Using the Image Tool to Create Annotations for Screenshots

HelpSmith provides a built-in Image Tool that you can use to capture screenshots, create annotations for images, add clickable hotspots, and also to add control annotations for UI elements that can be exported into the topic directly. As a result, the Image Tool available in HelpSmith can significantly simplify the process of writing documentation for the user interface of your application.

This video demonstrates how you can use the Image Tool available in HelpSmith to create and edit annotations for screenshots.

Capturing a Screenshot by Using the Mouse

Create Screenshots Easily

While writing a topic in HelpSmith, you can use the built-in Image Tool to capture and insert screenshots of your application without the need to use a third party image editor.

The Image Tool allows you to capture the entire screen, an individual dialog window, or a selective area in a dialog easily. If necessary, you can also use the Crop Tool to modify a captured screenshot by removing unwanted parts of the image.

Editing Annotations with Built-in Image Tool

Use Various Annotations for Images

The Image Tool allows you to add various annotations such as rectangles, balloons, arrows, lines, and text labels to any image in your documentation.

You can easily position, rotate, and customize the annotation objects according with your needs. For example, for a balloon object, you can select your preferred shape, color, specify text, and setup shadow settings.

Thus, the Image Tool enables you to create comprehensive documentation in the most efficient way!

Clickable Hotspot in a CHM Help File

Add Clickable Hotspots to a Screenshot

In addition to the annotations, you can also use the Image Tool to add clickable hotspots to any screenshot. A hotspot is a clickable area on an image that works similarly to a hyperlink in a topic.

The Image Tool allows you to add individual hotspot objects, or to apply hotspot settings to existing annotations. Thus, you can use hotspots to link to another topic, to an external URL address, email address, or to perform a macro.

Editing Control Annotations

Create Help for the User Interface Automatically

With the Image Tool, you can add control annotations for user interface elements (such as buttons, input boxes, etc.) that can be exported directly into a topic. This allows you to easily generate the topic in which you can provide a detailed description for each control shown on a screenshot, or for a group of controls under a single annotation.

Thus, the HelpSmith’s Image Tool makes it possible for you to generate documentation almost automatically!