Page 1 of 1
Producing an image suitable for video work
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:21 pm
by terry dennis
How can I get a Google map downloaded from the internet into a form suitable for annotating and then into image form for incorporating into a VS project ?
I hope that I have explained that adequately !
Please , guys , simple step-by-step instructions !
Thanks in advance !
Terry Dennis
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:57 pm
by okee
Press the Alt Gr and Print Screen buttons on your keyboard
and a snapshot of your screen will be saved to your Clipboard. then open a graphics package and select Edit - Paste and the image will be there for editing then just add text and resize etc.
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:33 pm
by Ken Berry
You might want to explain what key is the 'Gr' key ... I don't recall ever seeing such a key on any of my keyboards since about 1990...
There are also a variety of screen-grab programs out there. I happen to use one called SnagIt. With them, you can select smaller sections of the screen or window, as well as the entire screen if you want... But I am not aware of any that are free. There very well may be, though...
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:49 pm
by okee
The Alt Gr key is to the right of the space bar or the Right Alt key.
If you don't have a graphics package you could try paint.net
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:56 pm
by Ken Berry
All I can do is repeat that I have never had a keyboard since I first started using a computer in 1990 that had such a key. Moreover, you can use either Alt key with the Prt Scr key and get a screen grab... I just did so with the left hand Alt key and opened the grabbed file in Photoshop. Are you using a non-US standard keyboard?
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:53 am
by okee
Sorry probably making a simple thing more complicated, On a UK/Irish and probably other Non US keyboards the right
Alt key is marked as
Alt Gr Alternate Graphics it allows you to access the 3rd symbol of a key, eg the £á on the 4 key (which contains the symbols 4 $ and £á ) i suppose it's like
Ctrl and
Alt combined.
Yeah, you can take a screenshot with just the Alt and Print Screen, just i'm so used to using the Alt Gr key

Actually it'll probably have made sense to terry as he more than likely has that key.
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:59 am
by Ken Berry
Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense. And in fact, I found that I *do* have a keyboard with that key. But it is on a Hebrew keyboard which came with a computer someone who had been living in Israel recently gave me!

In fact, I wish I had a usable key (apart from Alt + Ctrl + E) which could quickly insert the Euro symbol as I use it a fair amount!
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 11:16 am
by sjj1805
Just for completeness.
If you press the [PrtSc] key by itself you will save the entire computer screen to the windows clipboard and then you can paste it into a graphics program of your choice (Photshop/PhotoImpact/Paint shop Pro etc)
if you press the [Alt} key and the [PrtSc] key together you will save the active window to the windows clipboard which can then be pasted into a graphics editor of your choice.
Ken,
Regarding your "wish" does your keyboard(s) have an [alt] key on each side of the spacebar? If so try setting your keyboard to UK and then open notepad and compare the results of pressing the left hand [Alt] key & [4]
and then do the same using the right hand [Alt] key and [4]
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:04 am
by terry dennis
Thanks for all that information !
Yes , I do have an Alt Gr key and I have managed to donwload the required snapshot to various pieces of software including Paint.net. So thanks , Okee , for that particular piece of advice.
Having not used a graphics software before , I struggled with the concept and use of 'layers' but it is coming slowly.
Steve's bit about 'completeness' was particularly useful , so thanks for that as well !
Terry Dennis
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:02 pm
by Trevor Andrew
Hi Terry
You should be able to save the Google Earth map as a file.
First set the view size from the google earth menu.
View-View size¡XTV playback¡X720 x 576 for pal.
Then:-
File Save¡XSave Image
Shortcut keys Ctrl-Alt-S
This opens a save as window, saves direct to the hard drive.
Give the image a name