup and, with one click, reopens your pinned apps, restores their positions, PiP and anchor states, and reloads any image overlays so you can continue exactly where you left off.

It originally started as a simple image overlay tool, but I've found myself using it for far more than that. I can imagine it being useful for developers, gamers, streamers, students, 3D artists, PCB designers, architects, or really anyone who likes having useful information visible without constantly Alt-Tabbing.

The attached images shows some of what it can do, but it definitely doesn't cover every feature or workflow.

It's currently Windows only, and anyone is welcome to try it for free on the Microsoft Store. More than anything, I'd really appreciate honest feedback whether that's about the idea, the UI, features you'd like to see, or even reasons why you wouldn't use something like this. I plan to keep actively improving it as the community grows, so every suggestion and criticism is genuinely valuable.

I'm especially curious about the workflows I haven't thought of yet. If you had a tool that could pin almost any application anywhere on your desktop, how would you use it?

https://i.redd.it/r0iti98xrlhh1.gif