Snapsh ot to Disk as .JPG

The default (and only) format for saving snapshots directly to disk is .BMP.

Unfortunately, whenever I have tried to upload one of these .BMP's to the SL Forums, I've first had to convert to .JPG.

How's about saving to disk as .JPG. Not only will it save terabytes (okie... maybe not terabytes, but a helluva lot) of disk space around the world, but we won't have that annoying intermediate step of converting whenever we want to post our in-world pics to these forums.

- Ace

Ace, if you had said "JPG but at the same filesize as the BMP" then there would be no contest, as the JPG would, despite being a lossy format, offer far greater potential for image detail.

If the snapshots are going to be saved as significantly compressed JPG though (and that's what I think you're suggesting because you mentioned savings in disk space), then we're into the whole messy business of loss of image detail, about which entire wars have been fought, religions founded, and civilizations born and collapsed. Let's not go there.

Conversion isn't hard. You can even set up an automatic process to convert to JPG anything that appears in the snapshots directory if you want.

Addendum: Or, you might like to suggest that the snapshot format be made a selectable option. What would be bad though would be to suggest losing the existing lossless format altogether --- that would be a step backwards.

snapshop to disk is provided specifically to save high quality pictures. save two snaps, one to disk and one to texture, then save the texture to disk and open them both in a viewer. you'll see quit a difference.

conversion to jpg causes noticable loss of detail even in a cartoon oh sorry "professionally rendered 3d virtual environment." it would be a nice option to save to disk as jpg, but they'll have to leave a less compressed format in place for the function to continue servings it's original purpose.

I'm well-versed in the pros and cons of various image representation formats, thank you. The conversation isn't a problem for me, other than its a pain in the ass.

All I'm asking for is a .JPG option when I save snapshot to disk. They even have a pull-down menu for image format in the dialogue. Its just that the only option offered right now is .BMP, and we can't post the file saved by newview directly into the SL forums.

- Ace

Option yes, default no.

Concur...

- Ace

we should have PNG, it handles alpha channels, is compressed, can be lossless or lossy. This should be for upload AND screenshots. The format is well supported.

the library for working with them is open source and permission granted to use in any way (with some restrictions)
http://www.libpng.org/pub/png/libpng.html

as for jpg, i don't care to much either way as long as it's not the default.

On a seperate but related note, I'd like to be able to "save to disk" the .jpg files I do have in my textures inventory (they were free textures ;p). The only option offered is .tga and that corrupts the files.

And additionally, I'd like a way to save snapshots starting with a number you can specify -- if there are previous pics in the folder like Snapshot239.bmp, it continues from there, but there is no other way to change the numbering sequence.

sorry ace. i didn't mean to insult your intelligence. i sometimes misinterpret the term "forum."

i agree with elle. save to disk could use a list of file types as well.

i also agree with torley except that i don't want to have to name every file every time. sometimes i need that autonaming feature for speed.

:: BUMP::

I'd prefer PNG or TGA over BMP any day!!!

It also kind of pisses me off that the Save location window only appears for the FIRST screenshot you take in a series, when sometimes I'd like to change the name of the file and/or stick it in a different directory!!! If nothing else, I'd like to be able to set a default directory location for my screenshots. Lindens please fix this!!

Arti

And.... as a little side-gripe. Can we get a shortcut that deposits DIRECTLY TO FILE WITHOUT UI?

I'll settle for BMP, since I shop them up (see blog) anyway. But JPG and PNG would be nice, too.

Press the tilde key (~) under the escape key for a shortcut to save to disk.

It will only open up the "save to" window on the first press.

Alternatively, CRTL+SHIFT+S will take a normal in world snapshot

Thank you, Damien. I found out earlier than ~ did something, just wasn't sure what, exactly. This'll save me alot of time, thanks

Having the option of what file type you want to save screenshots as, would be nice.

Stamped for approval.