CASL Screenshot Standards

• Part 1: Snagit Setup
  • Snagit Capture Settings
  • Snagit Editor Tool Settings
    • Callout
    • Arrow
    • Rounded Rectangle
    • Blur
    • Fill
    • Teardrop Annotations
  • When to Use Each Annotation
• Part 2: Making Screenshots
  • Capture Best Practices
  • Image File Type
  • Adding the Image to the Article

Part 1: Snagit Setup

Use TechSmith's screen capture tool Snagit to make screen captures for KB articles.

Contact CASL's business manager to get a Snagit license.

Snagit Capture Settings

Open the Snagit Capture tool and set the following. Once configured, save them as a Preset so you don't reset them each time.

Snagit Editor Tool Settings

Configure each annotation tool once in the Snagit Editor. These standardize how every annotation looks across the KB.

Callout

Arrow

Rounded Rectangle

Blur

Fill

Teardrop Annotations

When to Use Each Annotation

Choosing an annotation tool

Tool	Example	Use it to…	Tips
Arrow		Point to one specific element (a button, a field)	Point clearly at the exact target.  Use the shortest, clearest path from an open area of the screenshot to the target.  Use a horizontal or vertical arrow when it can reach the target without covering interface content. Use an angled arrow when a horizontal or vertical arrow would cross text, controls, or other important information.
Rounded rectangle		Draw attention to an area or group of fields without pointing at one thing	Make the rectangle big enough to frame the area, but not so big it covers other detail.
Callout		Add a short label or note on the screenshot	Use callouts sparingly, with concise wording, and don't cover important content. If a callout runs past the capture edge, extend the background of the screenshot and use the Fill tool (#E3E3E3) to fill in the blank space.
Teardrop annotation		Label multiple points that each need explanation	Use teardrop annotations when one screenshot has multiple points that each need explaining, or when the explanations are too long to put in callouts. For just one or two simple points, an arrow or a single callout is cleaner. Teardrops keep the image uncluttered by moving the wordy explanations out of callouts.
Blur		Hide sensitive information	Mandatory: Blur anything that exposes a real person or a security detail: Personal data, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, or any personally identifiable information (PII). Confidential or proprietary information. Anything that could compromise privacy or security, such as usernames, passwords, or other login credentials. Use sample or placeholder data where you can, so there's nothing to blur in the first place.

Part 2: Making Screenshots

Capture Best Practices

Do:

• Zoom to 100% in the browser before capturing.
• Use default system colors. Don't use dark mode in screenshots.
• Capture only the region you need. Don't grab a whole window unless it is the whole point (an error dialog or small popup). Leave enough surrounding context to orient the reader to where the element lives on the page.

Don't:

• Capture the mouse pointer (Capture Cursor is Off for this reason).
• Apply a frame or shadow to the capture in Snagit. The border comes from the KB Style Guide's Image Border style, which you apply later in the KB editor.

Image File Type

Save your image as .png. Refer to the KB Style Guide ("Images and Screenshots") for information on naming the file, the width cap, applying the Image Border, alignment, and alt text.

Adding the Image to the Article

Refer to the KB Style Guide ("Images and Screenshots") for information on using drag and drop to add the image to your KB article. 

To add an image, when the KB is in edit mode, drag and drop the image directly into the article. This automatically creates an attachment folder for the article and keeps all of its images together. (Avoid the separate upload route; drag-and-drop is the standard.)