Frequently asked questions

Layers

What is the difference between the demo version and a registered copy of Layers
The demo has the same features as the registered copy. The demo version will add a watermark image to some layers and images as in the image below:

Capture with watermark

What is the meaning of the different status bar icons
black icon Inactive status. Layers is ready to capture.
green icon Capture in progress. The status bar menu is disabled until the capture ends.
white icon Capture succeed.
red icon Capture failed.

AppShot

What is this AppShot feature?
AppShot, introduced with Layers 1.2, breaks a window apart capturing most of the scrollable elements in a separate layer, including also the non visible part.
Known Issues
  • Finder application is not properly captured in Leopard when it isn't front most window.
  • Terminal application is not properly captured in Leopard. There is a bug in its Universal Access implementation.

WebShot

Why do you claim to be fast and accurate?

The technical solution used in existing apps is to copy from the browser the web page URL you're currently visiting. With that URL in place, the capture application instantiates another browser —usually WebKit, in the Mac world— inside the app itself, fetch again the page contents from the internet, and finally renders an image from the output of that internal browser. You don't get an image from Safari or Firefox web page, but an altogether different rendition of the same web address. Similar, but not the same.

Layers approach is fundamentally different. Layers is a screenshot app, and we leverage that ability to capture the web page directly from the screen, using the rendering already in place at the browser. That is, the image generated is exactly, pixel-wise, as you see it in the screen at the moment of the capture.
Our solution is similar to simple image stitching, the technique used to generate panorama images from different shots. Layers capture several images from the screen with the parts of the page and then stitch them together to get the final result.

Layers WebShot is fast because we don't reload the page and the capture and stitching process is very fast.
It is also accurate because we capture the image from the browser itself. If the page renders different in each browser, you get that differences in your shots.

Do I need to enable Universal Access?
Safari and Opera, but not Firefox, support Mac accessibility technologies. Layers 1.1 WebShots uses Universal Access —UA— to drive the browser during capture. If you enable UA, you'll get better, faster and more reliable captures. Layers still works without UA, using a combination of AppleScript and Javascript techniques to achieve the same results, but we recommend you enable UA to get the most out of WebShots. Universal Access hint
Which browsers versions are supported
The official list:
  • Safari 5
  • Firefox Due to security restrictions Firefox updates WebShot doesn't work right now
  • Google Chrome Due to security restrictions Chrome updates WebShot doesn't work right now
When capturing WebShots in Safari all I get is a header image, why?
Some Safari extensions create additional windows confusing Layers Webshot. Try disabling extensions with visible bars. Also, let us know about it in order to fix the problem with each specific extension that interfere with Layers capture method.
When capturing WebShots in Firefox all I get is a new blank tab and a white image, why?
If you have some tab manager extension installed, such as TabMix, you may have some option enabled that open a new tab when a URL is entered in the location bar. In TabMix you can try to change the "Force to open in new tab" option.
Known issues
  • Blank spots. In some rare situations, you'll see some blank spots in the middle of the capture image. This could be because the browser has not finished rendering the page in the moment of the WebShot. Just repeat the shot once the page is fully loaded. Some pages load images, or other elements, on demand, only when the element is effectively viewed. If you detect such cases, just scroll over all the page before making the WebShot.
  • Fixed elements. In some pages there are elements —defined with CSS style position:fixed— whose position, relative to the viewing area, doesn't change with the scrolling. Layers does its best to detect these cases, and handle them correctly. But that's not always possible. For example, with Safari or Opera, in UA mode, Layers can't detect fixed elements placed in internal frames. If you capture with frames enabled such a page, you'll notice that the fixed element is repeated all over the resulting image. Fixed elements placed in the main page should be handled right.
  • Size. There are two image size limitations in Layers 1.1. If you capture with frames enabled, the resulting PSD file can't have more than 30000 pixels in any dimension. This is a limitation of the PSD format. If you meet with this limit, simply swtich to Bunch of Files format. In future versions of Layers we'll add other layered formats, as PSD huge or Tiff, that are less forbiding. The other limit affects PNG and Tiff outputs. Layers currently cap the maximum of any dimension in 150000 pixels, if memory permits. Again, in future versions, Layers will handle larger images.
  • DiggBar, StumleUpon bar. These are generally implemented as frames/iFrames. If you need to capture the original page, just enable the Frames options in Layers preferences, or better yet, just close the bar an visit the original page.
  • Frames. If Firefox, or Safari/Opera in not UA mode, Layers can't capture the content of frames that doesn't come from the same domain of the main web address, due to the so-called cross-domain scripting limitation. Safari/Opera in UA mode doesn't have the problem.
  • Recent Google Chrome builds has added new security restrictions that prevent Layers from capture inner frames. Normal pages, or first level pages with frames has no problems.
  • Opera 10 is not yet supported. Layers will add full support for the last Opera version in a forthcoming update.

Capture

How can I capture application menus?
You can capture menus and submenus. Open the desired menu and press the hotkey. Wait until the capture ends.
Each menu will be in its own PSD layer.

Menus as layers

Can I capture the cursor?
Since Layers 1.1.4 the cursor will be captured as a PSD layer when capturing the screen.
You should enable the "Include cursor" option in preferences widow.
You can't capture the cursor from the Inspector window.
Can I open Layers captured PSD with Adobe Elements
Yes, but you should disable "Create groups" option in preferences dialog.

Inspector

What's the meaning of Offscreen Inspector option
The offscreen elements are not captured in any way, because there's just no data to capture. This option appears in the Inspector window just as a reference (or curiosity) for your informacion (or amusement). Switching it on/off only affects what's displayed in the window list. We know, we know. If something doesn't affect the capture, it shouldn't appear in the user interface. But, it's curious how many auxiliary windows Mac apps need to work. Maybe in the future, we'll find some use for this.
What's the meaning of Desktop Inspector option?
Filter the screen elements to show/hide desktop items like wallpaper or Finder icons. Useful, if you're like me and got a desktop full of icons.
What's the meaning of Tight fit Inspector option?

This option only affects the resulting captured image if there's something selected in the window list. The resulting image will have dimensions adjusted to the windows bounds if the switch is on. If it's off, the image will have the full display(s) dimensions.


Tight fit on

Tight fit off
(reduced from image real size: 1900x1200)
What's the meaning of Shadow Inspector option?

When on, the window-like elements (i.e. not icons or status bar items), will be captured with its shadow. That is, the corresponding PSD layer has the window properly and its shadow. If you switch it off, the resulting image will have only the element shadow

With shadows

Shadows only
What's the meaning of Framing Inspector option?

Window-like items have associated frame elements. In the current OS X graphic theme, mostly the shadow. With this switch you can choose whether to capture the windows with its frame, or just the window content alone.

Framing on

Framing off
What's the meaning of Opaque Inspector option?

If the screen item has an opacity less than one in all or part of it (usually, the shadow zone, or in the case of HUD windows, like Twitterrific, all of its content) with this button you can choose if Layers will respect the opacity settings, or will capture all the window contents and frame fully opaque.

Opaque off

Opaque on

Licence

How can I register my copy of Layers?
After you have copied Layers to your Applications folder, register your copy of Layers using any of the following methods:
  • Double click the licence file.
  • Drag and drop the licence file onto the Layers Dock icon.
  • Drag and drop the licence file into the licence zone in the preferences window.

If you use Mail.app to read your e-mail just double click the attachment with the licence.

I lost my licence
No problem. Contact us, tell us which e-mail address you used to buy Layers. If not sure, tell us your name.
My licence does not work
Possible causes:
  • Check your licence has been saved as a file ending in .bog extension, no .html extension allowed.
  • You should install Layers before double clicking the licence.
  • The received file may be corrupted or trashed by the antivirus or antispam filter most e-mail servers runs these days.
Please, contact us, we'll study your case.

Compatibility

Does Layers works on Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard)?
Yes. Since Layers 1.1.5 it is fully supported. The only difference when compared with Leopard is that the Finder icons are captured as a block instead of one layer per icon.
Does Layers run in OS X 10.4 Tiger
No. Layers runs only in OS X 10.5 Leopard. It will support OS X 10.6 just in case you are wondering about the future.
Where can I buy Layers for Microsoft Windows
We don't have a Microsoft Windows version yet, sorry. Never say never, but it won't happen in a foreseable future.

Tips

Can Growl notify me when a capture finished?
Yes. You need to have Growl installed. Layers will show a notification automatically after each capture. It has been tested with Growl 1.1.4 but any modern enough version will work.
How can I open Layers right after login?
Use the standard "Open at Login" option in the dock menu.
How can I open last captured image
You can open last capture using Open Last Capture menu item available in status bar and dock menu.

In addition, you can click Growl notification if you have Growl installed.

Growl notification