11 April 22, 13:19
Ashampoo Snap 14: A ‘limited-comparative review/test’
This is (again) a ‘limited-comparative review/test’ for the new Ashampoo Snap 14. This is "limited" because I did not delve into the intricates of all the features and capabilities of Ashampoo Snap 14 but decided "only" to do comparative tests which I deem "basic" just as any user will edit or annotate his screenshot. The comparative results will show you how Ashampoo Snap 14 fairs with the chosen alternative apps: (1) FastStone Capture v9.7, (2) Snagit 2020, (3) Screenpresso PRO v1.11, (4) Ashampoo Snap 11, and (5) ShareX Portable v13.7.
Let it be noted that all views/observations expressed here are based on experience garnered during the course of this ‘limited-comparative review/test’. Appropriate images and videos will be shown here as proof.
So, let’s get it on!
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Ashampoo Snap 14 is the new version of Ashampoo’s screen capture app! Ashampoo Snap 14 captures anything the user sees on his screen whether it be an images or video/s. Aside from regular screenshots, the program also supports timed captures, scrolling areas, custom window sizes and multi-display environments. Multiple post processing features helps the user augment screen captures with graphics, texts and effects to convey a lot of information quickly and visually. From webinar recordings to individual tutorials to illustrated explanations: Ashampoo Snap 14 is the fast route to success. Comfort features, automated numbering or dedicated post processing tools, save you time and effort. Finished captures can not only be stored locally but easily uploaded to Ashampoo Webspace.
Ashampoo Snap 14 comes with a built-in video editor to make custom cuts, freely merge them or store them as individual episodes. GIF export is also included. Users particularly love the "magic eye" that auto-detects and selects windows, menus and scrollable areas. The new version 14 features a completely remade image editor that prioritizes simplicity and program handling without sacrificing well-known and loved power features. Snap 14 is fully Windows 11 compatible and puts the focus back on what really matters: users and their projects.
Snap 14, new heart, new soul!
The image editor has always been at the core of Ashampoo Snap, as it provides all the tools to annotate, illustrate and polish screenshots with comments, arrows, cliparts and effects. For Ashampoo Snap 14, it has been completely remade! Ashampoo did a great job providing the user with a streamlined, highly functional and fuss-free design that gets the job done without distractions. Ashampoo Snap 14 gives a unique user experience at levels of visual clarity and intuitive handling never seen before in a screenshot editor. In addition, video and audio recordings now support higher bitrates for even better quality!
An indispensable home office companion
Ashampoo Snap 14 is the perfect tool to augment home/office work with screenshots and videos. Whether in-house or frontline, Snap makes communication faster, more efficient and more meaningful. Proposals, discussions or explanations all benefit from a more visual approach. Video capturing, editing and sharing is also fully supported. With no steep learning curve or hardware requirements, Ashampoo Snap 14 is the tool to take anyone’s communication to the next level!
Get to the point more quickly
Ashampoo Snap 14 makes screen and video captures easier than ever before. Work faster, smarter, and be more productive with 1-click actions. Snap boosts the user’s creativity with versatile design options and benefit from the new streamlined image editor. Create screenshots and with pixel-precision quickly and accentuate projects with annotations, arrows, shapes, and cliparts. Highlight issues or points of interest visually in any document and ignite readers' creativity with clever combinations of texts and images.
Snap 14.0.2 Editor Tinker
Fast and easy video cutting
Not every video recording is an instant success. Ads, extra steps or pauses are a frequent bother. The same applies to screen captures. Keep the important bits and get rid of the rest with Ashampoo Snap! Remove ads, glitches or superfluous scenes or split your video into individual episodes. It doesn't matter whether the user is casually pointing and capturing, creating an extensive webinar or producing a high-quality presentation: With Ashampoo Snap, every video capture comes out a success!
Create videos for any purpose
Creating instructional videos or documentaries is a breeze with the new Ashampoo Snap 14! Recordings are live-annotable with texts, drawings and voice narration. Clear things up with visualized mouse clicks and key strokes and add watermarks to protect your intellectual property.
Latest version build is Ashampoo Snap is 14.0.2 (2022/03/17)
Ashampoo Snap 14.0.2 Changelog:
- New dark mode now available
- New export toolbar with quick export functions
- Improved file saving, project and output files now synced
- Added color picker to editor tools
- Improved scaling for high-res displays
- Relative object positions now preserved during rotating
- Clipart section supports adding of custom cliparts
- Fixed cursor flickering in the editor
- Made screenshots renamable through keyboard shortcuts in editor
- Simplified workspace panning
- Task tray icon now permanently visible or in the overflow depending on user settings
- Minor bugfixes in undo function
- Arrow head sizes now adjustable
- Workspace auto-pans after program window resize
- Improved file auto-naming settings
- Snap now supports “Open with” in Windows Explorer
- Minor bugfixes in editor toolbar
- Fixed issues with full-screen selection in multi-display environments
Detailed Features are HERE
PERTINENT LINKS
Ashampoo Snap 14 - Screen capture very simple
COMPARISON TESTS
Ashampoo Snap 14.0.1 / 14.0.2 was compared with alternative apps such as: (1) FastStone Capture v9.7, (2) Snagit 2020, (3) Screenpresso PRO v1.11, (4) Ashampoo Snap 11, and (5) ShareX Portable v13.7.
Comparison tests done are: a) Simple Annotations, b) Scrolling Capture, and c) Capture Video / Screen Recording. All videos of the actual tests are recorded via FlashBack Pro 5.
A. SIMPLE ANNOTATIONS
To compare Ashampoo Snap 14 annotation features to the alternatives I decided to do a generic screenshot of “chess pieces” and annotate it so that the end-result will all look the same (at the very least) depending on the capability of the built-in editor. There are glaring differences between Ashampoo’s and the alternatives. Ashampoo 11 has the upper hand here (just a bit) as their built-in editor has the most versatile tools (if not all -- though missing a “select tool”) the user will need to properly annotate any screenshot.
Ashampoo Snap 14.0.1
Ashampoo did something to the image editor and I "literally" took time looking for "this", "that", "guessing" and being "dumbfounded". Annotation which usually will not take much time (as mentioned it is "basic") took longer. Snap 14 editor is "new" but is also..tsk...They toned-down the arrowhead style for one. While Ashampoo allows the user to import an image into the editor (that is a good thing because I can create in Adobe Illustrator the specific arrowhead style I need) the arrowheads and styles that I was looking should have been there. Text-box content selection is also something else. For further explanations kindly see “OBSERVATIONS” at the “near-end” of the review.
Snap 14 Sample Annotations
Snap 14.0.1 Sample Annotation
Ashampoo Snap 14.0.2
Just released version 14.0.2 paved the way for more improvements but the arrowhead is “still” so.. You cannot even change the arrowhead in this new version. The rest of the addition was the color picker and some etc. See “OBSERVATIONS” at the “near-end” of the review.
Snap 14.0.2 Annotation
Snap 14.0.2 Sample Annotation
Ashampoo Snap 11
I like the Snap 11 editor more than Snap 14 (but that’s just me here). Using the drawing tools and annotation in Ashampoo Snap is great and offers more capabilities than the other alternatives used as comparison. In the future I want Ashampoo to consider adding a “cross-hair-tool” or a “snap-to-grid” guide so as aligning and positioning will be a synch. In Snap 11, if you want to get proper positioning you just have to either, (1) draw thin-lines and use them as positioning guide (much like drawing/drafting manually), or (2) “gestimate” the position to what seems okay to you. I guess you can make do without the cross-hair (that’s just me talking). One tool also missing is the “select tool” which is present in Snap 14.
Snap 11 Sample Annotations
Snap 11 Sample Annotation
ShareX Portable
ShareX has the “cross-hairs” that I want in Ashampoo Snap and I used it to properly position all text, shape elements in the annotation of the screenshot. The cross-hair can also be turned on/off too! This free application can suffice to most users but it needs getting used to as the menu buttons of the editor are small and you will have to tinker more and set the properties you want to the annotations desired. One thing that is different in the ShareX editor is the erase tool which they call “Smart Erase”. ShareX erase is “different” from the rest of the alternatives. Instead of “erasing” the selected portion, it “obfuscates” the content by blending it with the background. This is how different it is! It can be great with solid colors but if the portion that you are erasing isn’t, then you will have to take each step for "each" color blend to effectively “erase” (obfuscate) what you want. See end result of the annotation using ShareX Portable below.
ShareX Portable Sample Annotation
ShareX Sample Annotation
Screenpresso PRO
In Screenpresso PRO there is only very basic-limited tools that you can use in their built-in editor. There is no “erase tool” and “pixelate” in image editor. You got that right there -- re: "no erase tool and no pixelate tool". Only the “blur tool" is given. You can however use the shape tool to make a shape, say, a rectangle to cover (with color) the portion you want to be erased. But you will have to go the long way via selecting the color picker provided and typing the data in the “more colors > define custom colors”. No color picker is provided for you in the image editor.
Screenpresso PRO Sample Annotation
Screenpresso PRO Sample Annotation
Faststone Capture
In FastStone Capture almost all the basic tools needed to make proper-simple annotations are there. But the new version 9.7 "still" has no capability to “rotate” shapes in the Draw > annotations (except the drag handles in “text”). The main editor allows rotation of the whole image only. While the sample annotations that I chose do not require “rotation” of shapes / text elements, this is an “annoyance” as you will need to use external editors if you need to show something in a rotationary angle.
FastStone Capture Sample Annotation
FSCapture Sample Annotation
Snagit 2020
In Snagit 2020 the seamless arrangements of all tools are there at your disposal. But looking closely, Snagit 2020 does not allow you to change the “line type” for the shapes. Yes! %#@!! Only arrows have line type - selection. To compensate I had to create my own “dash-dot” and “dashed” shape (from Adobe Illustrator, can also be done in PowerPoint -- save as .png file) and import it to Snagit 2020 via “stamps”. Good thing that this can be done but this is an annoyance already and I remember that I saw some rants in the internet about it (most of which fell on deaf ears -- I do not know why....or so I think..). Though Snagit has been a staple app for me this limitation is still an annoyance. The old version of Snagit back in my Windows 7 days (I think it was Snagit 8 or 9) has that capability. I don’t know what the devs were thinking here. WHY TechSmith? All the alternatives here have that capability and you do not have it! Imagine that!
Snagit 2020 Sample Annotation
Snagit 2020 Sample Annotation