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Old Sep 14 2019, 07:06 AM
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Tiger Tiger is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 12 2010
Location: UK but i'd rather be somewhere hot and sunny :) with a swimming pool!
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Default How to find and use the Snipping Tool

How to find and use the Snipping Tool

(Snip & Sketch Tool)


Picture widths suitable for the forum are:
Pixels 800 OR 21 centimeters OR 8 inches.


The Windows free Paint program can show you what the width is when you view the image properties in Paint.
The MAC snipping tool has numbers attached the crosshair pointer which, if you can read them as they are small, may help with knowing MAC snip sizes.

IF you are showcasing your farm and/or need to show the entire farm, it's far easier to use the in game camera set to take the picture at small size than to figure out the width by using a snip.
What we do not need or want are Full Screen sized pictures.
Those are far too wide and show far more than is needed making your farm look much smaller in the picture.



Using a snipping tool to take a picture of a portion of your farm is popular when needing to show something that may be small or very detailed on a farm and for those that love to design farms in detail BUT the new width of the game screen that we are all playing on does mean that this causes an issue with the size of pictures that can be posted on the forum as the width of game screen at 100% zoom is far wider than the forum threads are.

If you've previously used the Snipping Tool using your Windows or MAC computer and are already familiar with how to use the tool and save the picture you can save the picture, then skip down to the instructions on How to Post the Picture to Facebook or How to post a Picture in the Forum.

Detailed instructions on How to use the Snipping tool are listed first then followed by How Save your Snip (Picture), How to Post your picture to Facebook, then how to upload your picture to the Forum should you need to do that.


How to open & use the Snipping Tool:


MAC Computers The method to select an area to take a snip is similar to the windows method but the way you open the snipping tool and then save it is different. You may find it much easier to go to Apple support and read their instructions on all the various ways to use the snipping tool on MAC computers. Here's the Link to click on: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201361
MAC users
To open your Snipping Tool - press and hold down the Shift, Command and 4 keys and your crosshair pointer will immediately show to be able to select an area.

Drag the crosshair to select the area of the screen to capture. To move the selection, press and hold Space bar while dragging.

To cancel taking the screenshot, press the Esc (Escape) key.

To take the screenshot, release your mouse or trackpad button.
If you see a thumbnail in the corner of your screen, click it to edit the screenshot. Or wait for the screenshot to be saved to your desktop.

By default, screenshots will be saved to your desktop with the name ”Screen Shot [date] at [time].png.”

When you have done those, scroll down the page for the instructions on Facebook methods to upload a picture and the instructions on how to post the picture on the forum.

Windows computers:

Keyboard Shortcuts: - press and hold down the Windows Shift and S keys to open it.



OR Click on the Snipping Tool in your Task Bar if you can see it.
The Windows Task bar is usually seen at the bottom of your computer screen.

OR Use Windows Search and type in Snipping Tool to find it on your computer.



If you don't see a search tool or a small search box to type in to find the tool, click on the Windows icon and it will show you something similar to this with a search box at the very top where you can start to type in Snipping Tool.
You should then see the Snipping Tool appear that you need to to click on, doesn't matter which one:


When you open the snipping tool you will see this menu.

We suggest if you are new to using the snipping tool that you make sure the top 2 sections are set like the picture, Rectangle Mode and No Delay.
You can change them to something else if you wish.

Click on New then the mini menu window will show. A White Crosshair sign will appear

The background colour of the left icon in the picture can differ depending on your windows settings.

As you move your mouse that White Crosshair sign will move with it. Move it to one of the top corners of the area you want to copy then hold the left mouse button down and drag it down to the opposite corner of the area you are copying. As you do that the area you are copying will no longer be dimmed out.

In this Example I have moved the mouse to where the the top left arrow is showing.
Then held the left mouse button down and dragged it to where the bottom right arrow is showing.
It doesn't matter which corner you start at as long as you hold the left button down while you drag the mouse diagonally over to the other corner.



When you release the left button the snip will be taken and you will see a preview of what you have taken. If it's not right you can just click on New and try again.

IMPORTANT: When you are using the picture for the forum:

If what you need to show us is small, just zoom in on the farm so you can see it clearer. You only need to take a snip the size of the area you need us to see.

If you need to show us any text in a picture and the text is small make sure when you take your snip that the text is readable.


Saving your Snip (Picture):
When you are happy with your image click on the disc icon to save the snip.
The save icon is indicated with an arrow:


You need to make a note of where you are saving it so you can find it to be able to upload to Facebook. We suggest something like the default Saved Pictures or your Pictures folder, but it's up to you!

To post the picture to your Facebook profile:

  1. Go to your Facebook Profile to make a new post. Click on the Photo/Video Icon:


  2. The posting box will change and look like this. Click on the Add Photos/Videos Icon.


    If you have just taken your snip you should see it immediately and be able to click on it to select it.

    If you do not, you need to click on the red button Show All Files and find the picture where you saved it on your computer.



  3. When you find where the picture is on your computer, click on the picture to select it, then click Open at the bottom right of that window.

  4. Your picture will load and you can add any description you like to your Facebook post.

  5. The Privacy of the photo must be set to Public or we will not be able to see it on the forum.

    The image below shows the Facebook Post Privacy is set to Public. If it does not say Public, click on it to change it.




To Post the Picture in the Forum:
  1. When your picture is posted to Facebook you need to get the picture link to be able to post it in the forum.

    Right-click your mouse on the photo and you should see one of these options.
    They are different depending on the browser you are using.

    Click on the one that includes the words image over one that just says copy if you see more than one of these options:

    Copy image address
    Copy image location
    Copy image link
    Copy

  2. When you have copied the link go to the forum thread you want to post in.

  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and you will see the Quick Reply box

  4. Click on the "Insert Image" icon indicated in the picture with a red arrow:



  5. A small box will open. Your box may have a white background.
    DELETE the http:// in the box.



  6. "Right click" your mouse in the box and select "Paste".



  7. Click OK.
    Your photo link will then show between the two IMG codes at the front and end of the link similar to this:



    If you need to add information to the post click your mouse after the SECOND IMG] at the very end of your photo link, then click enter on your keyboard once or twice depending on what spacing you want to use, then type your message.

    Your posting box could then look similar to this:

    In this picture the description we have added is indicated with the arrow and is below the image link:


  8. If you would like to view how your picture and post will appear before you post it, at the bottom of the posting box you will see Go Advanced or Preview Post which you can click on to preview your post.

  9. When you are happy with how your post looks, click on Submit Reply or Post Quick Reply and you should see your picture and any description appear with your forum name similar to this:






Last edited by Tiger; Oct 27 2023 at 07:54 AM.