SnagIt Learning Center

Home / Learning Center /

SnagIt Printer Capture

Printer Capture allows you to capture and manipulate the print output from any application as a digital image. This allows you to create an image file of what the printed material would have looked like if you had printed it on a printer.

When you install SnagIt, you are asked if you want to install the SnagIt Printer. If you choose to install it, a printer is added to your system. You can also install the printer from SnagIt later. This new printer is listed in Start > Settings > Printers and can be selected from your Windows applications print function, just like any other printer. On Windows XP, the new printer is included in Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes.

Note: Printer Capture is not available when SnagIt is installed on Windows NT4.

When you print pages to SnagIt Printer from an application, digital images of those pages are created. These images can be in any graphic file format SnagIt supports, with the default selection being .TIF. SnagIt does not need to be running when you select the SnagIt Printer from an application; it starts automatically and begins the capture using the settings of the Printer Capture tool.

Why use Printer Capture?

• Print without a printer to save paper by allowing you to get an accurate print preview.

• Print anywhere without being connected to a printer. The resulting graphic files can be transferred or e-mailed to a system that has a printer.

• Convert any file format that can be printed into standard graphic file formats or electronic documents. This eliminates the need to scan paper output to create electronic documents.

• Add graphic file format export to any application that can print.

• Share documents without special software to view them.

• Print documents to e-mail so they can be sent online instead of using paper mail or fax.

• Electronically distribute multiple copies of documents for any purpose: reports, invoices, drawings, plans, photos, and legal correspondence. Since these documents are graphic files, they are less likely to be modified by the recipient, increasing security.

• Create a virus-free version of a document, even if the original contained a virus.

• Automatically filter and redirect your print output.

Printer Capture enhances printing in a number of ways. You can:

• Print multiple pages per sheet (2, 4, 6, 8, or 16) (Windows 2000 and XP only).

• Control margins and scale the image in ways the original application may not have supported.

• Annotate output, add a watermark, or include a border or frame.

Setting Up SnagIt for Printer Capture

1. Open SnagIt. Choose Tools > SnagIt Printer Capture Settings. The SnagIt Printer Capture Settings dialog box will display.

2. Click on the Input > Properties... button.
   
   The Input Properties dialog box displays.

3. Within the SnagIt Printers tab, choose SnagIt 7 in the SnagIt Printer listbox.

4. To access the Document Properties dialog box, choose the Properties button. Within this dialog box you can specify the Orientation (Portrait/Landscape) and Page Order of the document, designate the Paper Source, and decide whether the printer will create a color or black and white document.

5. Within the Printer Capture Preferences tab, specify a directory in which SnagIt should store temporary files of your captures (before they are saved to a final destination). You can also enable the Close SnagIt after capture option by placing a checkmark in the box next to this option.

6. Choose OK to accept changes and exit the Input Properties dialog box. You will return to the SnagIt Printer Capture Settings dialog box.

7. Select the desired Output format from the Output menu. As with all other SnagIt captures, you may choose to directly output to the Printer, save to an image file, automatically e-mail, etc.
   Note: Because Printer Capture automatically applies a number of formatting changes to your print job, we strongly recommend that you enable the Preview Window option on the Output menu. If you do so, you may also choose or change your Output format after capture from the SnagIt Preview Window.

8. Select the desired filters from the Filters menu. These will be applied during capture.

Now, to use Printer Capture, simply print from within the application you wish to print from using SnagIt 7 as the printer.

Printer Capture Settings

Use the options in the Printer Capture Settings dialog box to choose the Output and Filters options for your Printer capture. To access the Printer Capture Settings dialog box, choose Tools > SnagIt Printer Capture Settings.

The following table summarizes the description and use of each option in the Printer Capture Settings dialog box.

Printer Capture Preferences

Use the Printer Capture Preferences options to set the directory where temporary printer capture files are stored. You can also set SnagIt to close after printing if SnagIt was not already running. To access the Printer Capture Preferences options, choose Tools > SnagIt Printer Capture Settings > Input Properties... > Printer Capture Preferences tab.

The following table summarizes the description and use of each option in the Printer Capture Preferences tab.

SnagIt Printers

The SnagIt Printer options allow you to specify the SnagIt printer you want to use during Printer Capture mode. It also gives you access to the Document Properties dialog box, so that you can set layout and paper/quality preferences. To access the SnagIt Printer options, choose Tools > SnagIt Printer Capture Settings > Input Properties... > SnagIt Printer tab.

The following table summarizes the description and use of each option in the SnagIt Printer tab.

Working with Multipage Captures using SnagIt Printer Capture

Saving your SnagIt Printer Capture as a multipage TIF file will allow you to save all of the pages of the capture within one image file. If you do not save your Printer Capture using the multipage TIF file format, each page of your capture will be saved as an individual image file.

Using the multipage TIF file format, when your capture is complete, it will display within the Preview Window where you can use the Previous Page and Next Page buttons on the toolbar to browse through the file.

You can also delete a page in the image file using the Delete Page button. When deleting a page from the image file, the change will not occur until you save the file as a multipage TIF.

To view and/or edit a multipage TIF file after it has been saved, use the SnagIt Editor to open the TIF file and make any changes. Use the Previous Page and Next Page buttons to move throughout the image file.

Note: Choose one or more filters to enhance your capture with edge effects, color preferences, etc.

Note: If you have taken your Printer Capture using the configuration for multipage TIF file output but choose to complete your capture using File > Save As within the Preview Window instead of clicking on the Finish (File) button on the toolbar, you will only be able to save the current page as an image file.

Configuring and Saving a Multipage TIF File

Multipage TIF file capability is only available when you set your Printer Capture output setting to File and specify TIF format in the Output Properties dialog box.

1. From within SnagIt, choose Tools > SnagIt Printer Capture Settings > Output > File.

2. Click on the Output Properties... button. The Output Properties tabbed dialog box displays.

3. Choose Image File > File Format > TIF. Choose OK to save changes.

4. Within the SnagIt Printer Capture Settings dialog box, choose OK.

5. Make sure that the SnagIt 7 printer is selected as the current printer. Print the desired number of pages within the host application.

6. Once the capture has been completed, it will display within the Preview Window.

7. Click on the Finish (File) button on the toolbar to complete the capture.

8. The Save As dialog box displays. Choose the location to save this capture to and give the file a name. Make sure you retain the TIF file format within the Save as type field.

Your Printer Capture file has now been saved as a multipage image file. To edit the file, use SnagIt Editor to open the TIF file. Move from page to page within the image file using the Previous Page and Next Page buttons on the toolbar. Or, use the Delete Page button to delete the page that is being displayed.

Note: When performing a Printer Capture, if your Output setting is set to any file type other than TIF, when you complete your capture within the Preview Window using the Finish (File) button, you will see the Save Multiple Images dialog box.

Multipage Viewing Tools

The following table summarizes the description and use of each of the multipage TIF options in the Preview Window and SnagIt Editor toolbar.

Note: These options are only enabled when a multipage image file is being viewed.

Option	Description	Use
	Delete Page	Deletes the current page of the multipage image file. When using Delete, changes will not occur until you save the file as a multipage TIF.
	Previous Page	Use this option to move back through the multipage image file.
	Next Page	Use this option to move forward through the multipage image file.

Note: While saving your Printer Capture image file, if the Save Multiple Images dialog box displays and you had been trying to save a multipage TIF file, see Working with Multipage Captures using SnagIt Printer Capture to learn about setting up a multipage TIF capture.

From within a host application, you can use Printer Capture to capture multiple pages at one time and save each page as an individual image file.

Note: Choose one or more filters to enhance your capture with edge effects, color preferences, etc.

Note: In order to save each page as a separate image file, you must choose an Output > Output Properties > Image File > File Format other than TIF.

When using Printer Capture, when your capture is complete, it will display within the Preview Window where you can use the Previous Page and Next Page buttons on the toolbar to browse through the file.

You can also delete a page in the image file using the Delete Page button.

To complete your capture, click on the Finish (File) button on the toolbar. The Save Multiple Images dialog box will display.

Each of the options within this dialog box is described in the table below.

SnagIt Learning Center >

SnagIt >

Learning Center