--Screencaps--
Program - Image Grabber II
Download


--Creating Screencaps(Multiple pics)

NOTE- Sometimes the program can be slow/laggy, so just be patient
To get started open up your movie in ImageGrabber and the movie will start playing. Click the red stop button and the movie is open and ready to go.

Click this button and the following dialog box will appear



Enter the number of screens shots you would like to take of the scene. A good number for a scene is probably about 10-15 and you can have a play around with this and the number of columns explained in the settings below to see what you like.

When you click OK it will go through the movie taking the screen shots and add them to the timeline across the bottom.

You can add individual selected screenshots by using the scrollbar to move to the picture you want and clicking this button to add the current image at the end of the timeline.

Once you have all the pics you want you can arrange the screenshots in the timeline.


* Right click a screenshot to delete it, delete all or change the text label.

* Left click a screenshot to drag it to where you want in the timeline.


ImageGrabber settings

Once you have all the screens you want, on the File menu click Save File and you will see the following default settings dialog box ...



Layout: Good idea to make the dimensions of each screen (Tile) a fraction of the original to avoid distortion.

Style: Details of the drop shadow around your screens and the background color for your image.

Info: You can include the time each sample was taken in the vid.

JPEG: You can adjust the quality down to reduce the file size say for a full movie with many screens.

Details: You can include the basic movie statistics in the image.

There are plenty of possible configurations, try playing around with different settings until you find a layout you like.

-Examples-






--Single Screenshots--

The best/easiest way to do this with VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player Download

Taking a screenshot in VLC is very easy.

Simply open the video file, and when you get to a frame where you want to take the screenshot, go up to the "Video" tab at the top, and choose "Snapshot"

It will most likely save in your My Pictures folder, but you can redirect your Vlcsnaps to save elsewhere in Tools -->Preferences

And thats it!

-Examples-





Once you have your screenshot(s), you need to upload them.

Tinypic

Photobucket

Those are the 2 that I use most often, but there are plenty out there.


Next im gonna briefly talk about the text in your post.

No one likes to see a bunch of jumbled up words, its an instant turn off so to speak.

--------Example of what NOT to do-------



hey guys here is my montage.I finally finishedit and i spent alot of timeon it so if youcould check it out that would be awesome.leave me a comment cuz i spent so much time on it.its not very good but its amazing.polease dont report me to the h3f policeia.ilike montages i do i do yes indeedy.here is my montage linkso yeah thats basically it check it out and leave me a comment yo.




--------------------------------------------





Its nicer to have a simple, but nice to look at page. Im sure more people would be enticed to download or watch your video if they saw some sexy screencaps beforehand :P, rather than a wall of text.



Having said that, I understand that many people like to give a detailed post about their montage, explaining the process, and doing a write up.
I get that.
And its fine, its actually good, but make sure to organize the information in a presentable way. Rather than starting with the wall of text, how about posting the download link+screencap(s), then your important information.
That way, while people download, they can read :P(If they want to)

At the bottom of your post you could include a Youtube link.
If you want people to read what you have to say, hold off on the streaming link because a lot of people would just go for the streaming link right away, and not read what you might want them to know about your video.



------Good Example--------



Click Caps to Download


Hey guys, this is my newest montage entitled "Never Goin' Down"

I spent a number of hours making this video as I saw fit.
I tried to give it a fun, upbeat feeling, mostly with the choice of the song(Thanks Rhis :P) and I think it came out really well.
The gameplay isnt spectacular, and its mostly social clips, but thats what I enjoy playing, so thats what kinda clips I have!


The song is No.5 by Hollywood Undead.

Enjoy!

Youtube



---------------------------------------------------


Take advantage of the fact that you control how the viewer sees your post.
Im not saying to always set up your posts like this, just trying to spice up what we have goin on. Ive seen alot of half asses posts, as well as some great ones.

Another good tip is to use the tools you have, such as font size, color, and attributes(Bold, Italic, Underline).
As well as alignment.
If you notice, ive chosen to make this entire post centered, I think in most cases, it looks better, so keep that in mind as well.

These are great ways to help get your ideas across to the audience.


Other, Assorted Tips-

I usually turn my signature off for a montage thread, as not to create any distractions, or go out of theme for that post/montage.

Try not to make all your text in your post all the same size/color/etc.
It starts to mesh together, and becomes a pain to read.


Hopefully this helps some of you, and I hope to see some cool montage threads soon :P



Thanks for your time, I know its a long read.

Tony Sánchez
Age: 16
I'm making a new community montage. You wanna be in it? Click here
If you want to be added for MLG customs click here

Stats
New GT: iCamelot
Highest Skill: 45
(Customs and Ranking up)
I'm on aStickyL0ad a lot still, so add that too.
Contact me if you need capturing and editing for a montage.
My price is currently FREE(Sometimes)
AIM-aStickyLoad

Youtube Channel





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Originally Posted by Crest This has to be one of the messiest posts, (somewhat) Ironically. Though good content, I wondered how people did those grid screenshots, I'll have to check that out. Neat.

Alison Brie!


Editors' Practice Thread

Improve Your Montage Posts!


AIM - a Phurion Film