From WIRED · Justin Pot · · 1m 30s
This App Makes Your Laptop Screen Look Like Paper
Paperman adds a paper texture overlay to your entire screen to reduce eye strain and help you focus on work.
In brief
Paperman adds a paper texture overlay to your entire screen to reduce eye strain and help you focus on work. Paperman, an app from Finnish studio DoublOne, overlays paper texture on your screen to make reading and writing easier on the eyes, though its creators admit the science is unproven. Originally reported by…
An app that mimics paper texture
Paperman, from Finnish developers DoublOne, overlays a paper texture onto everything on your screen. It works like a CRT filter but for paper instead of retro televisions.
Why paper texture might help
DoublOne collected academic research showing matte surfaces and paper texture reduce visual fatigue. Modern displays are the opposite: razor-sharp grids of backlight.
“Modern displays are the opposite: an intensely uniform, razor-sharp grid of backlight.”
How to use Paperman
Choose from textures like Classic Matte or Whisper Weave. Adjust intensity, exclude specific apps, and toggle the effect on and off with keyboard shortcuts.
Best for reading and writing
Paperman works best with text. Everything on screen gets textured, including images and videos, but you can disable it for specific applications or displays.
No proven science, but users love it
Zoé Kilperti of DoublOne calls Paperman a design hypothesis, not science-backed. Users report it helps them focus and get through workdays.
“The feedback has been lovely, and it's been really rewarding to see how much it helps people get through their workdays.”
Pricing and availability
Paperman costs twelve dollars for macOS and Windows. Windows has a free version limited to one hour daily. macOS users can try it through Setapp.
The takeaway
Paperman, an app from Finnish studio DoublOne, overlays paper texture on your screen to make reading and writing easier on the eyes, though its creators admit the science is unproven.
