February 22, 2012

Trick for Newbies Writing Tech Manuals: Screen Shots

A 102-key PC US English qwerty keyboard layout...

Image via Wikipedia

 

Everyone knows that writing manualsis tedious, and even confusing when there aren’t any diagrams or photos. A visual aid along with the directions makes it easier to understand. 

One good way to copy diagrams can be to photograph the computer screen and download it. Cameras these days are great for taking tech shots because they’re so amazingly clear. 

Get close to the screen or adjust the camera to make the computer screen fill the entire picture frame. Click! 

Then, it’s as easy as putting a photo on the laptop. However, there is another way to get that screen picture that’s even easier. It’s called getting a screen shot, and the computer already knows how to do it. 

Using Those Funny Keys at the Top of the Keyboard 

On the keyboard’s top row there are function keys; a user may or may not know what these are for. They usually have two symbols, or two function labels on each key. One of them on the top-right says “Print Scr” or “prt sc” on it and the way to operate it is to hold down the Control button (crtl) or the function button (fn) and press the prt scr button at the same time. 

It doesn’t show it, but a copy of the computer screen was just made. Now, open Paint, click on the white space, then right click on it and choose Paste. A picture of the previous screen should appear. Save it as a .jpg or .jpeg. 

So, tech-writing newbies, now there’s a way to get informational pictures of the computer screen on the document, web site or email being made.

 

 

Sharpen your Web Design Skills – Great Resources for the Budding Developer

Web development has become a very profitable career field due to the rapid expansion of the online world.

As a web developer, you’ll have the choice of many paths including focusing on web page designs or mobile app development.

However, with the rapid development of the online world has come the need to continually sharpen your web design skills to remain relevant. Here are three great ways to hone your web design skills and expand your success as a budding developer.

Network With Others

Whether you’re new to the web design field or have been a designer for many years, networking with other professionals in the field is crucial to sharpening your skills.

Other designers will have tips and tricks you may not have previously considered and may even offer you job leads. Many developers collaborate on projects to make the most of their collective talents.

Many venues can be utilized as networking tools for meeting others in the web design realm. The simplest option is to use social media as a means of interacting with other professionals in the field. Begin by following other designers you admire on social media networks such as Twitter or by following the blogs and other social media efforts of those professionals.

Also, reputable web design conferences such as In Control and An Event Apart can serve as great networking outlets.

Receive Formalized Training

Perhaps the best option for sharpening your web design skills is to take formalized training. Learning web development online is a great way to learn the core tools used by the most successful designers in this niche market. Additionally, online courses can be completed in an expedited manner versus other forms of training, so you can begin implementing the knowledge you learn into your designs sooner.

Use new Tools

New web design tools are continuously being released that can simplify your web development process. If you’ve been using the same tools since beginning as a designer, this may be the time to start testing out other options.

The following are a few of the most well-known web development tools to simplify your developing process:

• FirebugThis FireFox extension allows you to review the CSS and HTML of any web page.

• MeasureItMeasure web page elements with this FireFox extension to simplify your design process.

• Lipsum – Use this placeholder text generator during the mock-up process to view how various page elements will appear.

Web development is one of the few career fields that can provide the freedom to do what you love while earning a respectable income. While it’s possible to achieve immense success in web development, doing so requires a continual sharpening of design skills to remain relevant in this competitive market. By doing such things as receiving formalized training and networking with other designers, you can transform this budding venture into a profitable career.

Do you have any additional tips for networking with other web designers or for honing web development skills?