Best way to insert screenshots in Flare

[ryan]

I've wrestled around with using Fullshot, SnagIt, and print-screen to get the screenshots, and resizing and modifying with Fireworks, Photoshop, and Flare, etc.... any way you do it, it seems to be quite an arduous process...

[rogerbell]

I've wrestled around with using Fullshot, SnagIt, and print-screen to get the screenshots, and resizing and modifying with Fireworks, Photoshop, and Flare, etc.... any way you do it, it seems to be quite an arduous process...

I recommend you use Capture if you have it since it is fully integrated with Flare. You can either use Flare's capture commands (via menu or keyboard shortcuts). Capture also allow you to use Print Screen and then select Capture>Capture New Image from Clipboard. Then use Capture to resize, etc. If you are capturing lots of images, you can use Capture's profile feature to apply various image modifications as you capture and save them. If you have lots of existing images, you can apply profiles using a batch process.

I hope that helps.

Roger

[forfear]

it takes a bit of getting used to capture. but once you've done it a few times, you will appreciate the non-destructive nature of Capture's text and overlay workflow.

[SteveS]

...if only its torn edge effect was as good as snaggit's

[rogerbell]

...if only its torn edge effect was as good as snaggit's

Please enter that as an enhancement request at https://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx. I entered it a few weeks ago. I hope more people will request it. SnagIt has done a great job with its torn edge effect.

Roger

[ccardimon]

I use Snagit. Haven't had time to learn Capture.

[SteveS]

...if only its torn edge effect was as good as snaggit's

Please enter that as an enhancement request at https://www.madcapsoftware.com/bugs/submit.aspx. I entered it a few weeks ago. I hope more people will request it. SnagIt has done a great job with its torn edge effect.

Roger

That's a standard MVP line...

...and, yes, I've entered an enhancement request (a long time ago).

[Madcap Guru]

Capture is quite good and the way it works with Flare is great, Snagit has it good points also, but Capture and Mimic are very easy to use if you like the flare interface

[SteveS]

Capture is quite good and the way it works with Flare is great, Snagit has it good points also, but Capture and Mimic are very easy to use if you like the flare interface

You've got to love Capture's non-destructive image manipulation. It keeps the original screenshot as a background and applies the editing via the props file. Allows you to go back and correct spelling mistakes in your callouts

[forfear]

I've also submitted a request to be able to stroke simple 1 px lines with a color such as white. This will ensure overlapping lines come through

[LTinker68]

I've also submitted a request to be able to stroke simple 1 px lines with a color such as white.

You can do that now. Create an img class with a border of 1px, solid, white, then apply that class to the img tag.

[jcoria]

I use snagit. If i need to make an edit or alteration in snagit, i simply right click on the image in flare and select open with snagiteditor.exe. Make the changes and click the save button and the image is changed.

[ccardimon]

I use Snagit, too. I have tried capture, but there's no way to grab a button or an object yet. Plus, cropping is very easy in Snagit.

[RamonS]

SnagIt is fine, but I find it too cumbersome to fire up the editor in case I did not use the SnagIt capture function. I use SnagIt often, but for the heavy lifting I still use my old and crusty PaintShop Pro 6. That application is old, but it just does the job very nicely.

[MikeKatz]

SnagIt is fine, but I find it too cumbersome to fire up the editor in case I did not use the SnagIt capture function. I use SnagIt often, but for the heavy lifting I still use my old and crusty PaintShop Pro 6. That application is old, but it just does the job very nicely.

I use PSP9. Besides easy screen shots, the resize in PSP9 is the best one I have come across for screens.
If I'm not resizing screens, I use Capture.

[doc_guy]

I use Capture specifically when I need to resize screens (one size/resolution for Print and one size/resolution for Web). That is one of Capture's stellar features, in my opinion. It is not totally intuitive, but works like a gem once you figure out how to tweak it just right.

[ccardimon]

I have yet to master that feature.

[WritersBlock]

Hello everyone,

Noob here testing out MadCap Flare to replace the Robohelp artifact left on my computer by a previous employee.

Long story short I can't figure out how to insert a simple screen shot. Seems like I would be able to simply copy/paste but that won't work. Any direction would be helpful.


Bottom line I have hundreds of man hours tied up in the creation of multiple user guides 150+ pages long. I essentially need to recreate these user guides into help files (utilizing their existing screen shots).

Thank you.

[LTinker68]

No, you can't copy-and-paste images. The reason being that images are referenced in topics just like stylesheets are referenced. The image isn't actually embedded in the topic. If you don't have access to the original image file, then you'll either want to use another program like Capture or SnagIt to capture the screenshot from the RoboHelp or Word file, or you'll have to use the Windows internal screen capture utility then paste the screen capture into Windows Paint or Microsoft Office Picture Manager or similar program. I definitely recommend Capture or SnagIt as opposed to the Windows built-in tools.

Once you have an image file, save it to the Resources\Images folder in the project. Then in a topic, you go to Insert > Picture or click the picture icon, then navigate to the image file in the project and select it. In the XML Editor it will appear as though the image was inserted into the topic, but if you look at the topic code, you'll see there's actually just a reference to that file. If you need to replace that image later, you just save the new version over the old version in the Images folder -- since it's just a reference you won't have to re-insert it into the topic.

[WritersBlock]

Thanks LTinker68,

We use SnagIt. I was hoping there was an easier way then recapturing every screen shot and saving them as image files. Thanks.

[LTinker68]

Nope, sorry. Although if you have the original RH project you should be able to copy the image files from there into the appropriate folder in Flare. Or better yet, did you try importing the RH project into Flare? I haven't done that myself, being that this place didn't use it and I haven't used RH in forever, but if you import the RH project then I believe it will import the image files, too, and keep everything somewhat correctly referenced.

[WritersBlock]

Nope, sorry. Although if you have the original RH project you should be able to copy the image files from there into the appropriate folder in Flare. Or better yet, did you try importing the RH project into Flare? I haven't done that myself, being that this place didn't use it and I haven't used RH in forever, but if you import the RH project then I believe it will import the image files, too, and keep everything somewhat correctly referenced.

I'm new to my position taking over a relic from an existing employee. To be frank the Help files were built in RoboHelp 6 and included no screenshots, which means I'm essentially rebuilding everything from scratch.

[SteveS]

If you can get management to spring for a copy of Capture you can add screenshots directly using the Insert -> Screenshot... menu from within Flare...

And no, I don't get a commission

The only thing where I think snaggit beats Capture is Capture's lame torn edge effect. In all other cases it as least Snaggits equal, but Capture allows you to share variables and so on with Flare and its circle to highlight feature is outstanding!

HTH