snip tool confusion

sygnus21 · Feb 11, 2009

OK, this is annoying the heck out of me -

I want to show the properties of an icon, so I right click it and its properties show up, cool - however as soon as I click off of the Icon, to say, use the snip tool, the properties menu disappears. Thus I am unable to keep the properties menu open while attempting to capture it using the snip tool.

LOL - I know this isn’t highly technical, but it’s got me stumped. HELP!!! :confused:

Here's an example of what I mean (courtesy of MrNeeds)

Thanks

Dwarf · Feb 11, 2009

Hi Drew,

This is an easy one to solve, and, believe me, you're going to kick yourself. In order to capture these images where it isn't possible to use the Snipping Tool directly, click on PrtScrn (sometimes shown as PrintScreen) on your keyboard. This captures and stores in the clipboard everything showing on your screen, including opened property menus and dialogues. If you then open Paint you can use the Paste function to see the captured image. You can then use the Snipping Tool to select the appropriate section you require.

sassofalco · Feb 11, 2009

Dwarf said:
Hi Drew,

This is an easy one to solve, and, believe me, you're going to kick yourself. In order to capture these images where it isn't possible to use the Snipping Tool directly, click on PrtScrn (sometimes shown as PrintScreen) on your keyboard. This captures and stores in the clipboard everything showing on your screen, including opened property menus and dialogues. If you then open Paint you can use the Paste function to see the captured image. You can then use the Snipping Tool to select the appropriate section you require.

awwwwwww! Shucks Mr. Dwarf.....I've bin sittin' here for an hour wavin' me hand frantic like.....like I have that one figured and coulda' given the answer, jus' same as you.... :geek:

dk70 · Feb 11, 2009

Well answer could also be to leave MS ideas of what a utility for the whole family is. Try Picpick or Screenshot Captor - there are others and perhaps Captor thing is overkill but just so you know alternatives to featureless MS stuff exist. They can use delays, capture windows objects/controls, tons more you dont need but is nice to have available

chmillman · Feb 11, 2009

click on PrtScrn (sometimes shown as PrintScreen) on your keyboard. This captures and stores in the clipboard everything showing on your screen,

Another trick few people know is to use Alt+PrtScrn... Copies only the ACTIVE window. So, you would get your whole properties box neatly cut out already, on the clipboard ready to paste in to your favorite image app. --ch

sygnus21 · Feb 11, 2009

Hey Dwarf,

LOL - OK, here's the funny thing - I know about the print screen function (my KB has the shortcut), in fact I've used it before. However, the snip tool gives a cleaner better looking image, that's why I wanted to use the snip tool. But from the answers here, I guess I can't use the snip tool the way I've described above? I guess I'll have to use print screen for those occaisons.

Sassofalco, you get a cookie for your enthusiasm

chmillman, I'll have to remember that Alt+PrtScrn trick.

Thanks guys

sassofalco · Feb 11, 2009

sygnus21 said:
Hey Dwarf,

LOL - OK, here's the funny thing - I know about the print screen function (my KB has the shortcut), in fact I've used it before. However, the snip tool gives a cleaner better looking image, that's why I wanted to use the snip tool. But from the answers here, I guess I can't use the snip tool the way I've described above? I guess I'll have to use print screen for those occaisons.

Sassofalco, you get a cookie for your enthusiasm

chmillman, I'll have to remember that Alt+PrtScrn trick.

Thanks guys

G'Day sygnus21,

I've found that Paint.NET v3.36 gives cleaner, sharper first step.

sygnus21 · Feb 11, 2009

G'Day sassofalco,

I'll give it a try sometime.

Thanks

chmillman · Feb 11, 2009

However, the snip tool gives a cleaner better looking image, that's why I wanted to use the snip tool.

Hmmm, you sure about that? I'd like to see an example... In my understanding, you just copying screen pixels and pasting them somewhere else, pixel per pixel. Same with print screen. So why would one result be better than the other? Is there some image reprocessing going on behind the scenes? --ch

sygnus21 · Feb 11, 2009

chmillman said:
However, the snip tool gives a cleaner better looking image, that's why I wanted to use the snip tool.

Click to expand...

Hmmm, you sure about that? I'd like to see an example... In my understanding, you just copying screen pixels and pasting them somewhere else, pixel per pixel. Same with print screen. So why would one result be better than the other? Is there some image reprocessing going on behind the scenes? --ch

It's a personal opinion. We'll leave it at that

Barman58 · Feb 11, 2009

The quality issue could be that the snipping tool and print screen/paint use a different compression ratio when saving to JPG

sassofalco · Feb 11, 2009

barman58 said:
The quality issue could be that the snipping tool and print screen/paint use a different compression ratio when saving to JPG

Ta! Thanks! Mercy buckets! Grassy! Sahib Nigel for your 'probable cause'. That is precisely the File extension that I use.

I had resigned myself to contemplating my navel and fasting for days and days to come, in searching for an answer to this critical question.......I thank the Supreme Being for the Gurus of this Forum.......enlightenment is always close at hand :huh: !

sygnus21 · Feb 11, 2009

sassofalco said:
barman58 said:

The quality issue could be that the snipping tool and print screen/paint use a different compression ratio when saving to JPG

Click to expand...

Ta! Thanks! Mercy buckets! Grassy! Sahib Nigel for your 'probable cause'. That is precisely the File extension that I use.

I had resigned myself to contemplating my navel and fasting for days and days to come, in searching for an answer to this critical question.......I thank the Supreme Being for the Gurus of this Forum.......enlightenment is always close at hand :huh: !

LOL -

(I agree with barman58)

Dwarf · Feb 12, 2009

You could always use the functions built in to Paint to extract the part of the image that you want. A little more work, but it will (or should) mean that the end result should be cleaner as the extracted part of the image stays at the same compression ratio instead of being further compressed again by the Snipping Tool. However, this is cumbersome, and I prefer to do it as I explained earlier. Of course, for those who don't have this tool available, then this is the way to do it. In fact, I used this method to extract the scenic view from Tony's signature and inserted it below:
View attachment Scenic View.bmp

sassofalco · Feb 12, 2009

Dwarf said:
You could always use the functions built in to Paint to extract the part of the image that you want. A little more work, but it will (or should) mean that the end result should be cleaner as the extracted part of the image stays at the same compression ratio instead of being further compressed again by the Snipping Tool. However, this is cumbersome, and I prefer to do it as I explained earlier. Of course, for those who don't have this tool available, then this is the way to do it. In fact, I used this method to extract the scenic view from Tony's signature and inserted it below:
View attachment 10080

Thanks again Dwarf,

The honour is all mine for being 'inserted' :shock:

.......and I didn't feel a thing!

I too use the Paint / Paint.NET functions and features only, for images from the Windows Live Photo Gallery or My Photograph Files that need editing to a high standard, and the Paint / Paint.NET + Snipping Tool for everyday 'captures' of webpage images for emails, Forum postings etc.

That's a great photo you have there......kinda looks familiar but where is it?:D

Airbot · Feb 12, 2009

sassofalco said:
That's a great photo you have there......kinda looks familiar but where is it?:D

Lake Barrine, Australia

sassofalco · Feb 12, 2009

Airbot said:
sassofalco said:

That's a great photo you have there......kinda looks familiar but where is it?:D

Click to expand...

Lake Barrine, Australia

Aha!......but where in Australia?? Kinda like me sayin' Bear Lake is in North America!!

Airbot · Feb 12, 2009

I know, it's on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland.

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