ScreenShot posts

Take easy web screenshots with Aviary

by Jay Hathaway Jul 2nd 2009

Aviary, maker of excellent web-based creative tools with bird-themed names, has done it again. The latest addition to their impressive collection is an easy-to-use web app for taking screenshots of any webpage. Just put the URL of the page into your address bar after http://aviary.com/ and you're good to go.

Once you've got a page open in Aviary, you can crop and edit it online. The standard brush, text and shape tools you're familiar with from other image editing programs are available, so you might be able to get away with doing everything you want on the web instead of resorting to Photoshop.Two caveats: you'll need to sign up for an Aviary account to save your work, and editing results may vary if you use the CPU-intensive "advanced editing" features.

[via Lifehacker]

Tags: aviary, crop, editor, image, screenshot

Filed under: OS Updates, Windows, Microsoft, Beta, Windows x64

Is Windows 7 SP1 already being worked on?

by Lee Mathews May 29th 2009

If you were developing one of the most talked about pieces of software in the past decade and testing of your release candidate was going pretty well, what would you do next? Why, you'd start working on the first service pack for your as-yet-unfinished operating system!

No, that doesn't make a lot of sense. You be the judge. According to information from Winfuture.de and Wzor.net - the Russian site that always seems to have early information about leaked Windows 7 builds - Microsoft has already begun working on SP1.

Critique the screenshot yourself - the system properties screen is open and clearly shows "Service Pack 1." The watermark text, curiously, is partially obscured and also includes the text "Temporary Censorship." The build number is 7138, one up from the most recent leak. It certainly looks like the image has been monkeyed with. Then again, we did just have that leaked box art which many people thought looked doctored as well - and that turned out to be legit.

Publicity wise, it seems like a Vista-esque bad move to have an SP1 build in the works before Windows 7 hits RTM. It gives the impression that the release isn't as good as it should have been. Of course, it's also inevitable that service packs will appear at some point in the future, so Microsoft could very well be laying the initial groundwork now in a separate development branch.

thanks, Sandip!

Tags: screenshot, service-pack, sp1, windows-7

Filed under: Photo, Utilities, Windows, Open Source, Windows x64

Open Source Greenshot does screenshots and annotations

by Lee Mathews Mar 24th 2009

For a while now I've been using ZScreen to handle my screen capturing chores on Windows. Brad touched on Greenshot back in December, and after being urged by one of my Twitter followers the other day I decided to give it a try.

Since Brad's post, the author has responded to calls for the creation of an installer though Greenshot is still less than a half-megabyte download. The three key capture types are supported - region, window, full desktop, though there is no handling for scrolling regions like length web pages. For repeated captures of the same area, the last region tool is very handy. Images can be copied to the clipboard, sent directly to your printer, and saved automatically with your defaults or with settings chosen from a dialog box.

Common screenshot-related tools are included in the editor. Use them to draw circles, lines, and boxes, or add arrows and text. All objects can be resized and edited, including text. I'd like to see the developers add a few more tools, like the ability crop and resize images, but it's still a very handy editor as-is.

Greenshot is Open Source and runs on all varieties of Windows. There's also a portable version (which weighs in at only 160k) available for on-the-go screenshots from your USB flash drive.

Thanks, @seanharrison!

Tags: annotation, capture, screencap, screenshot

Filed under: Photo, Utilities, Linux, Open Source

Linux screenshot app GScrot reborn as Shutter

by Lee Mathews Mar 6th 2009

With my triple-boot setup finally somewhat set in stone (or very firm clay, at any rate) I've finally been able to start installing Linux apps that I need to use it as an everyday operating system. Due in no small part to my duties here at DS, the first item on my list was a good screenshot application.

Serendipitously, we just received a tip that GScrot (which should have appeared on my list of badly-named applications) has been re-launched with new features and a less anatomical-sounding name: Shutter.

Shutter supports a good array of features including basic editing and annotation and it's extensible through the use of plugins, a number of which come pre-installed to add effects to your images. There's also a censor tool to quickly obscure private information like email addresses from your images. Captures can be full screen, windows, regions, and full web pages, and can be directly saved in multiple format or uploaded to a number of image hosts with minimal fuss.

Thanks, Vadim!

Tags: linux, screen-capture, screenshot

Filed under: Design, Utilities, Windows, Freeware

Two utilities for taking simple screenshots in Windows

by Brad Linder Dec 29th 2008

Screen Capturer and Greenshot image editor

As a software blogger, I probably take more screenshots of programs running on my computer in a week than most people will take in a year. So I'm always on the lookout for a good screen capture utility. This morning I ran across two.

Greenshot is a light weight screen capture utility for Windows that comes as a small executable file (no installation required). Just fire up the program and a little green frog icon will show up in your system tray. Right click on the icon and you'll see options to capture a window, the full screen, or a region. Once you capture an image, the Greenshot Image Editor will open up, allowing you to annotate the image with text and drawings.

Screen Capturer is a somewhat heavier duty utility which does require an installation. But you can choose to capture images to the Windows clipboard or save images as BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, or TIFF formats. You can also capture videos as Windows Media Video animations.

Both programs are free, although Screen Capturer does require you to submit your email address for a registration code. And both applications let you use keyboard shortcuts to grab screenshots.

[via Lifehacker and Life Rocks 2.0]

Tags: greenshot, screen-capture, screen-capturer, screenshot

Filed under: Photo, Utilities, Macintosh, Freeware, Beta

Voila for Mac is a full-featured screenshot app

by Lee Mathews Dec 22nd 2008

Now that I've finally gotten my hands on a Mac, I've got to start looking for apps that provide the same functionality I'm accustomed to in Windows. First on my list: a good, free screenshot program that provides basic editing functions.

Yes, OSX's Grab tool is a good starting point, but I like to be able to crop, edit, add arrows and callouts, and perform other similar chores without having to launch something like Photoshop or GIMP.

Voila provides all the features I'm after. Apart from full screen, window, region, and menu capturing, it also offers an array of editing and notation functions. Arrows, callouts, shapes, and text are easy to add - and text can be edited after it's placed unlike a lot of similar applications. It also supports one-click exporting to iPhoto and Mail.

One glaring omission is resizing. It's something I use all the time, so its absence is a bit of an inconvenience.

The beta version is currently free, though the FAQ states that Voila will indeed become a commercial app. I'm just getting started on my Mac, so if you've got a better free alternative share it in the comments!

Tags: capture, screenshot

Filed under: Photo, Utilities, Windows, Freeware, Open Source

ZScreen is a powerful, open source screenshot app

by Lee Mathews Dec 5th 2008

I've been using FastStone Capture for quite some time, but it may be time to pass screenshot duties on to another program.

ZScreen is an extremely flexible alternative. The usual capture options are supported - full screen, active window, or selection and hotkeys can be mapped to a single key or to two or three key combinations.

Handling options are numerous. You can capture to the clipboard, directly to a file, multiple FTP locations, or ImageShack. If you're like me and you need to edit your screenshots in another application (like Paint.net, the Gimp, or Photoshop) ZScreen can capture and instantly open the image in your favorite editor.

It also maintains a cache of your screenshots, saving even if your destination is the clipboard. Having ready access a history of recent captures in their original resolution is undeniably handy, and it eliminates the annoyance of your clipboard getting accidentally overwritten by another copy operation.

You're free to change the size and location of your cache folder, and file naming is extremely flexible. ZScreen can automatically add time and date elements, the active window title, autonumbering, and any custom text you choose.

Captures can be saved in six different image formats and ZScreen can fall back to another option when the file hits a certain size. I've set it to capture uncompressed PNG files up to 500k and then fall back to 90% JPG after that.

There are a few shortcomings, like the lack of a timer function and inability to capture scrolling regions, but it provides all the key features I'm looking for - and then some. ZScreen is free, open source, and runs on Windows only. .Net 2.0 is required.

Tags: capture, screenshot, screenshots

Filed under: Internet, Photo, Blogging, Mozilla, Browsers

Post screenshots to Wordpress blogs with a Firefox add-on

by Lee Mathews Nov 24th 2008

On my list of 14 extremely useful Firefox addons I included ScreenGrab for capturing web pages to PNG or JPG images.

Today, I replaced it with Screen Grab to Wordpress. As you probably guessed, it's got the same core functionality with one major addition: the ability to send images directly to your Wordpress-powered blog.

Configure the URL, username, and password to all your Wordpress blogs an you're ready to go (just make sure you have XML-RPC remote publishing enabled).

Click the icon in your Firefox status bar to display SGW's menu and choose what to capture and where to send it. You can save locally, copy to the clipboard, or post directly to Wordpress.

If you're blogging a capture, you can enter a title, tags, body text, and even set your new post to publish - if you don't check the box, the post defaults to draft status. After successfully uploading, you're taken directly to the Wordpress edit page to put the finishing touches on your new post.

With less than 600 downloads to date, this one is a bit of a diamond in the rough. It's a tremendous timesaver for anyone blogging about items discovered while browsing with Firefox.

Tags: addons, blog, blogging, extension, firefox, screengrab, screenshot, wordpress

Filed under: Design, Utilities, Windows, Freeware

PicPick is a powerful, free way to take and edit screenshots

by Lee Mathews Oct 19th 2008

I've been using Faststone Capture portable for ages to handle my screenshot tasks, but PicPick is a very capable alternative.

PicPick provides the usual capture functionality and Windows hot key replacements (print screen and the control + and alt + variations), but it doesn't stop there. The integrated editor is packed with features, and can easily handle any quick edits I need for creating documentation or blog posts.

The editor's tabbed interface makes working with multiple images easy, especially when working with the repeat function to re-capture the same region for, say, a step-by-step installer tutorial.

Since most of my screen captures have to fit into a 500 pixel <div> tag, I was eager to test PicPick's ability to scale images. Resizing is very good, producing reductions that are on par with those created by CS4.

Tags: capture, portable, screen-capture, screencap, screenshot

Filed under: Photo, Utilities, Macintosh, Apple, Freeware

Todd's Favorite Mac Apps: Skitch

by Todd Ritter Oct 8th 2008

As a blogger and IT professional I often need to make screenshots for things like showing a program window, instructing where to find an obscure setting, or making a witty LOLcat. Thankfully, Skitch is available to fill this need and make my screenshot tasks quick and painless.

I didn't know about Skitch until it was released in public beta early this year. I downloaded the Mac-only client, installed it, and got myself a skitch.com account for easy uploading of my screenshots. Within seconds I was able to capture the entire screen (or a selection) and mark it up with arrows, text, boxes, and circles.

The key feature for me though is the ease with which I'm able to upload the screenshots and share them with others. Using the Skitch web account, I'm able to store my screenshots (for free) and get links to the direct picture file, forum/embed HTML, and a dedicated page that allows commenting on the screenshot. The screenshots can also be uploaded to a WebDAV server, Flickr, or FTP.

Tags: capture, favorite-apps, screenshot, screenshots, skitch

Filed under: Design, Utilities, Windows, Productivity, Freeware

Jetscreenshot Captures, Uploads in Two Easy Steps. Sort Of.

by Lee Mathews Aug 22nd 2008

Ever on the lookout for a better screenshot application, I decided to give Jetscreenshot a chance. It's available free right now, so I figured it was worth a shot (pardon the unintentional pun).

Like other similar apps, it's a small download and doesn't consume much in the way of CPU or memory while running, and it hides out in your system tray waiting to grab an image. Use its settings screen to add your FTP server details and http path, and you get three-click screen-to-server captures.

That part impressed me.

What didn't was how Jetscreenshot started to freak out when I tabbed out of its capture window mid-edit. It didn't re-appear, and there's no option on the system tray icon to pull up your last capture. Still, after exiting and re-launching the program, it worked just fine again.

For quick screenshot chores that require minimal text overlays or MSPaint style arrow drawing, Jetscreenshot is a capable choice for Windows users. How does it stack up to your favorite grabber? Try it out, comment, and let us know!

Tags: ftp, screen capture, ScreenCapture, screenshot

Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware

How to extract images from PDF files without using copy and paste

by Brad Linder Aug 5th 2008

PDF Image Extract is a free Windows utility that does exactly what the name suggests: it extracts images from PDF files. Sure, you could save pictures one at a time the old fashioned way by hitting print screen and pasting the image into an editor or using a screen capture program. But PDF Image Extract saves you a lot of time if you want to save multiple images because it will save every single image in a PDF file for you. In fact, you can create batch jobs to save images from multiple documents.

The only down side? I'm not kidding when I say PDF Image Extract saves every image. You'll likely wind up with a folder containing hundreds of images, only a few of which are the ones you were looking for. That's because the program will save all sorts of segments of the original PDF as image files, including the background.

[via gHacks]

Tags: image, images, pdf, pdf-image-extract, screencap, screenshot

Filed under: Photo, Macintosh, How-Tos, iPhone

How-To: Take iPhone or iPod Touch screenshots!

by Jay Hathaway Jul 16th 2008

If you've been following the new iTunes app store, you might be wondering how all those screenshots got there. Some people seem to think you need to run an iPhone simulator or install an app to create them, but there's actually a built-in way to do it right on your phone or pod. We thought this would be a good time to go over it.

Step 1: Briefly hold down the power button on the top of your device. While it's down, press the ... uhh, well, the only other button these things have. The one on the front. And that's all! Your screen should flash momentarily, and your screenshot should be saved in a new folder under Photos.

Appropriately, it's called Saved Photos. When you want to get your photos from your iPhone/iPod to your Mac, without having to mess around with syncing in iTunes, you can just pop open Image Capture -- it comes standard with OS X -- and pick the ones you want.

Tags: camera, iPhone, iPod, photo, screenshot

Filed under: Design, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Freeware

Rulers: color picker, rulers, magnifier in one package

by Todd Ritter May 22nd 2008

Rulers is a Swiss Army app for Mac and Windows that combines rulers, a color picker, a magnifier, and screenshot tool into a free utility that even supports multiple monitors. You can customize the rulers' units (pixels, inches, or centimeters), opacity, color, and placement. Line markers can be placed (much like Photoshop) by dragging from a spot on the ruler to a spot on your screen.

The color picker tool provides the hex and RGB codes of the pixel your mouse cursor is currently hovering over, and pressing Ctrl+C or Command+C will copy the hex code to your clipboard. There is a small magnifier in the color picker window as well.

The screenshot tool can either do simple full-screen captures to your clipboard or desktop, or you can create an area with ruler markers and then select one of those areas for a screenshot.

[Via CyberNet]

Tags: color picker, ColorPicker, magnifier, ruler, screenshot

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Web services, web 2.0

Super Screenshot: Web based tool for creating an image of any site

by Brad Linder Apr 18th 2008

Want to take a screen capture of a web site? Not just the part you can see on your screen, but the whole page, even the parts you have to scroll for 20 minutes to find? Super Screenshot is a web based tool that will let you capture any page and save the output as a JPG or PNG image file.

You get a few options with Super Screenshot, like the ability to capture a whole page or just the top of the screen. You can also select the size of the final picture, but you don't get to set pixel heights and widths. Instead you get some rather unhelpful options like X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, and Full. So you might need a little trial and error time to find the right size.

If you want more control over your screenshots, you can always use a desktop application like Snagit. But if you're using a friend or coworker's computer and need to make a quick screenshot, Super Screenshot could come in handy.

[via Life Rocks 2.0]

Tags: screen-capture, screencap, screenshot, super-screenshot

The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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