What should i do about Screenshots?

[Narvi]

I was wondering if anyone could recommend the best way to make a software screenshots page. In particularly that compression level (file-size) and dimensions.

I use a program called image converter (http://www.stintercorp.com/genx/imageconverter.php) to compress my screenshots, and then create thumbnails - my only problem is I'm having a hard time finding the best settings.

At the moment I'm using JPG compression as about 85 quality (800x600) which looks great on everything but gradient backgrounds, the problem is the screenshot files are close to 150-250k? If I go to less quality I get it down to 50-75k, but then you have 'pixilation' -

My question is which do customers prefer higher-quality (longer downloads), or faster download with pixlation?

Any ideas? Is 800x600 to large for a screenshot?

Thank for all you help,

Navri,
NavriASoft Inc.

[imaginemn]

Try using SnagIt from http://www.snagit.com. This program is idea for what you need. Higher res images are ok for broadband users but would be a pain for dial-up users. The nice thing about SnagIt is that it's only $39.95 but it can do wonders. I've been using this for around 5-6 years now. They also have a free 30 day trail so you can try it to see if it's better than the tool you are using now.

imaginemn

[ninjitsumo]

I never understand why anyone (using a Windows OS PC) would need screenshot software.
Windows has a capture feature built in.

Simply go to the screen you want to capture and press the Print Screen key on your keyboard.
This copies the screen to the clipboard.

Once the screen is captured, you may go to your favorite graphics program and Paste the
captured screen. Then, you can crop it, resize it, or do anything you wish to it.

There is an excellent free graphics utility available (if you like it you can always register it)
called Graphic Workshop Professional. It is made by Alchemy Mindworks.

Graphic Workshop Professional is an image management package. It can be regarded as a simple
picture viewer, a file converter or a sophisticated image processor, depending on what you require
of it. Graphic Workshop supports virtually all the popular bitmapped graphic file formats and quite a
few really obscure
ones.

Processing files can be as simple as converting between formats or as complex as color reduction,
rotating
an image in space and enhancing its details. It can convert any type of file format to another with
little to no degradation. Here are a few of the file formats it can convert:

.art, .avi, .bga, .bmp/.dib, .cals, .cam, .cdr, .cut, .dcx, .emf, .eps, .exe, .fif, .fits, .fli, .flc, .fpx, .gif,
.gem/
.img, .hrz, .ico, .iff/.lbm/.ham (Amiga Formats), .jpg/.jpeg/.jif and Progressive .jpg, .kdc, .kqp, .mac, .mid, .mov, .mp3, .mpg, .msp, .pcd, .pct, .pcx, .pic, .png, .psd/.pdd, .psp,
.rle, .scr,
.sfw, .sgi, .ras, .tga, .tiff, .ttf, .txt,
.uue, .wav, .wbmp, Windows Wallpaper,

[ninjitsumo]

I never understand why anyone (using a Windows OS PC) would need screenshot software. Windows has a capture feature built in.

Simply go to the screen you want to capture and press the Print Screen key on your keyboard. This copies the screen to the clipboard.

Once the screen is captured, you may go to your favorite graphics program and Paste the
captured screen. Then, you can crop it, resize it, or do anything you wish to it.

There is an excellent free graphics utility available (if you like it you can always register it)
called Graphic Workshop Professional (GWSPro). It is made by Alchemy Mindworks.

Graphic Workshop Professional is an image management package. It can be regarded as a
simple picture viewer, a file converter or a sophisticated image processor, depending on
what you require of it. Graphic Workshop supports virtually all the popular bitmapped graphic
file formats and quite a few really obscure ones.

Processing files can be as simple as converting between formats or as complex as color
reduction, rotating an image in space and enhancing its details. It can convert any type
of file format to another with little to no degradation. Here are a few of the file formats it
can convert:

.art, .avi, .bga, .bmp/.dib, .cals, .cam, .cdr, .cut, .dcx, .emf, .eps, .exe, .fif, .fits, .fli, .flc,
.fpx, .gif, .gem/.img, .hrz, .ico,
.iff/.lbm/.ham (Amiga Formats), .jpg/.jpeg/.jif and Progressive .jpg, .kdc, .kqp, .mac, .mid, .mov, .mp3, .mpg, .msp, .pcd, .pct, .pcx, .pic, .png, .psd/.pdd,
.psp, .rle, .scr, .sfw, .sgi, .ras,
.tga, .tiff, .ttf, .txt, .uue, .wav, .wbmp, Windows Wallpaper, .wmf, .wpg, .xbm and additional
plug-ins.

Notice some of the formats are not graphical, but audio and video. This program is very
simple to use and requires no coding. It is totally menu controlled to do the conversions and enhancements.

Using the capture technique I mentioned above along with GWSPro, anyone can produce outstanding graphics for any project. I also use the PhotoED program bundled with Microsoft
Office to produce stunning graphical presentations. So, if you also happen to have Microsoft
Office installed, you already have a tool you can use to solve your present graphical problems.

I don't want to seem like a commercial for Alchemy Mindworks, but I must give credit where
credit is due. I own over $30,000 in graphics software, but the three tools I use 99% of the
time are the Print Screen key, PhotoED, and GWSPro.

GWSPro, as I mentioned before, is free to download. You will find it to be one of the best
graphical tools you will ever own. You will like it so much that you will probably register it.
The registration fee is around $40, but I would pay it if it were $100 or more. It is that good!
Oh yes, I almost forgot. GWSPro also makes professional contact sheets and thumbnails.

To download GWSPro, just go to the Alchemy Mindworks web site. They don't even require
you to fill out a form to get it. The form is optional.

The web site is
http://www.alchemymindworks.com. If you go there, you will also find other free graphics programs. Most of them are free to download too.
I also use their GIF Consturction Set Professional. This program will combine pictures of different formats to let you build static or Animated Banners and GIFS. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what you will find at the site.

Let me know what you think about my suggestions. It's not very often that I recommend
free tools. I have found that when it comes to webmaster resources that the free stuff is
worth what you pay for it. It did not take me long to realize that if I want to make money
on the internet I would have to fork out some cash. The programs available for free at
Alchemy Mindworks are the exception to the rule.

I make my living selling products on the internet. Unfortunately, Alchemy Mindworks has no
affiliate program or partner program. They make great software nd market is as shareware.
In my opinion, it is the best shareware you can find and I appreciate it. If Adobe or Corel
made this software they would probably sell it for a minimum of $500, seriously!

I hope this long, long post assists you. I wish I could see your face when you realize I am not
over hyping Alchemy Mindworks. Take care.

[ninjitsumo]

Oops! Sorry for post #3. I accidentally hit the Post Quick Reply Button and there is no way to delete your post, as far as I know.

[ninjitsumo]

Hey Narvi,

I have a program you may be interested in called Cam Studio.

CamStudio is a tool for recording screen activity into standard AVI video files. If you move the cursor, launch a new program, type some text, click a few buttons, or select some menus -- anything that you see on your screen -- CamStudio will be able to record all these and allow you to play them back later on. It is an alternative to making static screen captures and makes an effective presentation tool.

You can use CamStudio to
· demonstrate features of a new software
· create movies used in user trainings
· track the progress of a program that executes for a long time
· record the sequence of steps that cause the occurrence of bugs in faulty software
· record a movie stream
· convert AVI files to Flash (SWF) files.

You can create demonstrations of programs by recording the movement of the cursor, the selection of menus, the entering of text or the display of messages. These demonstrations, when shown to users, can illustrate features and usage of the program in a short period time with maximum clarity.

The recorded movies can be added to the accompanying help files of commercial software to make them more professional.

The recorded videos, if converted to a stream-able format, can also be posted to your websites to enliven them. With broadband becoming more affordable, multimedia websites are the preferred and more effective means of communication.

This program is open source. So, I can give it away. Let me know if you would like me to send it to you.

[Thermit]

If you are trying to create reduced size screenshots that are still readable and look nice here's a trick...

Open the large screen shot image in an image editing program. Run a soften or blur filter on the image and then reduce to desired size. Bluring first reduces pixelation on resize. Use more blur for larger size reductions.

[imaginemn]

I still think SnagIT is the best tool for this. I used many of the tools ninjitsumo mentioned and SnagIT fit Navri's need the best IMO. It's inexpensive and does wonders. The same people that make SnagIT also make CamStudio. Not only can you create screenshots in multiple formats but you can also have it do timed screenshots and autoscroll. A BIG PLUS with websites. You can also do a screenshot and automatically save it at a percentage bigger/smaller than the actual size. Too many other features to mention. Every Programmer, Business Analyst, Project Manager, and Marketing Guru should have this tool.

It can also extract "all images from a website" even from video games. Just check it out. It's free for 30 days. If you don't like don't buy it. It can also capture editable text from your screen, and also do video that you can import into flash for tutorials. I also like the "region" capture feature.

The print sceen button works ok for basic on screen capturing but when you need to do many screenshots it can be too time consuming. I can create 20 screenshots in a couple of minutes by doing Alt + Z with SnagIT.

SnagIt has received PC Magazine's Editors' Choice Award for the second consecutive year!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1588108,00.asp

BTW, I don't work for them.

[ninjitsumo]

Originally Posted by imaginemn

I still think SnagIT is the best tool for this. I used many of the tools ninjitsumo mentioned and SnagIT fit Navri's need the best IMO. It's inexpensive and does wonders. The same people that make SnagIT also make CamStudio. Not only can you create screenshots in multiple formats but you can also have it do timed screenshots and autoscroll. A BIG PLUS with websites. You can also do a screenshot and automatically save it at a percentage bigger/smaller than the actual size. Too many other features to mention. Every Programmer, Business Analyst, Project Manager, and Marketing Guru should have this tool.

It can also extract "all images from a website" even from video games. Just check it out. It's free for 30 days. If you don't like don't buy it. It can also capture editable text from your screen, and also do video that you can import into flash for tutorials. I also like the "region" capture feature.

The print sceen button works ok for basic on screen capturing but when you need to do many screenshots it can be too time consuming. I can create 20 screenshots in a couple of minutes by doing Alt + Z with SnagIT.

SnagIt has received PC Magazine's Editors' Choice Award for the second consecutive year!

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1588108,00.asp

BTW, I don't work for them.

I guess if you put it that way...

I will dig out my SnagIt disk and take a second look. I don't recall, but there was a reason why I stopped using it. It may have locked up on me in the middle of something important and I got disgusted with it, vowing never to use it again (that has happened once or twice). I have become so adept at grabbing and pasting using the Print Screen key all these yers that I have not really looked at the frills in programs like SnagIt in a very long time. It's similar to the contest between Mavis Beacon and the dot-matrix printer a few years ago. Why print if you can type a thousand wpm?

So, I'll give it another look. I continue to hail the merits of the methods I discussed earlier as well. We all prefer to use whatever works for us in the long run. By the way, I don't work for Alchemy Mindworks. I just like their ideas for graphic tools. Who am I to suggest a substitute to the winner of PC Magazine's Editors' Choice Award?

[sweatnspice]

I've used Solid Capture in the past with good results, then just converted the image to what I needed to use.

[Atom]

*moved from Marketing Forum*

[TubHosting]

hmm, always been fond of the print screen, paste, cut, paste, edit, save. Always love photoshop or you could always use gimp.