qgn / for / documentation
Screenshots for documentation, without the busywork.
Docs need dozens of screenshots that look like they belong together. QGN makes each one quick, and makes them match.
Writing docs means taking the same kind of screenshot over and over: a window, a dialog, a setting, with a number on the step and the private bits hidden. The capture should take a second. The consistency should come for free. Here is how that works in QGN.
what docs need, and how
| in QGN | |
|---|---|
| clean edges | click a window, get exactly that window. Edges snap while you drag a region. |
| the same size every time | resize the window once, then window capture matches it on every shot |
| numbered steps | callouts that count up by themselves (c) |
| pointing at things | arrows (a), boxes and ellipses (s), text in three sizes (t) |
| hiding data | solid block redaction that replaces the pixels (x), or pixelate |
| a cursor where you want it | captures are cursor-free; stamp one in on purpose (p) |
| consistent framing | Compose: background, padding, corners, shadow, fixed aspect ratio |
| a folder of images | auto-save writes every capture with a timestamp |
| short how-to clips | record a region, trim, zoom on clicks, export GIF or MP4 |
a page of steps, start to finish
- Turn on auto-save in Settings and point it at your docs' image folder.
- Size the app you are documenting once. For each step, ctrl+q and click its window.
- Need a dialog or a panel only? Drag over it. Hold alt as you release if you want to nudge the edges with the arrow keys first, then enter.
- Open a capture in Studio from its card. Add callouts with c, an arrow with a, redact with x. Every mark stays editable, so a wrong number is a click, not a redo.
- For the hero image at the top of the page, switch to Compose: a gradient or wallpaper, a window or browser frame, padding and a shadow. Save the gradient, and the next page gets the same look.
clips beat paragraphs
Some steps are easier to show than to write. ctrl+shift+q records a region. Studio makes zoom keyframes from your clicks, so a small button is readable in the export, and an optional styled cursor shows a ripple on each click. Export GIF or animated WebP for docs that only take images, MP4 or WebM where video plays. More in screen recording.
what it doesn't do
- No scrolling capture. A page longer than the screen needs several shots.
- No automation. You can't script QGN to retake every screenshot after a UI change.
- No templates or step-by-step document export. It makes images; your docs tool does the rest.
- Windows only.
If those matter more than speed and price, Snagit has them. See QGN and Snagit for an honest comparison.
questions
What is a good screenshot tool for documentation on Windows?
One that gives you clean, consistent captures quickly: exact window edges, numbered callouts for steps, redaction, and the same framing on every image. QGN does all of that, free and open source. If you need scrolling capture or scripted screenshots, Snagit or ShareX cover those and QGN does not.
Can QGN keep every screenshot the same size?
Window capture takes a window at its exact size, so resize the window once and every capture matches. In Compose you can fix an aspect ratio, padding and background, and save gradients and colours to reuse.
Can QGN save every capture to a folder automatically?
Yes. Turn on auto-save in Settings and every capture is written to a folder with a timestamp, Pictures\qgn by default.