Backdrop: Custom Screenshots with your Mac
Hello iPhone users. Without a doubt, one of the most visual and comprehensive ways to create a tutorial or present new software or a website today is with a screencast : We record our computer's screen output for a period of time and add explanatory audio of what we're doing. It's a very convenient method for the viewer, as they can freely pause and replay the video while following the instructions and seeing concrete, real-world examples of what we're trying to show them.
However, a screencast requires some preparation. The image we want to show the viewer is a clean screen, free of desktop elements or other application windows that could be distracting or compromise our privacy. Often, it's also a good idea to use a specific logo as the background instead of our personal wallpaper. Therefore, before we start recording, we should clean up our desktop and close all the extraneous windows we have open, or we risk the final video appearing sloppy and unprofessional.
To simplify this task, a simple application called BackDrop has arrived from the Mac App Store. With just one click on the icon, we can "close a curtain" over our screen, hiding absolutely everything currently open. BackDrop creates an image layer that overlays all screen elements except the Dock and the taskbar. On top of this image, we can place any window simply by opening a new application or selecting it from among those already open.
Preferences:
Backdrop settings are simple: You can choose which image to display on the screen, either by selecting it from your hard drive or choosing a solid color. You can configure whether the image will be placed between applications or in front of the desktop to hide icons, and you can specify the number of screens the image will be displayed on (for those who work with more than one monitor). It also features a "pixel test" mode, which alternates the screen between Green, Red, Blue, White, and Black for a specified number of seconds, allowing you to detect errors on your monitor.
Exposé and espaces:
BackDrop is seamlessly integrated with Spaces and Exposé. In Spaces, the program remembers the image's position on each desktop; in Exposé, it doesn't appear among the window thumbnails, nor do any elements hidden behind it. This allows you to use multiple desktops and easily select different windows above BackDrop in a completely transparent way.
Other uses:
Of course, BackDrop's applications don't end there; we found the screencast possibilities particularly interesting, but we can also use it for:
- Screenshots: The philosophy is the same: cleanliness, professionalism, and your personal icons or windows conveniently hidden.
- Focus on your work: Typically, a Mac user has about five applications open at any given time. With BackDrop, it's very easy to focus on your work and hide those programs that so easily distract us without needing to close or minimize them.
- Check your screen: With pixel test mode you can easily check if your monitor has any color problems.
BackDrop is available for free on the Mac App Store.
BackDrop Download Link for MAC:
