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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
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    Default Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    After I import a GIF of a screenshot, everything appears nice and crisp. However, when I export that same image it comes out fuzzy and out of focus. I've searched this forum and followed suggestions from other users, but nothing I try seems to help. This is really frustrating -- other programs have never acted like this.

    Any more ideas?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2000
    Location
    Placitas, New Mexico, USA
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    41,487

    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    The screenshot is probably 96dpi which is Windows screen resolution (1:1)

    If you make the image larger, it will become less sharp. Keep the screenshot same size or smaller. Check the DPI in the status bar. If the resolution is less than 96dpi then the image will not be as sharp.

    Also if the imported image is a GIF, and you have not modified the size, then export it as a PNG or GIF and not a JPEG.

    Without seeing the image, this is my best guess.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    SW England
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    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    Quote Originally Posted by Hurricane1951 View Post
    After I import a GIF of a screenshot, everything appears nice and crisp. However, when I export that same image it comes out fuzzy and out of focus. I've searched this forum and followed suggestions from other users, but nothing I try seems to help. This is really frustrating -- other programs have never acted like this.
    Any more ideas?
    H, the trick on this forum, welcome by the way, is to provide more information.
    What are its native pixel dimensions and dpi.
    What scale are you displaying.
    Why would you export something you already have?
    What export format?

    Why would anyone GIF a screenshot?
    It has a limited colour palette.

    [DELETED]**

    A lot of the time asking similar questions gets you to the answer.

    Acorn


    **DELETED as I was wrongly referring to a different product:
    Photo & Graphic Designer is only 32-bit so are you comparing like-with-like?
    It is also quite old as Xara stopped it at v11 and we have moved through 64-bit, v12, v15, v16, v17 & v18 since.
    Last edited by Acorn; 23 September 2021 at 08:48 PM.
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    UK
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    21,283

    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    acorn - you may wish to revisit your photo and graphic designer details - I have p&g16 .... screenshot as gif is atypical for sure
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    SW England
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    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    Quote Originally Posted by handrawn View Post
    acorn - you may wish to revisit your photo and graphic designer details - I have p&g16 .... screenshot as gif is atypical for sure
    handrawn - OOPS! I was thinking about Page & Layout Designer 11.

    Sorry @H, my OP corrected.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    OK, I've tried all of the suggestions before.

    Acorn, the main reason to use GIF for screenshots (NOT Photos) is quality. Any of the lossy formats lose quality on the text first. That's the reason screen shots containing text on web pages are nearly universally poor, to the point where you can't read the text. GIF is a lossless format, thus it maintains its quality. And you don't need more than 256 colors to represent most screenshots. Try it and compare to JPG. Anyway, this problem is not restricted to GIFs. PNG, JPG, all exhibit this problem.

    However, I've found a fix to my problem. If I Open the GIF file instead of Importing it, it comes out perfectly. Bizarre, I know, but maybe it provides a clue to the root problem. At least I have a workaround for now.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    UK
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    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    I have never had that problem with a PNG screenshot, provided the screenshot app is saving lossless PNG

    JPG I would never use, agreed

    And you don't need more than 256 colors to represent most screenshots
    sorry no offence, but whilst that statement may apply to you, it surely does not to me; i would have thought it all depends on what you are capturing, and why
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    UK
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    21,283

    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    Quote Originally Posted by Hurricane1951 View Post

    However, I've found a fix to my problem. If I Open the GIF file instead of Importing it, it comes out perfectly. Bizarre, I know, but maybe it provides a clue to the root problem. At least I have a workaround for now.
    in the program options view tab check to see if you have resize imported photos set, which might be your issue - if you open the gif, rather than import it, that option does not apply afaik
    Last edited by handrawn; 24 September 2021 at 08:07 AM.
    -------------------------------
    Nothing lasts forever...

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    SW England
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    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    @H, I am mightily confused.

    If you are screenshotting text that is anti-aliased then forcing the image into 256-colours is an immediate loss-making process.
    Your analysis need account for resolution, colour depth and anti-aliasing.

    I don't take issue with Importing as I do not believe the Xara Filter is all that robust for GIFs.
    If I drag onto the design page, I get fine results with some, Linked out the the GIF or a complete fail with others.

    Can you explain your method to "open" a GIF?
    I open in another product and copy across from that.

    Acorn
    Acorn - installed Xara software: Cloud+/Pro+ and most others back through time (to CC's Artworks). Contact for technical remediation/consultancy for your web designs.
    When we provide assistance, your responses are valuable as they benefit the community. TG Nuggets you might like. Report faults: Xara Cloud+/Pro+/Magix Legacy; Xara KB & Chat

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2021
    Posts
    5

    Default Re: Export of Screenshot is Very Poor Quality

    I click Open on the File menu and navigate to the filename.gif file and open it that way.

    As far as screenshots, you are using a lossless format, which would by its nature retain the quality. 256 colors is certainly not enough for photograph quality, but for me, probably 95% of the screenshots I've done over 20+ years are simple graphics on web pages or inside programs. Clarity over color depth is my goal (as well as keeping it small).

    At any rate, other graphics programs have never shown this problem. I import the file, do a little cropping or editing, then save\export it.

    Now that I've found a workaround, I'm happy. I don't use this program often, but it's been invaluable over the years.

 

 

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