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View Full Version : Taking Screenshots: A Definitive Guide


walkitiki
3rd August 2005, 16:09
A big problem that I've seen on the forum is people who take pictures and screenshots that are too big. The ideal size of a desktop-sized shot (be it a screenshot or an outrageous photo) is 640x480. However many things are un readable at this resolution, so 800x600 may be necessary. It is not however necessary to post images that are greater than this size. Images of 1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200 (which are the most commonly used desktop sizes) tend to break the tables and cause problems for the forums, not to mention they're just too damn big!


The Entire Screen
To take a screenshot, arrange the windows on your desktop so that all of the information you want to display is visible. Then press then "print screen" (sometimes abreviated to the likes of "prt sc") button on your keyboard. On many laptops, this you may have to depress a function key in order to get to print screen.

Next open up your graphics suite of choice paint, paint shop pro, photoshop. Opening a new document (ctrl+n) should have the default size of the image to your desktop resolution. Now simply paste (ctrl+p) the image into the canvas.

Resize the image, keeping the proportions the same. Just enter 800 or 640 as the width and the height should adjust accordingly. Then save.

One Program
Lets say that you don't want to show your whole desktop, just the crazy overclock you've got going in cpuz or your new record in 3dmark05, but the rest of the screen is relevent. Make sure whatever window you want to take a picture of is the active window. Now just press alt+prt sc (or alt+fn+prt sc). Follow the steps described above for pasting and saving your screenshot.

Remember that you could also paste two images of specific windows instead of a whole screen. It's important to conserve bandwidth.

Hosting
As for getting your images onto the web, WizD's got you covered there too, refer to this post for image hosting: http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=826

https://filebox.vt.edu/users/jrcline/img/sampleScreenshotOne.gif

versus

https://filebox.vt.edu/users/jrcline/img/sampleScreenshotTwo.gif


Adapted from a guide at the overclockers.com forums

fillip
3rd August 2005, 16:11
Just to add to that, if you need software to resize your screen shots or other images, check out this thread - http://wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1250

Starbuck3733T
3rd August 2005, 16:31
I never knew the alt+print screen trick. Nice!

fillip
3rd August 2005, 17:03
I never knew the alt+print screen trick. Nice!

Likewise, very useful. http://wizdforums.co.uk/images/smilies/thumb.gif

Da_Rude_Baboon
4th August 2005, 10:17
It doesnt always work though which is a PIA.

Darv
4th August 2005, 14:28
Alt+print is cool! I've been cropping things in Photoshop for no reason :duh:

Starbuck3733T
4th August 2005, 16:26
Alt+print is cool! I've been cropping things in Photoshop for no reason :duh:
:nods:

fivecheebs
4th August 2005, 16:33
Im amazed. Ive been using Alt+Prt Scr for years! Never found it tempremental either. The only thing that is tempremental is my mind and remembering which of the 2 commands does what!

Da_Rude_Baboon
4th August 2005, 17:21
I always though maybe some apps blocked it. I was trying to make a how to log in guide for the students at work and it wouldnt let me take screenies of the Novel boxes.

Pug
5th August 2005, 12:02
Im amazed. Ive been using Alt+Prt Scr for years!
++
It's amazing what you take for granted. There are some nifty kbd shortcuts I can't live without... especially as I use a battery powered mouse! :lol:

Great thread walkitiki. Well composed. :thumb:
I think it deserves a little wave of this wand. :magic: ;-)

walkitiki
5th August 2005, 20:11
Thanks guys! I was amazed when I found out about alt+prtsc too, figured now was better than ever to share it with you guys. I thought this would be the appropriate place since this is where people show their overclocks/benchmarks and what not.

Techx
4th February 2006, 09:49
Alt+print is cool! I've been cropping things in Photoshop for no reason :duh:

QTF, I've been cropping via Irfanview which is much easier than PS but still unnecessary! Thx

The_Dragon_No1
10th November 2006, 22:21
hehehe... same here=) alt+prt scr = goood to know :P