Editing screenshots

0

After taking a screenshot of a big window, I'd like to cut out the middle part(s) and move the sides closer together, so it results in a smaller picture with only relevant details displayed.

Optionally, to indicate that parts are missing, it would be nice to have a way of applying "torn edges" and shadows along the cut.

Which free desktop image editor would be the best for this task? And what are the steps? (I find most image editors have a steep learning curve.)

ultracrepidarian

Posted 2013-05-09T15:41:30.683

Reputation: 179

Question was closed 2013-05-11T07:30:26.590

Cut out the middle parts? I don't think that will make the file smaller.. – Seth – 2013-05-09T15:47:56.347

1He means cut out the middle so that IT is the photo, ignoring what is around that spot. – HelpingHand – 2013-05-09T15:50:03.473

@HelpingHand No, he does not. He means to remove the center of the image, and then compact / rearrange the outer edges of the image to reduce image size. – Darth Android – 2013-05-09T16:20:45.987

@Darth Android is right. – ultracrepidarian – 2013-05-09T20:08:47.163

@Seth: not the file size, dimensions of the picture. HelpingHand, I am talking about screenshots specifically, not photos. For example, my browser window is maximized, I want to take a screenshot of it to show toolbars, menus and the statusbar. I am looking for a quickest way to do that. Take a screenshot of the whole window without resizing it, slice out (remove from the picture) the middle horizontally, slice out the middle vertically (I want to display the left and the right ends of the addressbar, but not the middle, which is irrelevant). – ultracrepidarian – 2013-05-09T20:21:20.390

And finally, anybody care to explain why they downvoted my question? This is just for me to learn what I did wrong :( – ultracrepidarian – 2013-05-09T20:21:51.297

Are you on Linux or Windows? – Seth – 2013-05-09T20:22:31.790

@Seth: Windows. – ultracrepidarian – 2013-05-09T21:41:04.690

Also have a shot at Snipping Tool....assuming you are using windows 7 or above..and after that use image editing tools that have already been talked about in answers...will make life lot easier.. – tumchaaditya – 2013-05-10T13:33:46.143

Answers

4

Gimp for linux or Windows. It's the closest thing to free photoshop.

Jason H

Posted 2013-05-09T15:41:30.683

Reputation: 434

2Mhm. It might take some time to get used to it, but definitely worth it. – Jerry – 2013-05-09T15:50:07.090

3paint.NET is the closest thing to free Photoshop. It's Windows only, though. – Doorknob – 2013-05-09T19:27:54.633

Paint.net is a lot easier to use than Gimp IMHO, I would recommend using it too. – Scott Chamberlain – 2013-05-10T06:03:59.873

1

I would personally suggest using Greenshot.

It is a powerful open-source screenshot tool that can be configured to take a screenshot of a particular area of your desktop, bypassing the extra step of cropping. It lacks some of the photoshop-like effects and tools but it may be what you are looking for.

cyborgcommando0

Posted 2013-05-09T15:41:30.683

Reputation: 803

I was going to recommend this as well but it's missing the effects editing portion. Great tool though! – Jason H – 2013-05-09T19:32:25.363

Asked: 2013-05-09T15:41:30.683

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Active: 2015-01-03T06:40:15.787