Using Screenshots in printed or .pdf documentation

TD
Posted By
Tim_Dedula
Oct 25, 2006
Views
273
Replies
3
Status
Closed
Hello All;
Not quite sure where to post this but the Photoshop for Windows forum seems like the most likely place.

I am working to develop a Instruction Manual for some software I developed. And I need to include quite a few screenshots in it. I have tried to copy the screenshot I want to use to the Windows Clipboard and then paste it into Photoshop but when I insert the image into a word document, the image looks too light.

I’m just wondering if there are special software out there that would give me better results or any photoshop tools that would help ? I am guessing that some folks on this forum have a similar task to take computer imagery and put it into a Word Document.

Tim
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AC
Art Campbell
Oct 25, 2006
I’m a tech writer, so I do quite a bit of this kind of thing. I’d recommend a dedicated capture program such as SnagIt, which captures and optimizes the shot and delivers it ready to import.

I’d also recommend .png format files rather than .jpg to hold on to as much sharpness as you can. And depending on how your desktop and application look on screen, you may want to tweak the desktop theme to increase (or maybe decrease) contrast rather than fuss with the files after the fact.

If you do need to work on files in PS, the SmartSharpen tool is pretty effective.

If you’re stuck with Word…. well, you’re stuck with it.

When you get to the .pdfs, however, make sure you have Acrobat set up to not compress nor downsample the graphics — it’ll fuzz them out to the point they’re unreadable.

Cheers,
Art
Y
YrbkMgr
Oct 25, 2006
but when I insert the image into a word document, the image looks too light.

This is a basic indicator that your monitor needs to be calbirated. You can do it quite easily with Adobe Gamma in the control panel, but a 15 minute read at the site below will not only help you through it, but explain a bit about why it’s important.

<http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps9_colour/ps9_1.htm> Photoshop CS2 – Colour Management
WD
William_Dedula
Oct 26, 2006
WOW, Thanks Art. That’s a great answer with lots of things for me to try. I got so excited that I immediately purchased and downloaded Snagit without a trial because I know of the company (TechSmith) to make some great software. I tried a screen capture with an example of the type of content I need to capture and atleast on-screen, it looks awesome. I didn’t try to print it yet – though will try tomorrow at work.

What would you suggest as an alternative to Word since you imply it may not be the best? I don’t have a Mac so whatever I run has to work on a PC.

And YrbkMgr. I will check into my monitor calibration but fyi that I based my assessment on how dark my initial screen capture looked on a laser-printed sample.

Tim

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