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That's exactly what I try to do. Smaller screen shots with arrows or circles.
I may have to try the two-column idea to spice things up.
-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of Becky -dot- Scott -at- dart -dot- biz
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 9:20 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Screen Captures
I agree that large screen captures which expand the doc can be annoying.
But no screen capture at all sometimes leaves people feeling lost.
I have used a happy medium that my clients seem to like ... small screen shots with relevant fields circled. I divide the page into two columns and put text in one column and accompanying screen shots in the other. That way people can read uninterrupted text if they want, or they can scan the screen shots to see what to look for. This makes the screen shots pretty small but since people are generally looking at the screen when they read the doc, they don't really need a large version.
One of my clients, which serves state government accounts, adopted this as their standard layout style.
I have attached an example, if the listserv can display it.
Becky Scott
Technical Writer
(517) 244-2191 (office)
(517) 290-3158 (cell)
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