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What is the easiest way to capture the printout of a document in a picture (i.e. GIF, BMP etc.)? Making a screenshot does not help, since the printout is different and larger than the screen. Is there a special printer driver for windows that captures the printout into pictures?

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Why do you want to do this in the first place? If you're trying to make a document that looks exactly like it does on your screen, would a PDF be a better solution? – Margaret Sep 4 '09 at 7:56
This is useful if you want to create a document from several printouts by embedding the images. Joining several PDFs with some additional text is not as easy as embedding images. – hstoerr Oct 25 '09 at 9:15
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3 Answers

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You can use PDFCreator. It's free and open source. Here's a bit more info on it:

  • Create PDFs from any program that is able to print Security: Encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened, printed etc
  • New: Digitally sign your PDFs to ensure that you are the author and the file has not been modified
  • New: Create PDF/A files for long term archives
  • Send generated files via eMail
  • Create more than just PDFs: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, EPS
  • AutoSave files to folders and filenames based on Tags like Username, Computername, Date, Time etc.
  • Merge multiple files into one PDF Easy Install: Just say what you want and everything is installed
  • Terminal Server: PDFCreator also runs on Terminal Servers without problems
  • And the best: PDFCreator is free, even for commercial use! It is Open Source and released under the Terms of the GNU General Public License.
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Though that doesn't make it a picture, only a pdf. good solution if the author only wants to print later, or archive, but it won't work if he wants to modify it after, though. Depends on his need, I guess it should be detailed. – Gnoupi Sep 4 '09 at 7:58
It makes pictures as well, I just added more info right now :). – alex Sep 4 '09 at 7:59
In this case, it's the ideal answer, I guess. – Gnoupi Sep 4 '09 at 8:09
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Great program. You can edit preferences to make PNG default format, or you can select it per document in Save As dialog. – Josip Sep 4 '09 at 8:11
I've been using it at home for quite a while, and I actually did use the feature to save as png. It's an excellent app. – alex Sep 4 '09 at 8:23
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up vote 1 down vote

What is the easiest way to capture the printout of a document in a picture (i.e. GIF, BMP etc.)? Making a screenshot does not help

oh yes, it does .... if you have the right software :)

Faststone Capture does exactly what you want:

Capture windows, objects, menus, full screen, rectangular/freehand regions and scrolling windows/web pages

Faststone Capture version 5.3 is free, and so is its portable variant.

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+1 for actually answering what was asked, whether it's what he should be doing or not ;) – Margaret Sep 4 '09 at 9:19
'what he should be doing or not' is none of my concern, i won't tell him how he has to run his computer. :) but my personal choice for this particular task would be a PDF printer too :) – Molly7244 Sep 4 '09 at 9:24
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up vote 0 down vote

Would printing to .pdf help?

I use cute pdf, and I think Open Office does this.

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