How to combine screenshots

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How to combine screenshots

Post by WQ Coordinator » Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:26 am

Note: if you have any questions or suggestions about these guides, please post them in the 'What makes a good report?' topic.
        • Combining Screenshots for Reporting Purposes
                    • [list][list]Made by WolfQuest Report Team members
[/list][/list]



If you are looking to learn how to report, please visit the following topic, as it has intructions on how to report someone - copy and paste the link into your browser.
If you are looking for how to take screenshots, the following topic should be of assistance - copy and paste the link into your browser.




What are screenshots/screengrabs/screencaps?
A screenshot (or screen shot), screen capture (or screencap), screen dump, screengrab (or screen grab), or print screen is an image taken by a computer to record the visible items displayed on the monitor, television, or another visual output device. Usually this is a digital image taken by the host operating system or software running on the computer.


How are screenshots helpful when reporting?
WolfQuest administrators need some sort of proof to ban/warn someone for breaking the rules. Screenshots provide that form of proof.

Why would you want to combine screenshots?
Combining screenshots will help reduce the amount of screenshots and links used when reporting someone. Having them in chronilogical order (in order from start to finish) is best. Overall, it saves time for both the reporter and the administrator.

What does a combined screenshot look like?
Image



We currently have guides for...
  • ○ Paint - Comes on all computers with Microsoft Windows
    ○ GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) - Free, downloadable software
    ○ Photoshop CS4 - Purchaseable graphics editing program *In the Making*
    ○ Microsoft PowerPoint - Comes on all computers with Microsoft Windows

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Re: How to combine screenshots

Post by WQ Coordinator » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:37 am

          • How to Combine Screenshots on PAINT
Paint Guide I by DragonflySpirit
Operating System: Windows 7
Version of Paint: 6.1


There are two available ways I see to combine screenshots in Paint. Most of this depends on your way/program of taking screenshots.

Copying & Pasting Without Saving All Of The Screenshots;
Depending of what you use for taking screenshots, it may have the option to copy and paste without having to save all of the single screenshots. Once you open Paint, you may click on the left corner image which says "Paste" under it. If the Paste image does not have any color, you do not have anything to paste into the Paint. You may have to re-copy the image, then there should be color and be able to paste.

Copying & Pasting While Having All Of The Screenshots Saved;
You may click under the Paste image on the small arrow. It will give you the option to "Paste" or to "Paste From". You click Paste From then select the area where the images are saved. (Example: Libraries >> Documents >> WolfQuest2 then click on the image)

It is strongly recommended to change your height so it will be there will be no excess white in the image and will not have to zoom in on screenshot to view it fully.

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Re: How to combine screenshots

Post by WQ Coordinator » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:45 am

          • How to Combine Screenshots on PAINT
Paint Guide II by Alpha Female
Guide on using Paint on Windows 7 to Combine Screenshots

To start, take a screenshot of the game before entering it (so there’s proof of who the host is). Once you get that, open Paint and click “Paste”. Drag the chat over to the left side so that the chat you’re currently entering is at the top of the screen: Image

From there, take the entire white canvas and shrink it so there is only the name of the chat, the host, where the chat is located (Slough Creek, etc.) and the type of chat (disabled, lexicon, or phrased). Once that is done, use the Zoom in the far right-hand corner to zoom out to 50%. Then drag the canvas so it’s large enough to have other screenshots placed there: Image

Now, it’s time to enter the chat and see if there’s anything inappropriate. If someone has broken the rules, press ‘C’ to open the chat completely and take a screenshot. Go to Paint and press “Paste”. Drag the screenshot to the far right corner. Click the “Select” button and select around the chatbox: Image

Drag the selected chatbox to under the other screenshot on the left. Continue doing this until you’ve finished collecting proof. Once done, zoom back to 100% and make the canvas smaller so it fits around your screenshots: Image

Then, just save it and upload it. Good luck!

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Re: How to combine screenshots

Post by WQ Coordinator » Sun Dec 18, 2011 11:01 am

          • How to Combine Screenshots on GIMP
GIMP Guide I by Croix
Operating System: Windows Vista
Version of GIMP: 2.6.10
Keep in mind... It is best recommend you have some basic knowledge of GIMP to use this guide.



Once you have taken, cropped, and saved all your screenshots the first thing you want to do is create a new, blank image. You can make a new image by going under "File", selecting "New...", and entering the wanted dementions of a new image. Having the blank image to be larger then the resulting image with the combined screenshots is best. That way you have room to move the screenshots around and see what you are doing. Say all of your screenshots combined was an image of 350 pixels x 700 pixels, you want the blank image to be 400 x 900 pixels.
As you combine screenshots more and get better, you will know the estimated length of a combined screenshot by heart. At first it may be a bit difficult and you will mess up, but it gets much easier.

At this point you should have generated your base image to combine screenshots. The next step would be opening your screenshots up as new layers. Select "File" once more, choose "Open as Layers...", and select the screenshots you want to combine. Tip! Hold down CTRL + click on more then one screenshot to open multiple screenshots at one time! All of your screenshots should be opened and in the center of your blank image as new layers.
Now that all your screenshots are opened and ready to move. Select the Move Tool and begin to arrage the screenshots in the desired order/pattern. It is highly suggested that you order your screenshots in chronological order. That is, in the order from start to finish. As it will be most understandable.
Using the Crop Tool to remove any excess is also recommended, as it makes the entire image look much neater. Use this time to check and make sure all your screenshots are in the proper order. This is a great way to avoid making mistakes.
  • » Exporting

Your image will have multiple layers. Which means you will get a message when you try to save it. Saving your image either as a PNG or JPG/JPEG is suggested. PNG images tend to have more detail, are able to have transparency, but have a much larger file size then a JPG. So use whatever works better for you!

Exporting as a PNG http://tinyurl.com/ExportPNG
Exporting as a JPG/JPEG http://tinyurl.com/ExportJPG

That's it! Upload your final image, send it in with your report, and you're done! Good luck. : )

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Re: How to combine screenshots

Post by WQ Coordinator » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:03 am

      • Combining Screenshots Using Microsoft PowerPoint


Microsoft Guide by BlackWarrior
Operating System: Windows XP
Version of Microsoft Office: 2007


  • | Taking the Screenshots |

First you want to follow through with the steps of taking a usual screenshot. Right after the image has been taken, open up a New Microsoft PowerPoint and paste your newly taken screen shot using the right mouse click and selecting paste.

  • | Gathering the Images and Cropping |

Once you have gathered all the screenshots you wish to use as proof or would like to combine, simply resize them then arrange them around one blank slide the way you wish to combine them as one whole image. For images that you have excessive space that is only taking up room, you can always crop that extra space out.

In order to crop an image
-> select the picture you wish to crop
-> Select the “Format” Tab located at the top of your screen
-> Search the options that now appear, and select "Crop"
-> black tabs should now appear around the outside of your selected picture; click and drag these tabs to slice off the areas you wish to crop out
-> click outside of the slide to exit crop mode

  • | Grouping/Combining the Images |

Now that you have them arranged and cropped all your images to your liking, you are now ready to group/combine the images into one whole image. This part can get some getting used to:

To group/combine an image
-> select one of your images
-> Hold down Ctrl on your keyboard and click with the mouse all your other images you wish to include in this combined screenshot
-> you should now have all your images selected at the same time
-> let go of Ctrl and right click in the centre of your images
-> a list of options should appear. From here, select the “Group” button
->once you select that and click elsewhere, your images should now seem glued together

Note: When combining images, avoid leaving excessive space between each screenshot.

  • | Saving Your Image and Sending in the Report |

To make sure your images combined properly, click and drag one of the images, which should now move as one large group.

To Save Your Image
-> Simply select your combined image
-> right click on the picture
-> select “Save As Picture”
-> and save your image to wherever you want

Upload your combined screenshot onto a photo sharing site and send in your report with your picture. To ensure your picture saved correctly, visit the folder in which it was saved and select the file. When the image appears, it should look as though you are looking at several images glued together.


That's It! Now you can send in your reports with combined screenshots. c:
The team appreciates your help and good luck!

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