Constrictor Manual

Constrictor User Manual Last modified August 12, 2005. By Ben Haller. Copyright © 2005 Stick Software. [ This manual is only available in English at present. The latest version of this manual may be found online at http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/ConstrictorManual.html. ] Constrictor is a screen snapshot utility for Mac OS X. This manual assumes that you have already downloaded a copy of Constrictor; if not, visit Constrictor's main page at http://www.sticksoftware.com/software/ Constrictor.html. It also assumes that you know all the basics of using the Macintosh in Mac OS X, including using the mouse, menus, and windows, and opening and saving files. This manual applies to Constrictor version 3.0. Version 3.0 is required for use on OS X 10.4 and later; version 2.3 should be used on 10.3 and earlier. Version 2.3 is similar enough to version 3.0 that this manual should be useful, although some features and settings described will not be present. Right now this "manual" is really an FAQ (frequently asked questions) list, because Constrictor is a simple enough app that it doesn't seem to merit a full manual — that would just be a lot of work and would probably be less effective at answering actual user questions. Let us know if you disagree, however; if a full manual is needed for Constrictor, it can be made. Please send comments on this manual to us at support@sticksoftware.com. Thanks! Questions What is Constrictor and what does it do, in a nutshell? How and where do I install Constrictor? How can I position Constrictor's frame precisely? How do delayed snapshots work and why do people use them? What is the Archive feature and why is it useful? What is feathering? What about the "backdrop"? What is it for? How should I choose what format to save in? What does the "owning application" preference do? What are hotkeys and how do I set them? How do I script Constrictor? Why do my snapshots of DVDs or Classic apps not work right? Are there any hidden "power user" features in Constrictor? What is shareware? How do I pay? What is Constrictor and what does it do, in a nutshell? Constrictor is a screen snapshot utility for Mac OS X. It provides you with a movable, resizable frame that floats over all your other windows. For example, here's a frame over the Finder desktop, ready to take a snapshot of one of a document: The frame can be resized and moved as you like, and when it is positioning where you want it, you can snap the area inside the frame in various ways. Most commonly, Constrictor's context menu is brought up, via a control- click (or right-click) on the frame: Constrictor's Dock menu can also be used (just control-click or right-click on Constrictor's Dock icon), or you can set up global "hot keys" that can take snapshots with a single keypress even when Constrictor is hidden. Constrictor even provides "services" (accessible through the "Services" menu in most applications) that take a snapshot and insert the …