Author Topic: Screenshot Captor - New Quick Capture Bar (Read 35,744 times)

kunkel321 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 29, 2012, 06:57 PM »

How is the progress going on this Mouser??

As indicated in this crosspost ...

Quote from: kunkel321 on December 28, 2012, 08:39 PM

I managed to setup Minicap (http://www.donationcoder.com/Software/Mouser/MiniCap/index.html) so that it's fully transparent

Used command line
"C:\Program Files\MiniCap\MiniCap.exe" -captureregselect -save C:\Users\Kunkel\Minicaps\Img-$date$-$uniquenum0$.png -exit -postrun "C:\Program Files\ScreenshotCaptor\Tools\sImgurUploader\sImgurUploader.exe $file$"
Had to make a folder for Minicap to save files. Works good though. I'll cross-post this over there....

Would be kindof neat if your Quick Cap Bar could give a similar option. Not necessarily launching MiniCap... I just mean the "transparent" part.

mouser · « **Reply #26 on:** February 26, 2013, 01:00 AM »

Here's a little tour of the new quick capture bar; user can configure it to look differently based on their needs. I'm just using generic icons for the capture modes since i dont have icons for those yet:

ps. The animated gif was created from within Screenshot Captor -- it's a brand new feature.

cranioscopical · « **Reply #27 on:** February 26, 2013, 02:42 AM »

Lotsa good stuff!

… but it's no good to me if it's going to keep moving around like that. There won't be time for me to get my mouse pointer to the right place.

cschw · « **Reply #28 on:** February 26, 2013, 03:12 AM »

I like the latest version, and the idea of being able to customize the quick capture bar to suit the user's needs (wants). It looks like the challenge will be balancing 'customizability' with simplicity of use. Is it correct to assume that you want to set up the default configuration to be obvious for new users, while preserving the ability of veteran users to customize the interface to fit any given task?

mouser · « **Reply #29 on:** February 26, 2013, 06:57 AM »

Hamradio just created a kick-ass set of icons for the quick capture bar!

Feast your eyes on this:

mouser · « **Reply #30 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:21 AM »

Updated animated gif showing various ways you can configure the Quick Capture bar -- for some of them you better have a wide monitor (but remember that this bar will dock to top of screen and hide so it is allowed to take up the full width):

Thanks again to dc member Hamradio for the amazing icon work.

mouser · « **Reply #31 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:27 AM »

By the way, for those wondering how I capture the images for the animated gifs --
There are actually two ways you could do it if I wasn't trying to capture from Screenshot Captor itself.

The first is just to hit the hotkey for "REPEAT REGION" each time I want to take a new screenshot for the "movie", capturing each time a new image from the same region of the screen.

But I use the second method, which I find easier -- which is to use my Easy Screencast Recorder tool, with a lossless codec, and just record a full video of my interactions. Then I can open that video in Screenshot Captor, hit Play, and then press the "Extract Frame" button each time there is a frame I want to include in the animated gif.

tomos · « **Reply #32 on:** February 26, 2013, 12:05 PM »

Quote from: mouser on February 26, 2013, 06:57 AM

Hamradio just created a kick-ass set of icons for the quick capture bar!

Feast your eyes on this:
(see attachment in previous post)

looks really nice

... it isnt working here yet though:
I see nine buttons left of the seperator - the only icon showing is the scanner. No tooltip show for any buttons.
(I'm unable to take screenshot - it disappears)

Here's the settings:

[attachthumb=#]

I tried deselecting "Show labels for modes" - no difference

Install version (3.18.01 - downloaded an hour ago or so)
OS win7 64bit

edit/ maybe it hasnt been uploaded yet

AbteriX · « **Reply #33 on:** February 26, 2013, 12:38 PM »

Quote from: tomos on February 26, 2013, 12:05 PM

... it isnt working here yet though:

I wanted to post the same ( experience/version/os)

Josh · « **Reply #34 on:** February 26, 2013, 12:56 PM »

Mouser, what is the default layout going to be for the new quick capture bar? I would recommend a minimalist style toolbar with buttons, vice the drop down boxes. I think that having the drop downs is helpful for certain work cases but I think the default should be buttons only to keep it as minimalist as possible. This is just my opinion and I would love to hear more from the community on what their thoughts are.

mouser · « **Reply #35 on:** February 26, 2013, 09:34 PM »

New beta version is up and should have a fully working quick cap bar.

I too would like to hear what people think would be the best default settings for FIRST TIME NOVICE USERS.

tomos · « **Reply #36 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:09 PM »

Working now

Like Josh I'd recommend the minimal icons as default, also for beginners - they're used to looking for tooltips too I think

Speaking of tooltips - they're a bit erratic and often dont display - I think it might be that they only display when the toolbar has been clicked.
Easiest way to reproduce is simply to restart SC (with Quick Capture Bar enabled) -tool-tips no longer show on mouseover.

I'll chance an icon request/comments - unfortunately I'm unable to take a screenshot of the bar here (how did you get that shot Abterix

)
-
They are really nicely designed

I think they would look better with a little more contrast.
The red X - while it looks good, it dominates the icons - and it is really the least important. The bar autohides, if someone wants to turn it off they can go into settings or via the tray icon. If you want to keep it, I'd recommend making the others stronger (recommended anyways) and the X more discreet.
-
The three post capture options: - it took me a while to figure out that there is only one selected here - I initially just thought that one icon was darker by accident. (I then thought that that icon toggled the setting and was confused when another click didnt change anything.) I'm not sure waht could be done to make that clearer. In ways, the activated one could be greyed out as it is no longer an option - only the other two can now be selected. Again, that would need the other icons to be 'stronger' in general. Maybe with a stronger outline.
-
I wonder should they all be the same size as the icons on the right? The bar autohides anyway so space is not of a premium. But with a little less spacing. If I could take a shot of the $§%$ thing I'd be able to mess around with it and see what might look good/better. I'd standardise the sizes anyway, whether slightly larger or smaller.

mouser · « **Reply #37 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:23 PM »

Quote

The three post capture options: - it took me a while to figure out that there is only one selected here - I initially just thought that one icon was darker by accident. (I then thought that that icon toggled the setting and was confused when another click didnt change anything.) I'm not sure waht could be done to make that clearer. In ways, the activated one could be greyed out as it is no longer an option - only the other two can now be selected.

ive added another option which moves these post-capture things into the drop-down settings button on the quickbar.. useful if you want to take up less space and explain what they are for. I'll be uploading this version soon:

Quote

The red X - while it looks good, it dominates the icons

you may have a point there.. might try to tone that one down a bit.

mouser · « **Reply #38 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:34 PM »

Quote

Speaking of tooltips - they're a bit erratic and often dont display - I think it might be that they only display when the toolbar has been clicked.

yes, this is exactly right -- they arent showing when the toolbar isnt the active (clicked) window. its on my list to fix.

tomos · « **Reply #39 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:37 PM »

I find it drops down too easily. With a window taking up the full left-hand-side of screen - trying to reach it's close-button is difficult because the bar keeps dropping down.

When the toolbar autohides, I'd prefer if there were less of it visible (I presume that visible strip triggers the drop down - so related to above).

mouser · « **Reply #40 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:04 AM »

I think this is a little better for the close button:

mouser · « **Reply #41 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:04 AM »

Quote

I find it drops down too easily. With a window taking up the full left-hand-side of screen - trying to reach it's close-button is difficult because the bar keeps dropping down.

When the toolbar autohides, I'd prefer if there were less of it visible (I presume that visible strip triggers the drop down - so related to above).

i'll see what i can do -- i should be able to add a delay and make less of the sliver visible.

mouser · « **Reply #42 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:08 AM »

Quote

When the toolbar autohides, I'd prefer if there were less of it visible

you could set the transparency to a very low value, or even 0, so you don't see it.

and the delay-on-appear should hopefully help you with accidentally triggering it.

mouser · « **Reply #43 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:16 AM »

New version up with improved red icon, better grip by hamradio, and a delay on hide/unhide, and the new option to put post-capture choices in submenu for an even narrower bar.

mouser · « **Reply #44 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:19 AM »

By the way, one thing to be cautious of with this quickbar is for those of us who are testing it to ask ourselves -- are we really going to use this bar in any scenario? if not, we should be cautious about trusting our opinions.

For example -- I find myself trying to tweak it to make it work/look best for me, but as cool as i think it is, this is just not a toolbar i'm going to be using. I use keyboard to capture stuff, not a toolbar.

So the real question is how this should be set up for those who will prefer using it over a keyboard.. or how it should be set up to be the most gentle introduction to SC for new users until they get confortable with the options and using keyboard shortcuts..

Josh · « **Reply #45 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:40 AM »

Mouser, when I use a tool like this, I only want the toolbar. For example, my current program is faststone capture which ONLY OPERATES as a toolbar. Once I know the icons, I get what I want with either a hotkey or a quick click (depending on if I feel like using my mouse). This is how I envision the toolbar for SsC. Once I perform the capture from clicking, I should be prompted with what I want to do with the capture.

I feel these icons would suffice as a default icon set: Screen, Active Window, Region, Object, Repeat, Settings, Close Toolbar/Quit

cranioscopical · « **Reply #46 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:43 AM »

Quote from: mouser on February 27, 2013, 12:19 AM

how it should be set up to be the most gentle introduction to SC for new users

One big red button that says "You're not ready for this!"

mouser · « **Reply #47 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:49 AM »

I've noticed a new bug that is messing up the bar width.. I'm working on it..

tomos · « **Reply #48 on:** February 27, 2013, 11:15 AM »

Delay is good

(FWIW I'd prefer more of a delay myself)

Close icon is more disceet.

I would suggest moving the post capture options to the drop-down menu in the default bar.

PS - I reckon I will use this almost full time as well,
for me it provides the ulimate in ease-of-use and control

I'm a fan

tomos · « **Reply #49 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:25 PM »

Quote from: tomos on February 26, 2013, 11:37 PM

I find it drops down too easily. With a window taking up the full left-hand-side of screen - trying to reach it's close-button is difficult because the bar keeps dropping down.

When the toolbar autohides, I'd prefer if there were less of it visible (I presume that visible strip triggers the drop down - so related to above).

I keep getting caught by this - I often have a window taking up half the screen so it's minimise/close buttons are exactly where the toolbar drops down. I seem to tend to move the mouse up there kind of slowly and the toolbar comes down, even though I havent hit the edge.

See this -
it's the autohidden taskbar in Windows 7 (desktop image is black here) - I added shadow so that you could see the one pixel strip they show to indicate the open programmes

[attachimg=#]

point being that one pixel is very visible...
Basically saying I'd prefer if the hidden toolbar only showed one pixel - [edit] not sure how many it currently has [/edit]

But I'll get used to it if you want to keep it like this ;-)