Create “virtual” display for use with remote desktop

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I frequently use Remote Desktop to access my home iMac from my university campus (using a 13" MacBook with resolution 1280×800). The iMac has two displays, the built in 27" 2560×1440 display and an external 1920×1080 display. There are three issues:

  1. Scaling down the resolution makes everything small, or I have to do awkward/annoying panning. I typically only view the 1920×1080 display over Remote Desktop, but even then it's sub-optimal.
  2. Large displays require high bandwidth. This isn't an issue if I'm at a proper WiFi network such as my university campus, but occasionally I also use my phone's tethering connection.
  3. Everything I do over Remote Desktop can be seen in person on the real displays.

Proposed solution: Somehow create a "virtual" display that's 1280×800.

  1. It's the same resolution as my MacBook's screen, so it won't have to scale.
  2. It's smaller, and will therefore use less bandwidth.
  3. It won't be a physical display, so it won't be visible in person.

Now, is there any way to produce such a "virtual display"?

Best Answer

You could use the Session Select feature of Apple Screen Sharing service. It allows you to log in into a "virtual" user session without showing anything on physical screen. To do so you should:

  1. create second user account and log him in "physically",
  2. connect using Screen Sharing to your iMac with your PRIMARY user credentials,
  3. Screen Sharing will provide you with 2 choices: "Share" screen with current physical user or "Log In" in a "virtual" session,
  4. select "Log In" and here you are: you have a "virtual" screen not visible to current physical user.
  5. You can now change screen resolution to match your MacBook's screen.
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