Screenshots in FrameMaker

[Suzette Seveny <sseveny -at- PETVALU -dot- COM>]

(Cross-posted to Techwr-L and Framers)

Thanks for all the excellent responses!  I'm sorry I cannot respond to everyone
individually, but I'd like to summarize.

Some people use one program to capture and another to edit.  Others use a
"multi-purpose" program to do both.  The recommendations I received break down
as follows:

Paintshop Pro - 12 recommendations
Photoshop - 3 recommendations
Full Shot - 2 rec.
Hijaack - 1 rec.
Hypersnap - 1 rec.
SnagIt32 - 3 rec.
Snapshot - 1 rec.
Capture Pro - 1 rec.

I also received some excellent advice on how to manage graphics in my
FrameMaker files.  Here's my plan of attack:

I have a program called Halo Desktop Imager.  I will use that to capture and
edit my screenshots.  Backup choice is Photoshop (which I also have - just
don't know how to use it).  Last resort will be Paintshop Pro.  I am fortunate
that I can select whatever tools I want.

I will capture my screens at 72 dpi, reduce to 16 colours and save them in a
TIF format (recommended by most - only one person recommended BMP).  Each
manual will have a separate graphics folder in it's directory, holding all TIF
files used.  I will import the TIF file into FrameMaker, using Reference (to
keep the size of the documents reasonable).  My manuals will eventually end up
in PDF format.

I will use the "Pen" feature in Frame to outline my graphics if necessary
(stole this from someone else's posting - thanks whoever you are!!).  Someone
else posted some really good advice about importing graphics into frame and
gave the math to determine resolution (pixels divided by dimensions in inches
or something like that).  I wrote it down and will definitely refer to it if
necessary - thanks to you too!!!

I could have spent a lot of time figuring this out, so thanks to everyone for
saving me so much valuable time.  I am doing my first manual in Frame, and
learning as I go along.  So far, it's going very well, and I don't even miss
Word!!!

You people are absolutely fabulous!!

Suzette Seveny
Markham, Ontario, Canada
sseveny -at- petvalu -dot- com or suzette -at- yesic -dot- com

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