Help:Screenshots

2 minute how-to
If you know your way around Wikimedia sites and basic image editing software, here's a short guide to make and upload screenshots:


 * Check that there aren't already screenshots or icons on Commons;
 * Reset your interface to default;
 * Increase the zoom level in your browser;
 * Take the screenshot;
 * Crop the screenshot to only show what is relevant;
 * Upload the screenshot to Commons with the appropriate license.

Is a screenshot necessary?
You should first check on Commons if there aren't already screenshots or icons of the feature you want to highlight:
 * commons:Category:VisualEditor icons — SVG icons for VisualEditor
 * commons:Category:VisualEditor — Screenshots of VisualEditor
 * commons:Category:MediaWiki screenshots
 * commons:Category:MediaWiki extensions

Reset your interface
In order for the screenshots to be understandable by as many users as possible, you should reset your interface to remove any customization you've made. Otherwise, users might be confused about differences between the screenshots and their own interface.

If the feature you want to document is available to unregistered users, the easiest way to reset your interface without messing up your account and preferences is to open your browser in "anonymous", "privacy" or "private browsing" mode.

If you need an account to use the feature, you can either create a new account specifically for the purpose of making the screenshots, or you can use your regular account after disabling your custom scripts and gadgets that change your interface.

Increase the zoom level in your browser
Change the zoom level of your browser, so that the screenshots are of the highest resolution possible. This can usually be done through a menu, or by pressing Ctrl several times, until you reach the maximum zoom your window can accommodate to display the feature you want to illustrate.

For example, if you just want to illustrate a specific button, you can increase to the maximum zoom level, even if the rest of the interface looks weird or impractical.

On the other hand, if you want to illustrate a menu like the template editor in VisualEditor, you can increase the zoom level, but it's likely that you won't be able to use the maximum zoom, otherwise important features will be missing from the screen.

Take the screenshot
When you're ready, take a screenshot using the Prt. sc key on your keyboard