# Use of Screenshots

This chapter provides guidelines for creating and using screenshots in GNOME documentation.

## Default Settings

As far as possible, use the default settings for the GNOME Desktop when you take a screenshot. Include the window frame when you take a screenshot of a window.

## Required Formats

For documentation that is for online display, you must use PNG format for screenshots.

## Image Width

The maximum image width is 510 pixels. At this width, images fit on a printed page. You might need to scale down the image before you add any callouts, to ensure that the total width of the image is less than 510 pixels. You can use GIMP to scale images before you add callouts. To scale an image in GIMP, right-click on the image, then choose Image Scale image .

## Special Graphic Effects

Do not use drop-shadow or any other special graphic effects on screenshots. Every component of information design, whether textual or visual, should play a role in communicating concepts to the user. If a component does not convey a concept, then the component adds to the processing burden for the user without bringing any extra understanding. Essentially, decorative components reduce communication effectiveness.

Avoid special graphic effects for the following reasons:

- Any non-essential visual or textual information can distract a user, or even confuse a user.

- Screenshots should appear as close as possible to what the user really sees on-screen. There are no drop-shadows around windows on-screen.

- Drop-shadows as pure decoration please some people. Others might see such decoration as an attempt to glamorize a dull topic.

- Many icons use drop-shadows. You might want to include screenshots of these icons in the documentation. If you add drop-shadows to your application screenshots, you risk devaluing drop-shadows on icons. Also, the use of drop-shadows for different purposes can confuse the user.

## Using Callouts

This section discusses the use of callouts with screenshots.

### When to Use Callouts

Use callouts to graphically identify key features. Do not use callouts to give instructions such as "Click here to close the window". Instead, identify the feature and give the instructions in text. The following figure shows a screenshot that uses callouts to graphically identify key features.

#### Sample Screenshot with Callouts

Sample screenshot with callouts.

### Callout Text

Use the GIMP Dynamic Text plugin to create callout text. The features of the Dynamic Text plugin make localization of the callout text easier. For example, a translator can double-click on callout text to open the Dynamic Text dialog, then paste in the translated text. For more information on the Dynamic Text plugin, see the entry in the GIMP Plugin Registry.

Ensure that you leave sufficient space around callout text to allow for the expansion of the text after translation.

Use sentence capitalization rules in the callout text. Terms that normally take initial capitals are exceptions to this rule.

### Callout Lines

Use straight horizontal lines and vertical lines only. Do not draw lines at an oblique angle to the screenshot. Due to the limitations of raster formats such as PNG, lines drawn at an oblique angle to the screenshot appear jagged. Beware that straight callout lines might not be very clear if they are parallel and close to lines in the window display that represent edges of window elements.

Keep callout lines as simple as possible. Try to restrict the callout line to one straight line. Where possible, do not create a perpendicular angle on the callout line that leads into the text.

Do not create callout lines that fold back on themselves. If a callout line must be more complex than one straight line, ensure that the callout flows in one direction. The following figure is an example of callout lines not flowing in one direction:

#### Callout Lines Flowing in More Than One Direction

Sample of callout lines flowing in more than one direction.

Use the pencil tool to draw callout lines. Do not use the Gfig plugin. The pencil tool is easier to use and gives you more precise, close control. When you use the Gfig plugin, you might have difficulty in ensuring that the lines are drawn at consistent angles to the image.

## Text Equivalents for Screenshots

For information about writing text equivalents for graphics, see accessibility.

## When to Use Screenshots

For guidelines about when to use screenshots in online Help and printed manuals, see infodesign.