Resizing graphics

["@í" <sdeichmann -at- voicemobility -dot- com>]

I am having a problem that does not appear to be unusual. I'm trying to
create screen captures for the user guide I am writing, and I'm having
trouble with the clarity of the captures when I resize them to fit in the
document. I have searched the archives for this problem and found several
emails dealing with it, however I've tried the suggestions and haven't had
much success.

I'm using Word, and I'm taking the screen captures with SnagIt and then
pasting them into Paint Shop Pro to resize and touch them up. Resizing
(shrinking) in PSP and Word produces the same blurry results. I tried using
the Sharpen filter in PSP and it doesn't help.

I've also tried the following:
1 - Create the screen captures as WMFs instead of BMPs. Still blurry when I
resize.
2 - Copy the screen captures into Paint, then into Word as BMPs, again
blurry.

One of the suggestions in the archives was to not take the whole screen
capture, just take what is needed. In many cases I will be able to do this,
but there are at least two screens where I take a large area that will need
resizing in the doc.

I did a search on the Web and found a product called Smooth Scaling that
appears to do exactly what I want, but I don't see a demo version available.
I'd prefer to evaluate the software before purchasing it. Does anyone use
this s/w? It's produced by WexTech (www.wextech.com).

In short, has any one figured out a way around this, either through a s/w
solution or otherwise? It was never an issue for me before because I always
produced printed docs (and the resized docs printed correctly). This is the
first time the doc will be available electronically.

Thanks in advance for your help...

Sue Deichmann
Technical Writer, Voice Mobility Inc.