Snap 12: Manual

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Capture

There are three ways to activate the capture process: through the capture bar, through the program symbol in the system tray or through keyboard shortcuts.

Capture bar

Once Snap is launched, the capture bar will be automatically displayed as a marker at the top of your screen by default. Move your mouse into the marker to expand the capture bar. Move it outside the bar to hide it.

Functions


1. Scan screen

2. Settings

3. Open editor

4. Record screen

5. Free selection

6. More: Jumps to the second page


1. Back: Returns to the first page

2. Dropper

3. Countdown / interval

4. Rectangular selection

Context menu (system tray)


Once launched, you can access the various capturing tools through Snap's context menu. Simply right-click the program icon in the system tray next to the clock.


Capture Desktop
Captures the entire desktop across all active displays.

Capture 3D Game / Primary Monitor
This function captures fullscreen applications and games running on your primary display.

Capture Window/Object

Capture Menu


This feature allows you to capture traditional program menus. Once selected, simply open the desired menu and Snap will then add a selection rectangle. Left-click the selection to capture the menu.


Scan screen

Free selection

Rectangular selection

Dropper

Capture Video
Creates a video capture of your screen. You may optionally display the mouse pointer, highlight mouse clicks and apply visual effects.

Capture Timed
Takes timer-based screenshots.

Capture Text (OCR)
Applies text recognition to the selected area and adds the recognized text as a text object to a blank screenshot.

Output

Open in Edit Mode
If enabled, newly created screenshots will automatically be opened in Snap's editor.

Save to Output Directory Only
If enabled, newly created screenshots will only be stored in the selected output location.

Copy to Clipboard
If enabled, newly created screenshots will be copied to the system clipboard.

Send to app
Allows you to open newly created screenshots in an external application for further processing.

Customize...
Displays the program settings.


Show Capture Bar
Shows/Hides the capture bar.

Einstellungen
Displays the program settings.

Stop Capture / Edit File
Stops the current recording and allows you to edit an existing image/video file.

Open Help
Displays this program help.

Service
Here, you may check the status of your license, search for program updates, register the program or contact our customer service.

Exit Application
Quits Snap.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Apart from the capture bar and the context menu, you may also use various keyboard shortcuts to access different capturing tools. You can customize them here.

Scan screen

This function detects objects below the mouse pointer, e.g. program windows or scrollable areas. Left-click the recognized area to select it. Drag the markers to adjust its size or drag within the selection to move it. Left-click the camera icon to capture the selection.



Select full screen
Selects the entire desktop area.

Rectangular selection
Allows you to create a rectangular selection manually. Left-click and hold, then drag the mouse to create the selection area.

Reset
Clears the current selection.

Cancel
Cancels the capture process.

Scrollable regions


As soon as a selection is created around a scrollable region, a marker will appear pointing in the scroll direction. Click the marker to capture the entire region.

Free selection


Hold down the left mouse button and "draw" around the area you wish to capture. Once you release the mouse button, the end position will be automatically connected to the starting position and the area will be captured.

Dropper


Position the dropper over a pixel and left-click to copy its color value to the system clipboard in hexadecimal notation (e.g. #FFFFFF for white).

Countdown/ Interval (timer-based capture)


This function allows you to capture the selected area either once after the timer expires or at regular intervals. Select the desired mode at the top and enter a second-based value below. Then, click "Start" and create a selection. You can stop the timer by hitting the Esc key at any time.

Rectangular selection (captured fixed-size region)

This function creates a rectangular selection based on manually given width/height values or presets. Click "Create selection" to apply your settings and to create the selection.

Capture text (OCR)


Hold down the left mouse button and drag to select the text to be recognized. Click into the selection to begin the recognition process. The text will be added to your snapshot as an editable text object.

Capture Video

Video Settings

Before you can begin recording, you will need to adjust the video settings to your needs.


What to Capture
Depending on your selection, you may have to select the area to be recorded once you click "Start".

A Single Window
Move the mouse pointer on the desired program window and left-click the selection rectangle to display the recording dialog.

Desktop (All Monitors)
The visible screen contents of all available displays will be captured. No manual selection is required.

Primary Monitor
Only the main display will be captured. No manual selection is required.

A Rectangular Region
Hold down the left mouse button and drag to create a selection around the desired area. Left-click the selection to display the recording dialog.

Fixed Region
Select the desired size and move the selection rectangle over the desired area. Left-click the selection to begin recording.

Webcam
The live feed from your webcam will be recorded.


Resize Video Width/Height
Use this setting to auto-resize the recording.

Video-Configuration
These settings affect the size and quality of your videos.

Audio-Configuration
If needed, Snap can also record audio output from the selected recording device. Snap can record audio output from the selected audio device. "Primary recording device" means the program will use the currently selected Windows default audio recording device. In most cases, this will either be "Stereomix" or "What-U-Hear" to record the sound you hear. Note that your sound card driver has to support this feature and that it may not be available in your version of Windows.

Encoding Method
If your computer is old and slow, you may need to use your hard disk for video buffering to avoid stuttering. You may select this option here.

Context menu


While recording video, right-click the program symbol in the system tray to access the video-related context menu.

Audio- and video settings


Either use the presets or select "Custom Codec Configuration" to further adjust the video and audio settings (experts only).

Video capture dialog

Once you've selected the area to record, the video capture dialog will come up.


Start/Pause Capture
Starts/Pauses the recording process.

Stop Capture
Stops the recording process.

Abort Capture
Cancels the recording process.

Auto stop capture if content does not change anymore
Automatically stops recording when the contents of your screen do no longer change significantly.

Stop capture in
Automatically stops the recording after a fixed amount of minutes.

Minimize Video Controls
Hides the capture dialog. Use the context menu to show it again.

Show Mouse Cursor
If enabled, the mouse pointer will also be recorded. Note that for this to work, a click effect has to be selected in the extended settings (plus button).

Show pressed keys
If enabled, a notification is displayed for every keystroke you make.

Use Video Effects
Allows you to add pointer and other video effects.

Show Watermark
Enable this feature to protect your IP with a text or image-based watermark and/or a copyright notice.

Show Webcam
Enables you to show the output from your webcam as an overlay window. You may adjust the size/position via the video effects settings.

Use Marker
Use this option to draw onto the live recording window. Use the first and second button controls to delete the most recent or all drawings. Use the third button to adjust the display style for all drawings.

Draw Arrow
Use this option to add arrows to your recording. Use the first and second button controls to delete the most recent or all arrows. Use the third button to adjust the display style for all arrows.

Show Text
Use this option to add texts to your recording. Added text will always be displayed at the bottom center. Use the button to adjust the display style.

Video effects


Show Mouse Cursor
These options allow you to adjust the display of the mouse pointer during records and to add left/right click effects.

Zoom Effect
If enabled, use the specified key to toggle the zoom effect. While active, everything inside the marker will later be magnified. Use the mouse to reposition the marker.


Webcam Position /Size
Use these settings to adjust the size and position of the webcam overlay window.

Watermark

with Image
Click the folder icon to select an image file and place it at the specified position.

with Text
Enter a text to be placed at the specified position. Click the question mark icon to view a list of available placeholders. For example, type in "$t" to insert the current time at the cursor position.


Use the "Position" dropdown menus to specify the position for your watermark. Enable "Show (C) sign in the center of the capture" to display an additional copyright symbol in your captures.

Use Video Effects
These are special affects that affect the entire video.

Recording the webcam


Select the desired webcam and resolution and click "Start Video Recording" to begin recording. Use "Take Photo" to take a snapshot of the currently visible webcam content.

Edit image

  1. Mouse tools
  2. Image settings
  3. Export
  4. Thumbnail bar
  5. Scroll buttons: Hover the mouse pointer over one of the buttons to pan the current screenshot.

Context menu


Right-click into the screenshot to open the context menu.

Copy Capture to Clipboard
Copes the current screenshot and all objects to the system clipboard.

Paste Bitmap from Clipboard
Pastes the clipboard image into the screenshot as an object at the current mouse position.

Paste Object from Clipboard
Pastes the most recently copied object into the screenshot at the current mouse position.

Insert Bitmap from Disk
Inserts an existing image file into the screenshot as an object at the current mouse position.

Tools

These tools help you highlight and annotate your screenshots. See the section Working with objects for details on how to work with objects.

Scroll
Left-click and hold, then, move your mouse to pan the screenshot.

Crop/Pixelate/Blur
Left-click and drag to create a selection rectangle. Click into the selection and hold, then, move your mouse to reposition the selection. Drag the border markers to adjust its size.

Crop
Retains only the selection and removes everything else. You may also drag the markers around the screenshot itself to crop it.

Pixelize
Makes the selection unreadable.

Zoom
Zooms into the selection to make it fill up the entire screen.

Copy
Copies the selection into the system clipboard.

Paste
Pastes the current clipboard content into the selection. The content will be resized to fit into the selection rectangle.

Cut
Copies the selection into the system clipboard and deletes it from the screenshot.

Crop
Retains only the selection including the selection rectangle and removes everything else.

Buttonize
Applies a 3D border effect to the selection.

Pixelize
Makes the selection unreadable.

Blur
Blurs the selection.

Sharpen
Applies a sharpening effect to the selection.

Zoom into Selection
Zooms into the selection make it fill up the entire screen.

Size


The options in the upper third affect the screenshot's aspect ratio. If you select "16:10" and drag the border markers or create a new selection, its width and height will be adjusted according to your selected aspect ratio. The options in the center and bottom part will modify both the size of the selection and the aspect ratio for the current and future selections. If you select "640x480px (4:3)", the width height and aspect ratio of your selection will be adjusted accordingly and the selection will be moved to start at the top left corner of your screenshot.


Eraser
Use the eraser to overwrite individual pixels either with a color or transparency.

Blur Pen
This tool allows you to blur individual pixels. You mad adjust the degree of blurriness by selecting different effects.

Marker
In this mode, the tool will behave like a giant text marker.

Highlighter
Hold down the left mouse button and drag to create a selection rectangle. Use the border markers to adjust its size or drag within the selection to reposition it. See here for details on how to select a color.

Mode: marker
In this mode, the tool will behave like a giant text marker.

Mode: highlight
In this mode, everything except the selection will be darkened using the selected color. Use the slider to adjust the strength of the effect.


Flood Fill
Fills a region with transparency, a color or a color gradient.

Tolerance
If this setting is high, pixels that resemble the affected pixels in color will also be filled.

Fill Style
Select between transparency, a single color or a color gradient and use the buttons to select a primary a secondary color. See here for details on how to select a color

Gradient
You may adjust the direction of the gradient here.


Add Shape

Rectangle
Hold down the left mouse button and drag to create the object.

Ellipse
Hold down the left mouse button and drag to create the object.

Bent Line
  1. Hold down the left button and move the mouse to create a straight line.
  2. Drag the edge markers to adjust the curvature.

Straight Line
Hold down the left mouse button and drag to create the line.

Polyline
Left-click on the starting point, then, left-click on the first end-point. Click on another end-point to create an additional line beginning at the previous end point. Repeat this process as often as needed. Click on an existing end point to finish the line.

Pencil
Hold down the left mouse button and draw directly into your screenshot. See here for details on how to work with objects.

Add Arrow

Bent Arrow
  1. Left-click to specify the starting point and drag to the desired end position.
  2. Drag the edge markers to adjust the curvature.

Straight Arrow
Left-click to set the starting point and drag the mouse to the desired end position.

Add Text, Hint, Note

Text
Click to set the starting point and start typing. You may also double-click the text object to edit it. See here for details on how to work with objects.

Hint
Click to set the starting point and start typing. You may also double-click the hint object to edit it. Drag the arrow head marker to adjust the arrow. See here for details on how to work with objects.

Note
Click to set the starting point and start typing. You may also double-click the note object to edit it.

Stamp
Once you select a stamp it will automatically be placed in the screenshot. You may then move it like any other object. See here for details on how to work with objects.

Numbered Button, Zoomed Button

Numbered Button
Left-click where you want the first number to appear. With each click, Snap will increment the number by one. Repeat this process as often as needed. Select this tool again to begin anew.

Zoomed Button
Creates a zoomed view of the selected area and adds a rounded border. Simply drag to create a selection around the desired area.

Spotlight
Applies a spotlight effect. Left-click and drag to create a selection around the desired area.

Configure
Opens the program settings.

Open Help
Displays this program help.

Selecting colors


Some tools use a separate color selection dialog. Click into the gradient to select a color. You may also click into the color spectrum to adjust the base color. Alternatively, you may also enter RGB or HSV values into the corresponding text fields.

To select the color of a pixel on your screen, drag the color picker icon out of the dialog onto the desired pixel to extract its color.


Working with objects


Most tools create modifiable objects. Left-click an existing to object to select it. Click and drag inside the object to reposition it or drag the border markers to resize it. Drag the center square to rotate an object.


Object hierarchy


The most recently added object always has the highest position on the object hierarchy and appears on top of every other object. To alter this position and have the arrow appear below the ellipse, use the context menu.

Object styles


Click the gear symbol to access existing object styles and click on an entry to adjust the visual appearance of your object. Use "Add" to add the current object style as a new style and "Delete" to delete the selected style from the list.

Object properties








Whenever you select or create a new object you will see its properties at the bottom of the screen. These are the most frequent object properties:

Size / Width
Sets the stroke or border width.

Color
Allows you to specify a color through a menu or the color selection dialog.

Tolerance
Affects how much an effect extends to pixels of a similar color.

Shadow
Enables/Disables the drop shadow effect.

Line Style
Adjusts the line style, e.g. turning the outline of a rectangle into dotted lines.

Opacity
Affects the opacity of an object. Higher values make objects appear translucent.

Context menu


Right-click an object to access its context menu.

Width Highlighted Object at Mouse Cursor Do / With Selected Object Do

Snap distinguishes between the currently selected object and the object below the mouse pointer. When a large rectangle sits on top of a small circle, you will usually have to move the rectangle out of the way or modify the object hierarchy to access the circle. "With Highlighted Object at Mouse Cursor Do" allows you to access the object without doing so.


Clone (Copy) Object
Creates a copy and inserts it next to the object.

Paste Object
Inserts a copied object at its original position into the screenshot.

Cut Object
Copies the object to the clipboard and removes it from the screenshot.

Delete Object
Deletes the object from the screenshot.

Object One Level Up
Moves the object one level up in the object hierarchy.

Object One Level Down
Moves the object one level down in the object hierarchy.

Moves the object one level down in the object hierarchy.
Moves the object to the highest level in the object hierarchy.

Move Object to the Back
Moves the object to the lowest level in the object hierarchy.

Export object as graphic to clipboard
Copies the object as an image to the system clipboard, e.g. to paste it into a Word document.

Export object as graphic to file
Stores the object as a separate image file.


Next Object
Selects the object that succeeds the current object in the object hierarchy.

Previous Object
Selects the object that precedes the current object in the object hierarchy.

Choose Object
This is a list of all objects that sit below the mouse pointer. Click an entry to select the associated object.

Modifying objects after saving

Snap allows you to modify objects in saved screenshots. This is possible because Snap creates a separate SNAPDOC file for each capture. This format retains all object settings and properties, unlike traditional image formats, allowing you to alter them at a later time. When you load an existing image with Snap, Snap will always use the SNAPDOC copy, if available. This mechanism also enables you to undo all changes to a screenshot and restore the original image, if needed.

Image settings

These features let you perform typical image processing tasks such as image rotation. Note that some settings such as the copyright feature not only affect the current file but also future files.

Undo All / Reset to Original
Reverts all changes and restores the original image.

Undo
Undoes the last operation.

Redo
Redoes the last undone operation.

Zoom Out
Zooms out of the image.

Zoom 100%
Resets the zoom level to 100%.

Zoom In
Zooms into the image.

Rotate / Mirror

Rotate 90° Left
Rotates the image 90° left.

Rotate 90° Right
Rotates the image 90° right.

Mirror
Flips the image horizontally.

Flip
Flips the image vertically.

Apply Drop Shadow
Enables/Disables the drop shadow and allows you to adjust the intensity and direction.

Apply Border
Applies a border effect to all or individual image borders. Note that "Rounded Corners" always applies to all borders.

Apply Fade
Applies a fade effect with a selectable direction to the image.

Apply Watermark

Text
Allows you to use text as a watermark. Use the variables to add details such as the current date. Click the "?" to display additional information on available variables.

Image
Allows you to insert an image as a watermark.

Show (C) sign in the center
Displays the copyright symbol in the center of the screenshot.

Transparency
Adjusts the opacity of all watermarks.

Apply Mouse
Displays the captured mouse pointer.

Apply Date and Time
Inserts the current date/time as a text object.

Apply Effects
Applies an image effect, e.g. "Pencil Drawing", to the current screenshot. Watermarks, mouse pointer and time stamp objects are not affected.

Change Background Color/Flatten Layers

^Convert to 24bit
Decreases the color depth to 24bit and replaces all transparent pixels with a color.

Flatten layers
Paints all objects into the image. Afterwards, the objects will no longer be editable.

Resize Capture
Adjusts the image size.

Resize Canvas
Adjusts the size of the canvas. For example, if your image is 500x500 pixels and you use a value of 800, Snap will create a 300 pixel wide border around the image that allows you to add additional objects outside the image. If your image is 24bit, the border will be of the specified color. Otherwise, it will be transparent.

Rename Capture
Allows you to enter a new file name.

Open Help
Display the program help.

Export

These features allow you to save and share your image captures. Note that same functions will automatically close the editor afterwards.

Keep Capture
Applies all changes and saves the file.

Reject/Delete Capture
Deletes the current recording.

Send Capture by Email
Launches your default email application and creates a new email with your image as attachment.

Send Capture by Webmail
Allows you to send your recording via Google Mail, Yahoo Mail or Mail.ru.

Save a Copy of the Capture to the Cloud
Uploads the image to DropBox, Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. To use a service you need to have the standalone client provided by each file hoster installed on your machine.

Upload Capture to Ashampoo Webspace
Uploads the image to Ashampoo Web and opens it in your web browser. You may share this link with others to enable them to view your recording.

Upload Capture to Facebook or Twitter
Uploads the image to Facebook or Twitter. You will need to input your user name and password.

Export Capture
Saves the recording to a separate file.

Export Capture to Adobe Photoshop / PSD Format
Opens the image in Adobe Photoshop, if installed. Otherwise, your image will be saved to a PSD file and placed in the "_PSD" folder that sits in your default output directory. You may select a different output directory in the program settings.

Copy Capture/Path to Clipboard / Zoom In
Copies the current image to the system clipboard.

Print Capture
Prints the current image.

Send Capture to Other App
Opens the current image in an external application. See here for details.

Keep Capture and Open Output Folder
Saves the current modifications and opens the output folder.

Open a Capture from Disk
Loads an existing image.

Open Help
Displays the program help.

Thumbnail bar

The thumbnail bar displays a miniature view of all images and videos in your output folder. Move the mouse over a thumbnail to view a bigger preview. Left-click on a thumbnail to load the associated file. The folder icon indicates that a file is open/modified.

Collages

Use the plus symbol to combine several images into one. Simply load the first image and click the plus sign, to create a new image with your current image on the left and the second image on the right. Repeat this process as often as you like.

Edit video

  1. Tools
  2. Video Settings
  3. Export
  4. Timeline

Tools

Add Time Range for Cutting at Current Position
Adds a cut mark at the current position.

Cut Video Now!
Cuts all current selections from the video.

Export Current Time Range Marker as WMV Video...
Exports the selection as a WMV video.

Export Current Time Range Marker as GIF Animation...
Exports the selection as a GIF animation.

Append Video File...
Appends an existing video to the current project.

Open help
Displays the program help.

Working with the timeline / cut marks

  1. Left-click the timeline to set the current position and click the "Add selection" button to add a selection.
  2. Drag the start/end markers to adjust the beginning/end of the selection.
  3. Click the "X" to remove a selection. Click the scissors to cut all current selections out of the video. You may have multiple selections at once if needed.

Video settings

Use these button to undo/redo your actions or to rename your current file.

Export

These functions allow you to save and share your video captures withn others. Note that same functions will automatically close the editor afterwards.

Keep video
Applies all changes and saves the file.

Reject/Delete video
Delete the current recording.

Send video by email
Launches your default email application and creates a new email with your video as attachment.

Send video by webmail
Enables you to send your video through Google Mail, Yahoo Mail or Mail.ru.

Upload video to the cloud
Uploads the recording to DropBox, Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. To use a service you need to have the standalone client provided by each file hoster installed on your machine.

Upload video to Ashampoo Web
Uploads the recording to Ashampoo Web and opens it in your web browser. You may share this link with others to enable them to view your recording.

Export video
Exports the video to a separate file.

Export video as GIF animation
Exports the video as a GIF animation, e.g. for use with websites.

Send video to app
Opens the current video in an external application. See for details.

Open local video file
Opens an existing video file.

Open help
Displays the program help.

Settings

General


Determines, whether Snap should launch with Windows and whether the program logo should be visible during program launches. Enable automatic crash reports to help us improve the application and reset the default settings, if required.

You can also determine whether Snap will deselect a tool once it has been used, e.g. the arrow tool, to allow for the insertion of multiple objects in a row without having to reselect the tool every time.

Service

Use these buttons to enable/disable service notifications, to check the status of your license or to search for updates. You may also search for new Ashampoo offers or contact our customer service.

Skin

Adjust the visual appearance of the application her. If tool bars appear too small/big, you may also select a different size for them here.

Language


Select your desired program language here.

Screenshot


You can determine the output format and location for new captures here. By default, Snap will open new captures in edit mode automatically but you can change that using the bottom settings.

Videos


Specify format and quality for new video captures here.

Hotkeys


You may assign different keyboard shortcuts to various capture tools here. Hitting the PrtScr button will capture the entire desktop and copy the results to the system clipboard on Windows systems by default.

Position


These settings allow you to reposition or hide the capture bar (magic eye). You can also set a target display for the edit window (provided, you have multiple displays connected).

Share/Email


Email
Determines, whether multiple screenshots will be bundled in a PDF file or send out as separate attachments. You may also specify a default email address that will be used with all emails.

Export
Specifies, whether images that have been sent to the clipboard or emailed should be deleted. You may furthermore specify how the program will handle exported Photoshop files.

Resize on Share
These settings enable you to auto-resize your images if their width exceeds the specified value.

Import/Export


Import
Imports all program settings from an external file.

Export
Exports all program settings to an external file.

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