Create "virtual" display for use with remote desktop I frequently use Remote Desktop to access my home iMac from my university campus (using a 13" MacBook with resolution 1280x800). The iMac has two displays, the built in 27" 2560x1440 display and an external 1920x1080 display. There are three issues:


Scaling down the resolution makes everything small, or I have to do awkward/annoying panning. I typically only view the 1920x1080 display over Remote Desktop, but even then it's sub-optimal.
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.
Everything I do over Remote Desktop can be seen in person on the real displays.


Proposed solution: Somehow create a "virtual" display that's 1280x800.


It's the same resolution as my MacBook's screen, so it won't have to scale.
It's smaller, and will therefore use less bandwidth.
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"?
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:


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