Pics vs. Screenshots

[BanzaiCat]

I think I might have asked this at Another Site^TM, but can't recall the answers and don't feel like going and hunting it down.

If you read an AAR, do you prefer actual pictures taken of a game board, showing the real-world components, or do you prefer screenshots from a VASSAL module/images done in Photoshop? Or do you not care either way?

[mirth]

Real world pics of board and components is preferable, imo.

[bob48]

I ask a similar question recently about screenshots taken in Vassal. I looked at the 'built-in' one, but the file size was massive. I may have been doing something wrong (not unlikely) or there maybe a better way that results in smaller file sizes.

I wan't to know because its my intention to do an AAR for 'The Scheldt Campaign'

[Barthheart]

Whatever gives the clearest picture your trying to tell.
Nothing worse than a blurry/reflected/over exposed real photo in an AAR.... 

[bob48]

My camera skill are noticeable by their absence,  so screenshots in Vassal would be my preference.

[Barthheart]

I ask a similar question recently about screenshots taken in Vassal. I looked at the 'built-in' one, but the file size was massive. I may have been doing something wrong (not unlikely) or there maybe a better way that results in smaller file sizes.

I wan't to know because its my intention of doing an AAR for 'The Scheldt Campaign'

Use the Windows Print Screen button and then edit in paint.
You can also use the Windows Snipping Tool when running VASSAL. It work great for getting the area of the screen you want.

[bob48]

I do have Paintshop Pro installed if that would help.

[BanzaiCat]

You can edit/crop screenshots in Word, too. Paste it in Word, right click, choose Crop, adjust it, and hit Esc. Then, right click on the image and choose "Save as Picture." I'm using Hypersnap for screenshots so it's a different process for me.

[bob48]

OK, thanks.

[BanzaiCat]

Whatever gives the clearest picture your trying to tell.
Nothing worse than a blurry/reflected/over exposed real photo in an AAR.... 

A good point, but I alleviate that with a black tablecloth over my game table and a directional light, angled so it will not glare.

I can see the desire to want real-world pics so you can see the real components in action. While those very counters and maps are scanned into VASSAL, unless you add effects in Photoshop (like bevel/emboss and drop shadows, which I try to do), it just looks flat and dull.

[bob48]

I'm always impressed by the quality of the pic's you post in your AAR's.

[BanzaiCat]

Thank you Bob, much appreciated. 

[bayonetbrant]

if you need a really intuitive and pretty solid image editor, paint.NET is free, and really good.

[bob48]

Not heard of that, I'll take a look. Needs to be pretty simple for me though 

[bbmike]

Pics of actual board game play is my preference but doing an AAR in something like Vassal is so much easier.