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-----Original Message-----
>1) Do you create your own "fake" screen-caps with
> a vector-drawing tool?
No, but I have often used a vector-drawing tool to create perfect
screenshots. (Take the screenshot, amend it as necessary*, drop it into
CorelDRAW and create a GIF.) *(A screen shot isn't a screen dump. It should
look identical to what the user sees on screen, but you can erase parts that
the user doesn't need to see right now.)
>2) Can you think of any reasons not to do so, from
> the user's perspective?
If your "fake" screen-cap is identical, no.
>3) Would I be wrong in assuming that cosmetic aspects
> of windows and dialog boxes are not that important,
> and that as long as the text is there and readable,
> and the surrounding elements are similar to the
> originals, then that should be "good enough"?
When you're not doing it for novice users, and/or when the GUI is
cosmetically changing frequently, it's a good idea... but I think it sounds
fairly time-consuming.
Jane Carnall
Technical Writer, Digital Bridges, Scotland
Unless stated otherwise, these opinions are mine, and mine alone. Apologies
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