Using the Simplify Tool in TechSmith Snagit

When I’m facilitating training sessions, I find that some participants can get a little overwhelmed with the sheer complexity of an interface and all the options. I need to take a little time to make sure they focus on the important parts, and don’t worry too much about the rest until we need to get to it. I wish there was a way to just hide or blur the stuff I don’t need just yet. In short, I need a simplify tool.

Although I don’t have a way to do that easily in a live training session, I can simplify my screenshots using the simplify tool in TechSmith Snagit. In this article, I’ll explain a bit about how it works.

Why Simplifying Screenshots is Important

It can be overwhelming for users to understand new or complex interfaces. If we provide too much detail it can make it difficult to keep the focus on the key feature or functionality we want to cover.

Another issue is that software updates tend to be frequent. Just think about how many updates you get for your mobile phone! Regular updates, while often providing nifty new features, can mean that your documentation needs updating soon after you’ve written it. If you create technical content, then you’ll know how frustrating this can be.

Simplifying visual content, such as screenshots, can help by reducing the need for so many updates. It also helps keep the user’s focus on the things that matter.

Capturing a Screenshot

To get started, the best way is to begin with a screenshot and then use the tool to transform it. In this case, we’ll be using Snagit for the initial capture, then the Snagit Editor to do the rest.

1. Capture the interface or area you’ll be simplifying.
2. In the Snagit Editor, click on the Simplify Tool from the toolbar.

Using the Simplify Tool

Once your screenshot is open in the Snagit Editor, click on the Simplify Tool from the toolbar. This tool uses a couple of options to help you highlight the key areas and remove the focus on less important elements.

Auto Simplify

If you’re in a hurry, the Auto Simplify feature is a good starting point. With one click, it automatically identifies text and shapes, simplifying the rest of the image.

• You can make adjustments after the auto simplification to ensure everything looks exactly how you want it.

Manual Simplification

For more control, you can use the manual tools:

• Shapes: Adds rectangles, circles, or other shapes to block out irrelevant areas.
• Blur: Obscure sensitive or unnecessary details without deleting them entirely.
• Text Replace: Replace text with simplified or placeholder text to reduce visual clutter.

You can adjust the colours, opacity, and shapes to match the style of your document or presentation. If your organisation has a style guide, you should refer to this to ensure your simplified screenshots follow the style requirements of your organisation.

Example

In my example, I’ve taken a screenshot of a data table in Power BI, but I want to focus on the last column, which shows the revenue.

I started by turning on the Simplify Tool, then I tried using the Rectangle shape from the Quick Styles pane on the right.

The result was ok, but not quite what I wanted, so I did a quick undo to try another option. This time, I turned on Auto Simplify.

This time, I think the result is closer to what I’m looking for, but the tool has covered up some of the data in the last column that I want to show. No problem, I just need to manually delete some of the blocks that cover the data. That’s just a matter of clicking and deleting the bits I don’t need.

Here’s the result. I’m pretty happy with that.

Conclusion

Using the Simplify Tool in Snagit is a helpful way to enhance your training materials and documentation. By focusing your screenshots on what really matters, you’ll make it easier for your audience to understand and retain information.

Next time you’re preparing a guide or training session, give the Simplify Tool a try. It’s one of those features that’ll save you time, reduce frustration, and make your content better for everyone.