How to make screenshots

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Note: See How do I create a screenshot of my problem? if you need help creating a screenshot to add to a Mozilla Support forum question.

This article explains how to create a screenshot and how to edit screenshot images on different operating systems and devices, to use in Knowledge Base articles. To learn how to add screenshots and other images to KB articles, see Add images and screenshots to Knowledge Base articles.

Visual markers

Visual markers are key to making documentation clear and user-friendly. These markers draw attention to specific areas in an image, guiding users through each step of a process.

Outline color

Use a red outline (specifically hex color #f71701) to delineate significant sections of your screenshots. This color choice ensures that the highlighted areas attract immediate attention.

Corner style

Adopt square corners for the outlines to achieve visual harmony across your screenshot annotations.

Line thickness

Balance the outline thickness between 4 and 8 points (pt) to achieve uniform visibility across screenshots of varying sizes.

Align highlighted UI elements centrally

Align the UI element centrally within the red outline to enhance clarity and recognition.

Screenshot outline example

Sequential step markers

Using sequential step markers on screenshots links each action within the UI to its corresponding text steps. This reduces ambiguity and the need for multiple images. It’s especially useful for longer instructions within the same window or context. By employing this method, you can show multiple instructions in a single screenshot with clear indicators for each action in the interface. Here’s an example of an appropriate scenario for using this approach:

Sequential Step Markers example

To add these markers to your screenshots, open the screenshot in your preferred image editor. Then, save the markers from the Sequential step markers list and place them in the appropriate sections of the screenshot.

Image preparation and editing

Size

Ensure screenshots are compact in size. To enhance loading times and accessibility, particularly for users on slower internet connections, it's best to keep the dimensions of screenshots under 620 pixels in both height and width.

Example image size

Cropping

  • Ensure that larger screenshots are cropped to highlight the UI elements that pertain to the task at hand.
Cropped screenshot example

Simplifications

  • Simplify complex screenshots by eliminating non-essential UI elements, reducing cognitive load for users. Opt for muted grayscale tones like #D4D4D4 and #E0E0E8 instead of bright or dark colors. These lighter shades help to minimize distractions, allowing users to stay focused on the important parts of the screenshot.
Simplified screenshot example

PII

  • Eliminate all Personal Identifiable Information (PII) from screenshots, including emails, usernames, and any personal data that could potentially identify an individual.
Remove PII example

Light mode

  • Capture screenshots in “Light Mode” whenever possible, as “Dark Mode” images may not be as easily discernible for some users.

Paint on Windows and Preview on Mac are useful software for cropping and editing screenshot images. You can also use freeware such as GIMP on Windows, Mac and Linux. Other editing tools are listed at the end of this article.

Screenshots on Windows

Screenshots on Mac

Screenshots on Linux

Screenshots on iOS devices

Screenshots on Android devices

Tools

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