Heh, I still remember sometime 3 and a half year ago (I think
) when I first joined this nut house and posted my first batch of screenshots...not that those were any good If my memory serves me right, it was titled "Thunderbird Airshow"...to which Ozzy (or was it some other stunt nut!) promply replied "you stole my moves"...Thankfully, I have come a long while since then
I don't know if any of these have been addressed before, in other threads, as I didn't read them, so bare with me.
1. This is perhaps what I find THE most effective way to produce a nice, sharp, chrisp screenshot: use the "sharpen" feature in your image editor, e.g. Photpshop, PSP, before you resize. (Don't know why it works, but that ain't important
)2. Keep it simple. If you try to include too much in a single screenshot, it just all may become a mess and an eye sore.
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/flightfromenterprisestorm3.jpg
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/Miragestorm.jpg
3. Avoid action shots. From my experience, action shots are extreamly hard to take, and if not done just right, it'll crash and burn...
By the way, an easy way to convey "speed" or "power" or something similar is to just add alittle rain, or some other weather effect. Really gives it the "in your face" feel
.http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/v35anchoragestorm1.jpg
4. Go for unique angles and settings. Same as the rest of the art world, Give 'em somethign they never seen before! Nothing is more boring than to see using that exact same angle once again, and nothing is more exciting than to see something totally new and different. I'd just be awfull if all the screenshots were just "clones" of one another
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/me109spitmk14storm7.jpg
5. This will mostly go for SimV, because of the image size/weight limits here, screenshots are quite limited! And as most of you probably already figured, compression really takes away from a good screenshot!
What I have come up with is to just avoid including scenery in your screenshot, unless its the focus of the piece, it adds too much weight for not enough effect, and for the most part, the sky ain't that bad lookin'! So basically, just keep the scenery to the lower third of your screenshot. (Don't know if you guys noticed before, but more than 2/3 of my screenshots doesn't show ANY scenery.
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/Miragestorm2.jpg
6. Visualize your screenshot before you take it. Think up the most amazing screenshot you can possibly take, and go after it... Just as in painting, unless you know what your going to put on your canvas, don't bother putting anything...
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/usatourleg17storm8.jpg
7. Have purpose, or theme; and base your screenshots around it. Randoms are fine, but a set of screenshots that tell a story is better.
One from a set of "WWII Heritage Flight" themed screenshots...credit goes to Nemo for keeping that B-17 still for me
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/storm11-20-05-5.jpg
8. Pick a setting that matches the aircraft. An Extra 300 really shouldn't be doing loops in Antartica during the middle of the night...and a 747 really shouldn't be flying formation with a MiG-29. (And as a side note, no Bf-109 should be on the tail of a Spitfire, but the other way around is perfectly fine.
)http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/stormcare182rg3.jpg
9. Keep in mind different settings can convey differnt emotions; for example, dusk/dawn settings generally give the feeling of peacefulness, while an open sky gives a sense of freedom; and pick the one thats right for your screenshot. Don't send the viewer into tears when you're trying to show off the power and might of an F-16...unless he/she is crying from the awsomeness of your screenshot
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/stormcarenado206.jpg
10. Make the center piece of your screenshot standout. Make it big, and make it bold!
http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/stormusatour24.jpg
11. And finally, trust your instincts. If you think it will make a good screenshot, then it will!
Version 0.025 pre-Alpha...by no means complete...
...I'll add more when it comes to me, and please ignore the grammar/spelling mistakes, it's 1:03 AM over here.
Jeff
