Shady Notes lives above your screen, out of the way until you want it. There are four ways to bring it down, and you can use whichever suits the moment.
1. Scroll near the menu bar
Move the pointer to the top of the screen and scroll. The shade slides down over whatever you are doing. Scroll the other way and it goes back up.
The direction is configurable, and Shady Notes detects whether you are using a mouse or a trackpad, so the gesture feels natural on both.
2. Use the global hotkey
Press ⌃⌥⌘↓ (Control-Option-Command-Down) from inside any app to toggle the shade. You do not need to switch windows, use the Dock or press ⌘Tab first.
If that shortcut clashes with another app, rebind it to one you prefer.
3. Click the pull tab
While Shady Notes runs, a small amber tab hangs below the menu bar. Click it to toggle the shade. When your pointer moves away, the tab shrinks to a quiet dot so it does not get in the way.
4. Pin it, or make it a window
Sometimes you want your notes to stay put:
- Pin the shade open while you copy something from another app.
- Detach it into a regular window you can move and resize.
- Hide the chrome for a distraction-free writing surface.
Which to use
Most people end up with two: the scroll for a quick glance, and the hotkey when their hands are on the keyboard. Try each for a day and keep the ones you reach for.
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