Introduction To SnagIt

SnagIt is the screen capturing program that you were given as part of your attendance in TIM2S3 workshops. This lecture will assist you in loading the software onto your machine and in how to use it.

caution A word of caution. All TIM2S3 participants are required to follow copyright law when creating their websites. Failure to comply with copyright laws can result in fines up to $10,000 per occurrance. CCBC and the faculty teaching these workshops are not responsible for your actions.

For a terrific website on copyright information, you may want to go to the site used for this weeks lectures.  The URL is http://www.benedict.com

Installing the Software

To install SnagIt on your computer, all you should need to do is insert the CD into your CD drive. The program should automatically begin the install procedure. If this does not occur, then go to the start menu (by hitting the Start button at the bottom of the screen start button.

Now select the Run option. Click on the Browse button. Next, select your CD drive. This is frequently labeled D or F. On my machine, it is F. Finally, select the SnagIt directory, then the Setup.exe file. You should see a screen similar to the one below, with the exception of the drive name.

run

Click on OK. You will now be taken through the install procedure. From here, simply follow the on-screen instructions.

 

Setting Up Your SnagIt Defaults

Once SnagIt is installed on your machine, you will be presented with a "Quick Start" Wizard that will enable you to set up SnagIt with your default settings. You may want to click in the box labeled "Do not show me this wizard again" if you do not want to go through this every time you click on the SnagIt icon.

SnagIt Wizare

The first screen will enable you to select what type of region you want to capture.

Select Input

You have three options, as labeled above. For most purposes, you will want to capture only a Region of the screen. Therefore select Region. To move on, select the Next key.

 

The second screen will enable you to select the type of output you want to produce.

Select Output

Since we will want to use our images in web pages (or for tutorials in Word documents), select Graphics File. We will need to edit this selection in a few moments. SnagIt automatically saves images in a bit map (BMP) format. Since bit map files are not always web compatible, you will want to save your files as GIF or JPG. For now, simply select the second option and then select the Next key.

 

Hot Key Selection

The next screen allows you to select the commands that will tell SnagIt you are ready to begin your screen capture. The command <CTRL><SHIFT><P> means to simultaneous hit the control key, the shift key and the p key. You will be able to achieve the same results by hitting the Capture key in SnagIt, so just skip this screen by selecting the Next button.

Hot Key (Capture)

 

Preview Window

The next screen enables you to see a preview of the image you captured before you save the file to your disk. For now, you may want to keep the preview window On, but eventually you will turn it off. To move on, select the Next key.

Preview Window

Final Screen

The last screen just tells you that the setup is complete. Just hit the Finish button and you are almost ready to begin using SnagIt.

SnagIt

A Few More Things Before You Get Started

Before you get started, from the menu bar, select Output, then select Properties (at the bottom of the list), then select the Image File tab. You will see the screen below.

Image File Tab

If the image you want to save has few colors, save the files as a GIF file because it will be smaller in size and take up less space on the server. If the file you want to save has a lot of pictures, then save it as a JPG file. If you are in doubt, save it as a JPG.

Finally, so you don't have to worry about what your settings are, from the menu bar, select Options, then Save Profiles Now.

save profiles

NOTE: Next time you open SnagIt, you may want to click on the box labeled "Do not show me this wizard again." to save you from going through the above steps.

Saving An Image: Method 1

For practice, go into Word and use the equation editor to create the quadratic formula. We will save that as an image to use in a webpage. (This is only practice. You can create anything you want.)

  1. Select the image you want to capture. For this specific example, go into Word and type in an equation.
  2. If SnagIt is not open, double click on the icon on your desktop. SnagIt icon.
  3. Drag the SnagIt box out of the way, so you can see your formula.
  4. Select the Capture key. captureYour cursor will be a little hand holding a + symbol.
  5. Move the cursor over to the formula. When you are at the upper left corner of the formula, click the left button on your mouse and drag the red box such that your formula is enclosed in the box. When you are done, release the mouse button. You will be presented with the screen below.

    Capture Preview
  1. If this is the image you want, select the Finish button.
  2. Finally, save the file to your disk or folder. This image will be available for you to use in your webpages or in Word documents.

Saving An Image: Method 2

An alternate method for saving images is as follows:

  1. Find or create the image you want to save.
  2. Open SnagIt, but his the _ button at the top-right corner of your screen to minimize the SnagIt screen.
  3. Simultaneously hit the CTRL+SHIFT+P key. Your cursor will now be the little hand holding a + as described above.
  4. Starting in the upper left corner of your image, click the left mouse button and drag your mouse until the red triangle centers your image.
  5. Save your image as described above.

Copyright 2002 by Donna Tupper