Filed under: Software, Video, Odds and ends, Friday Favorite
Friday Favorite: Snapz Pro X for Mac
I was straining my brain today -- admittedly not a hard thing for me to do -- trying to think of a topic for a Friday Favorite. The answer was right in front of me all the time, since one of the most-used applications on my Macs is Snapz Pro X (US$69) from Ambrosia Software.Snapz Pro X, currently at version 2.1.5, is a deceptively powerful Mac application that hides out of the way until you need it. What does it do? It lets you capture pictures and video of anything on your Mac.
For those of us who write for tech blogs, create technical documentation, or write books, Snapz Pro X is a fast way to capture full or partial screens. You press the usual Command-Shift-3 to take a screenshot, and the simple Snapz Pro X user interface appears...
The four buttons let you capture a full screen, an object on the screen (such as a window or menu), a selection from the screen, or capture full-motion video of action on the screen. Once you select one of the buttons, a second panel appears. This one is for capturing a selection:
I literally use Snapz Pro X dozens of times per day for the shots used in many TUAW posts as well as in my work. I've tried other similar packages, but Snapz Pro X remains my favorite. If you use a separate utility for taking screenshots, what do you use? Leave a comment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ed said 5:13PM on 8-14-2009
Unless I am doing something wrong, it will not take a screenshot of Parallels. Long story short, I had a video of something that would not convert to a Mac-compatible format. I tried Flip4Mac, Perian, and a couple of other odd converters. Finally, I tried Snapz - nothing. It would take the video of the screen, except what was showing up on Parallels.
While I like it, and use it, it is not perfect.
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Ambrosia Support said 6:48PM on 8-14-2009
Hello,
This is one of the diligent crew here at Ambrosia Software. Sorry that you are experiencing difficulties with Snapz Pro X. I assure you that we have indeed tested Snapz Pro X while using paraellels and have been able to capture video footage just fine. We would love to assist you in making sure the program works properly for you, so please feel free to check out our online FAQs to learn more, or if you need further assistance, our tech support department can be reached at help@AmbrosiaSW.com.
Thank you.
ilkyone said 5:18PM on 8-14-2009
$70 is hardly a value proposition for the usual user, when cmd-shift-3 and cmd-shift-4 offer most of the same functionality for free - no video -- but free as in Leopard already does that.
For your job, and for those who compose tutorial videos or the like with need of video of screen activity, perhaps, but even then.... $70 goes really far in other directions.
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jackleboul said 5:20PM on 8-14-2009
Is this feature not coming to 10.6 Quicktime X?
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SaudiMac said 5:34PM on 8-14-2009
whenever I migrate to a new machine Snapz PRo X is the only app that forgets the registration info
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mark said 5:40PM on 8-14-2009
It sure makes my job running my site a lot easier. Especially the video feature for grabbing those fast changing screen shots in programs.
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MSM said 12:36PM on 8-16-2009
$69?
No thank you.
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nikachu said 6:33PM on 8-14-2009
Simply the best screengrab tool for the 'zoomed' outline box alone (you'll get a pixel perfect grab everytime).
I've tried everything - LittleSnapper, XScope, Skitch etc, but the ease of use for this wins every time (straight onto my clip board after a pixel perfect grab, and then straight into another app - or go direct to email, printer etc).
It's only pricey for the movie version - and this is the best version of a screencast tool I've played with as well - easy to compress and email/upload.
It might just be that I've used this software for the best part of a decade, but I've yet to find anything better (although I do use WebSnapper for screen-grabbing Safari, as it keeps the URLs intact, and PearlCrescent for Firefox for whole screen, 'below the fold' grabs).
So... room for improvement and I'd be happy to switch if something better came along. But it there doesn't seem to have anything to match it's features.
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Kevin said 6:42PM on 8-14-2009
I have Snapz Pro X but have found LittleSnapper is better suited to my needs. Allows quick editing as well as keeping me a little more organized with all the captures I take. I have never used the video feature of snapz pro... a side from a test here and there.
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Navarro Parker said 7:00PM on 8-14-2009
Try Paparazzi -- it can capture long webpages that extend past your browser window.
Also for screen cap movies, ScreenFlow is amazing. Camtasia is coming to for in a couple weeks.
SnapZ is really showing its age.
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pao.deluca said 7:44PM on 8-14-2009
I own a license of SnapzProX (some bundle at mac heinst or somewhere else) but I've never used primarily because the UI looks crappier than os/2 warp!
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SlappyWhite said 8:51PM on 8-14-2009
Okay, this is about the worst piece of software that exists for Mac OS X. The UI hasn't been updated since 2002 and the price is unbelievable. When Snapz was the only game in town, we had no choice. These days? Adios Ambrosia. We will not miss you.
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Dave Barnes said 10:45PM on 8-14-2009
I used SnapZ Pro for years.
I tried CaptureIT!, but the found the interface too weird/different.
I now use Voila which appears to be a rip-off of Little Snapper (but, I did not know that until after I bought Voila).
Still not sure which is the best.
Keep waiting for FullShot (InBit.com) to come in a Mac OS X version.
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NWWMac said 11:22PM on 8-14-2009
I agree that this is overpriced and old software. Pathfinder will do screenshots on multiple monitors - and a *whole heck of a lot* more! - for half the price.
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doc said 12:20AM on 8-15-2009
I say Snapz Pro is Good but for a few extra bucks ScreenFlow [http://www.telestream.net/screen-flow/overview.htm] is way better. I has great callouts, mouse follow and really basic NLE features built in. This is why it rocks so hard.
Jing Project + Skitch is a great free alternatives too.
Snapz Pro needs a major UI update. The Interface has looked the same since Jesus walked from Nazareth.
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Unregistered said 1:25AM on 8-15-2009
Any free 'video' screencapturing alternatives other than Jing?
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Willson said 2:28AM on 8-15-2009
Personally I like iShowU HD, it's decent on your processor, and has a "low cpu usage" mode.
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Randy said 6:44AM on 8-15-2009
Hi, never commented before, too lazy.
$70 is too much (I don't really need video) I've tried littlesnapper, voila, skitch, paparazzi and quite a few others. Recentyl I've discovered layers [http://layersapp.com], capturing to PSD is really handy, but they don't have organizer or web capture...and $25 is not peanuts.
Still waiting for the perfect capture beast...the all-in-one :)
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numpty said 8:23AM on 8-15-2009
Have to agree with the consensus here -- SnapzPro is way overpriced for what it does, these days. If you want video capture, ScreenFlick or iShowU HD are great value at
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numpty said 8:23AM on 8-15-2009
(Sorry for repost... the less-than sign in my first attempt confused it...)
Have to agree with the consensus here -- SnapzPro is way overpriced for what it does, these days. If you want video capture, ScreenFlick or iShowU HD are great value at under $30. If you want annotated screenshots, Voila ($40) is one of the best out there, closely followed by LittleSnapper (currently on special offer at $24).
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