Screen Captures with Stamps and Shadows

[Jim Barrow]

>Roger Bell wrote:

>Has anyone given much thought, completed any research, conducted
>usability tests, or adopted a standard regarding applying stamps, >such as a tear effect, and shadows to screen captures in technical
>documentation?

Yes.  I used the tear effect on my current project and the users/QA/Test all said that it confused them; made it seem like the software application had "broken".

I did, however, use the Fade effect and that got good responses.  I used this effect when I had 2-3 of the same screen in quick order, typically to show a dropdown menu, etc.  What I did was zoom into the quarter of the screen that contained the field, then I faded the inside borders of the screen shot (imagine a rectangle with the top and left sides faded. 

>My company is considering using a tear effect and shadow in the PDF
>documentation for a new software product. After creating some >examples and passing them around for input, one person in our >company commented that the tear effect suggested anger or >frustration to him and that it may have the same effect on our >customers. I had never considered that reaction. 

You could always use the tear effect and also include a hot spot that displays a pictine of Sigmund Freud:^)

>In looking at most software documentation, it appears that >rectangles and squares without shadows or stamps are most commonly >used. As a user, would it make a difference to you? Since stamps >and shadows add no useful information to the user, we were going >for the "way cool" effect.

FYI:  I used the previous tech writer's work as a template/guide, only on my documetation I included shadows and stamps.  The users loved it; said it really "jumped out at them".

>Should we stick with the pack or venture to new territory? I'm >wanting more real-world experience than conjecture. Thanks in >advance for all input. 

Be brave, young man.  Go with courage :^)