HyperSnap

HyperSnap-DX is priced like similar DirectX-enabled screen capture tools, but its built-in graphics editor saves time, steps, and maybe even money, if you don't have to buy a separate tool. It supports multiple monitors, unlimited undo/redo, FTP upload, non-rectangular window capture, stamps, splits, mirror images, and more. An Office-style layout with thumbnails and a Ribbon toolbar looks at home on any desktop. HyperSnap-DX is free to try for 20 days.

Pros

Portable version: During setup, we had the option of creating a portable version of HyperSnap on a removable or network disk.

Setup menu: The Ribbon-style toolbar's Setup tab enables quick changes to HyperSnap-DX's configuration, including Mouse Keys, Hotkeys, Voice, and Startup.

Extended Screen Capture: HyperSnap-DX can automatically resize windows to be much larger than your screen before capturing the image; no scrolling required.

Graphics editor: The Edit tab includes Drawing Tools and useful options, such as HTML tags, while the Image tab offers Stamps, Frames, Shadows, and many other filters and effects.

Cons

TextSnap no longer supported: TextSnap doesn't work with DirectX, DirectWrite, and other accelerated graphics technologies or with Java, .NET, Windows 8, and other new programming environments, and therefore it's no longer supported, except in legacy applications.

No video: HyperSnap-DX doesn't capture video; but HyperCam, from the same developer, does. As an added bonus, it's now freeware.

Bottom Line

When basic screen capture tools won't cut it, HyperSnap-DX is ready to serve. Freeware with similar capabilities is available, so be sure to shop around. But HyperSnap-DX has a lot going for it.

Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of HyperSnap 8.04.06.