What's in a Good Snapshot?

A couple of tips:

* Choose your wallpaper carefully! I thing that is THE most important thing ina screenshot. I've seen some shots that just blend with the wallpaper. Something that contrasts is better, that way your item will stand out in the shot.

*Dont use a wallpaper that is too 'busy' visually. Keep it simple.

I agree that screenshots can be a pain to get just right. That's why I admire those individuals that put together shots in the screenshot gallery. Hopefully we will hear some input from some of them, they really know what they are doing!

I'm not a skinner artist or designer.  But I do enjoy presenting desktop concepts from the works of all the World Class talent in the skinning community.  A "Shooter."

I would imagine any none skinner who dares to present a screenshot would have at least a small sense of apprehension, because it is the work of others and it's being displayed before the court of community opinion.

Hanging out with skinners I already know it's an entirely different dicipline requiring accuracy, surgical detailing, testing, not to mention the level of creativity.  Skinning is art form, science and talent.

But shooting is a cool way for all to demonstrate the best of the end results, the essence and true nature of a finished product or even a WIP teaser.

My approach is to show seamless integration and functionality that happens to look good too.  Usually it's a great wallpaper that get's me started, and the elements I use has to flow with that wall.

So if I feel one of my setups and it feels good, that's a shot.  I work on making it the best looking setup I ever had and that's a shot.  If I continue to stare at it after that, it's time to submit and share it with the community.

Then after finally submitting, you look at it again and find 15 things wrong that you should have changed.

To me, that's shooting!

It depends on what kind of preview you're doing. If it's for a Windowblind, then the blind should be the main focus, not the wallpaper. Find a wall that best compliments the blind (contrasting parts to show trans pieces, etc) but don't detract from the blind itself (try to stay away from distracting abstract stuff). If you're blind has lots of color, try to avoid using a wall that has the same color, or the blind will get lost in it. Also, always try to show as much of the blind as possible, having common windows open (control panel, browser, etc) and show the start menu. Something that always irritates me is when I see a preview for a blind and there's *nothing* in the taskbar. Try to display as many elements of the theme as possible.

I usually start with the wall, unless the blind is what caught my eye to begin with, then I have to find the perfect wall to compliment it.

I take several screenshots with and without elements in them, then cut and paste to show the features I want highlighted.

all of the items are actually part of my desktop but not all of them can be shown together at the same time.(once you click on something , you lose something else.)

I have also found, that mirroring or skewing a wall gives a better look with certain skins .

My basic rule of thumb is, if the wall's busy, don't add a lot of stuff for clutter.

If the wall is plainer, add stuff here and there, in the blank areas, to balance the look.

Balance is key. too many things on one side or lumped in a corner detracts from the general look of things.

anyhoo, that's how I create my screenies.

not sure if that helps at all, but it's something to think about anyway.

Bebi is on target if you are show casing a specific item. It should be the main focus, all other elements should be complimentary, and it should show as much of it as possible, even blending multiple shots in to one, to show extra capabilities.

As for a ScreenShot..

When I stumble on an item I like, I will find elements that match it's style/look. (not necessairily its color as I can edit that ) Example: I find a WB with smooth silver edges and carbon fiber style mesh in the center, I will search the WC libraries and the internet to find items with a strikingly simular look.

Once I have chosen an item, for example a wallpaper to go with the silver/carbon WB. I will then hue adjust the wall using the color picker from DX to as closely match the WB as possible. If it looks good I move to the next element, such as a Dock. Each time testing colors and rejecting any item that dont look like it was made to go with the rest of the theme. Some times it takes weeks to get just the look im striving for, often changing items as I spot one that fits even better.

While I like default matching themes, to me it is more fun to mix and match to create my own personal customized desktop.

To me Customization is about being different, coming up with skin/theme blends others would have not thought of, and having a blast doing it.

The most important Advise I can give.... just have fun, and If you like how it looks.. thats all that really matters.

Here is a small tut I wrote to give an Idea of how I assemble a Screen shot.

https://forums.wincustomize.com/327514

Wulfn1 has the right of it. Balance is everything. If you are taking multiple screen shots, good. Like any good artist, you want it perfect, and in this case, I look at it like a photog...out of many, you find just the right one.