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Introduction
About SnagIt 9
Download and Installation
Using SnagIt 9
Pricing and Support
Conclusion

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Introduction

Like many others, I end up with many programs on my computer. I find that most programs fall into three categories:

1. I need to use some of them everyday, and some of them at least a few times each month.
2. I had to buy some of the other programs because I had to use them once or twice -- and maybe I'll need them again once or twice a year.
3. I need this program because it does the work of a dozen programs for me

I'm sure SnagIt from TechSmith comprises the third category. On the surface, it is a screen capture program -- but it allows me to do so much more -- image viewing, editing, annotating pictures, creating scrapbook style designs, uploading screenshots to Flickr, working with my blog, and maybe I can do a full page on what SnagIt can do!

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About SnagIt 9

SnagIt 9 is from TechSmith, a company based in Okemos, Michigan, USA. You can learn more about of SnagIt 9 from their site...

SnagIt 9 is a screen capture tool with built-in editing and cataloging capabilities.

My contact at TechSmith for this review was Betsy Weber, thank you Betsy.

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Download and Installation

Download the installer from the link given above, run the setup routine and follow the instructions. You'll end up with an SnagIt 9 program group in your Windows Start menu (see Figure 1 below).


Figure 1: SnagIt 9 start menu group

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Using SnagIt 9

Here's how you can use SnagIt 9:

1. Go to your Windows Start menu and choose All Programs | SnagIt 9 | SnagIt 9 (see Figure 1 above).
   
   
2. This launches the SnagIt 9 interface as shown in Figure 2.
   
   
   Figure 2: SnagIt 9 interface

   The interface is explained below:

   1. Profiles: Here you can choose capture profiles such as Region for selecting a particular region of the screen, Window for capturing the window or active window, Full screen to capture the entire screen, etc.
      
      
   2. Profile Settings Pane allows you to create a new capture by modifying an existing profile. You can save your new settings as an updated profile or as a new profile, or you can use the profile settings once and not save them. Other than this you can choose the output and apply some effects to the captured image.
      

   Options can be used to set preferences such as capture cursor, set timer or delayed capture, capture multiple areas, etc.
   
   Capture button performs the capture. You can use the default global hotkey, or customize the hotkey according to your requirement.

   3. Quick Launch gives access to the SnagIt Editor and Images Organizer.
      
      
   4. Related Tasks provides access to tasks such as Convert images, Turn on OneClick, Setup SnagIt printer, Organize profiles, and Manage Accessories. Profile settings are updated when a profile is selected in the Profiles pane. You can customize a capture by making changes to the settings before taking a capture.
      
      
3. Choose the capture profile and press the Capture Hotkey to capture anything you want on your desktop, Figure 3 shows a region capture profile is selected to capture a particular part of the screen.
   
   
   Figure 3: Region capture
   
   
4. Once the capture is done, the captured image will be opened in SnagIt Editor see Figure 4
   
   
   Figure 4: SnagIt Editor
   
   
5. The SnagIt Editor allows you to edit a screen capture after it is saved to a file, here you can do the finishing touches of he captured. Editing options include flip, mirror, shear, rotate, crop, and cut. Adjust the color depth, add text, or view the frames of a video capture. Add custom edge effects such as drop shadow, torn or faded edges, and enhancements such as arrows, cursors, lines, text, and much more.
   
   
6. Once you are done with all the tweaking choose the send tab of the Ribbon as shown in Figure 5, to send the captured file outputs such as, MS PowerPoint, Excel, Word, E-mail, etc.
   
   
   Figure 5: Send tab of Ribbon
   
   Note: You can add other applications as output programs.
   
   
7. Or save the capture image by choosing SnagIt Button | Save As.

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Pricing and Support

SnagIt 9 costs $49.95 -- an upgrade from SnagIt 8 to SnagIt 9 is is available. Multiple user licenses are available.

Support is by e-mail, phone, fax and a online faq.

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Conclusion

SnagIt is an amazing program, and there's no one who cannot find some use for it. It's one of those programs you end up using all the time, and it performs without bothering you much. Life moves on smoothly!

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