Ashampoo Snap 17: A 'limited' features test

[jasonX]

Ashampoo® Snap 17: A 'limited' features test

 

It's been a while since I tested and reviewed Ashampoo Snap. I started Snap version 15 review but never finished due to health reasons and because the test took so long to finish. Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG has just released the new Ashampoo Snap 17 (currently at 17.0.3) so here I am testing some of the features so I can gauge IF this version is for me or not. This is a 'limited test' and NOT a full review because all features aren't tested. All views/observations expressed here are based on usage experience garnered during the course of this 'limited test'. So, let’s get it on!


Overview

The new Ashampoo Snap 17 offers a seamless way to capture screenshots and videos of everything visible on your Windows screen. It's designed to be easier, faster, and more flexible than ever before. Beyond standard screenshots, it supports delayed captures, scrolling content, custom window sizes, and multiple displays. The convenient 'Quick access' bar ensures that all key functions are instantly available. Its 'advanced video editor' allows for precise cutting and episode creation, while optimized recording technology ensures smooth video playback. The new MP4 (H.264) conversion guarantees maximum compatibility. 'Scrolling captures' are more reliable, even on complex web pages. 
 

 

New Quick Access bar
The new 'Quick Access' bar places essential functions right at your fingertips, streamlining your workflow, while the optimized user interface, clean layout, and customizable properties bar allow you to work more intuitively than ever. It let's you create, save, and edit projects instantly. Whether it's undo, redo, object management, or direct access to sharing functions. Additionally, the new file menu, smart keyboard shortcuts, and enhanced share button streamline every step, offering the speed and convenience you need.

 

Refined editing tools for fast results
The editing tools have been massively improved: cropping is now even faster, and numbering is more precise than ever. With modern vector graphics, harmonized color styles, and refined detail settings, you'll achieve professional results every time. The highlighter enhances content visibility and adjusts seamlessly to both bright and dark areas. 

 

New video editor
The completely revamped 'advanced video editor' allows for precise cutting and episode creation, while optimized recording technology ensures smooth video playback. Set multiple cut marks simultaneously, export individual video or audio segments to separate files, or save your recordings as animated GIFs. Additionally, you can instantly extract individual frames and edit them in Snap's image editor. Naturally, you can also open and edit existing files. Unsupported formats are automatically converted to the reliable MP4/MP3 format for maximum compatibility across devices. 

 

Improved video & scroll-capturing, drag & drop support, and high-speed uploads
Ashampoo Snap 17's optimized technology offers enhanced stability for video recordings at up to 60 FPS. New features like flexible frame rates, automatic recording stop, and customizable webcam resolutions to elevate your recording experience. Reduced memory usage makes the user experience faster startup and response times, boosting performance even on older PCs. Additionally, the drag-and-drop functionality, integrated hardware acceleration, improved web uploads. and a more robust scroll-capturing supports even the longest websites.

 

 

Latest version build is Ashampoo® Snap 17 version: 17.0.3  (2025/03/27)

 

Ashampoo® Snap 17 version: 17.0.3 highlights:

 

• New Quick Access bar for all essential functions
  
• Video editor with new technology and improved workflow
  
• Export videos as GIF, audio, or images
  
• Improved scroll-capture technology for complex pages
  
• Optimized video recording with advanced settings
  
• Faster startup and response times with lower system load
  
• Modern printing feature for precise, customizable prints
  
• Advanced numbering with modern technology, settings, and color styles
  
• Improved highlighter for better contrast
  

 

PERTINENT LINKS

 

Download Ashampoo Snap 17 HERE

Ashampoo Snap 17 Product Site HERE

OBSERVATIONS


1. Simple annotation test
Simple annotation via 'Documentation', 'Arrows', 'Shapes', 'Pencils and markers', etc. are pretty straight forward. Snap 17 supplies most of what the user will need to properly annotate an image / project giving support to additional layers also if needed. The response is also faster. Great work Ashampoo!

 

2. Scrolling capture test. Improved scrolling capture but...
Scrolling capture or “scrolling window capture” is a feature that is not present in all screenshot applications. But I prefer that my screen capture app has it and functions properly. Why? Because I almost always capture a whole webpage in PNG aside from saving the web page 'as complete'. This is so I can work offline. Snap 17 (as in Snap 16) supports browser scrolling capture in Edge Chromium, Google Chrome and Firefox. I do not see any documentation that specifically state what other application does it support, so I just assume that anything with a scroll-bar can be captured. Ashampoo support has given tips to have an improved end-result for Snap 17's scrolling-capture. 

If you use window detection, e.g., to capture a website, make sure to adjust the
selection rectangle to only include the content you wish to capture. Title bars, tool
bars, and scroll bars must not be included in your selection.....

Here's a few pointers for a successful scroll capture:

Your selection must not contain window elements, like scrollbars, because these will
interfere with the assembling of the screenshots.

Make sure your selection does not contain sticky elements. These are elements that
move with the content to stay in a fixed position, like web banners.

If you need to capture a website that dynamically fetches new content during
scrolling, make sure to manually scroll the bottom of the page before you start
capturing from the bottom. This will ensure the content is instantly available.

Ashampoo Snap 17's scrolling capture has greatly improved from Snap 16. Snap 17's is a bit different from other scrolling capture apps like FSCapture because you'd have to just select the inside of say, the web page WITHOUT the scroll-bars. This is what's stated by Ashampoo to gain effective scrolling captures. In 'FSCapture' even if you select the whole browser (with the title bars and all) it will capture the whole page flawlessly and even scroll horizontally if necessary. 

Tested it in Edge browser using the product site and media site for Snap 17. The capture wasn't that great as it is not acceptable at all. There are text elements that have been cut-off, ghost capture - repeated elements, website items redundantly captured, images not properly captured.. I do not understand the "Scrolling captures are more reliable, even on complex web pages"... Yes, it captures properly as seen in the video I made but the end-result is not good and in fact very poor. This is for websites and Snap 17's product site / media site is the one used with Edge. 

 

Snap 17 scrolling capture - Edge

In scroll-capture of 'MS Word' file and 'Notepad' the end result has improved. There are some 'elongated images' like the introductory image of 'Ashampoo Photo Commander 18' and some issues when the page ends. 

 

Snap 17 scrolling capture - MS Word / Notepad

In scroll-capture of PDF file the end result has improved also. The same 'elongated images' of 'Ashampoo Photo Commander 18' image and issues when the page ends is still there. This is with 'PDFXChange Editor' and 'FoxitReader Portable'. 
 

Snap 17 scrolling capture - PDF

3. Capture video test
The revamped video editor is simple and response is faster than my experiences with Snap 14 and Snap 16.  Snap 17's capture video is pretty straight forward and very simple. The end result is good. I did not delve with the sound issue of previous versions because there aren't any settings that I can see for the sound (and the video I recorded gave good sound -- though it's only a simple-short marketing video). The speed is commendable. But the editor doesn't do much but to cut and export in different file formats. It doesn't FEEL as an "advanced video editor" as I can't see the edit features OF an 'advanced video editor'. I do not know how is this an "advanced video editor"..? You can do more with 'EaseUS RecExperts' in screen recording (and limited editing) than Snap 17. 

 

4. Editor  - Arrows and Arrowhead still so so..
You still cannot even change the arrowhead in Snap 17’s image editor! What Snap 17 gives you have to swallow and use or use the 'Cliparts' but you can only just resize them unlike the 'arrows' where you can distort it. PowerPoint and other apps have better arrows and arrowheads than Snap 17. Well, simple annotations can suffice with the arrows/arrowheads provided but personally I find it lacking as to what I am using. You can import personally made arrows or shapes (in PNG) made from PowerPoint but doing so the behavior is like 'cliparts'. 

 

5. Editor  - Still no text-box background
Well to be fair, 'Snagit 2020' and 'FSCapture' also do not have this feature. 'ShareX / ShareX Portable' has it since version 12. 'PicPick' does it differently as the user will have to select a shape first and then "insert text" on the same created shape. This is one object only. 

In Snap 17, to have a background for your text (not shadow --which Snap 17 offers) you will have to make a 'separate shape' for it and then place your 'text' over that shape -- that's two (2) objects. It would be nice if Snap will have something like this which is a staple in 'PowerPoint' and 'ShareX / ShareX Portable'. 

 

Additional observations


Drag and drop is faster
I was surprised that Snap 17 drag-and-drop is responsive and is actually faster! Great work Ashampoo. Now I can just drag-and-drop instead of the 'Import image" that I am used to do to not wait for some seconds for Snap to respond. 


Improved Eye dropper / color picker
This has been a welcome addition since Snap 14 and this time it's much faster and responsive in Snap 17. Great work again Ashampoo! Beats using a freeware 3rd-party color picker and jotting down the numbers so you can apply the correct shade you want. 

 

Snap 17 STILL needs to be placed in security exceptions
When I did the content for Snap 16, the same slowness I experienced. So to accomplish the content Avast (as 'Allowed app in, Ransomware Shield, Webcam Shield, Sensitive Data Shield, Password Protection) , turned-off  HitmanPro.Alert (Safe Browsing / Exploit Mitigation). This time at Snap 17 it still slowness especially in the widget/toolbar response. Snap 17 also crashed on me twice. So, I applied again the exceptions I did in Snap 16. The response was much faster but there are times that the pc slows down and I have to 'restart-explorer' often. 

So, the question is "Why does Ashampoo Snap 17 need to be excluded in my security apps?" I never had to exclude 'FSCapture', 'PickPick' and 'ShareX' in my security apps. All three (3) apps functions well without any issues. 

I remember previously, Snap 14 and 16 was flagged by Avast's 'Ransomware Shield'. I reported this to Avast support way back (and also with Sophos). Avast said that they will include 'Ashampoo' when they determine the app to be safe, etc. I am still waiting on Avast support's response if Ashampoo has been placed in their "whitelisted apps". So just to continue with the test, I just turned-off all Avast shields when Snap 17 is running. Response was good. No crashes. No slowness.  



FINAL WORD


So, this is only the tests that I have done as I decided to just do a limited features test. The speed and response of Snap 17 is commendable as I do not remember Snap 14 and 16 this fast especially the rendering. Scrolling capture still more improvement. If you see the "Snap 17 scrolling capture - Edge" (along with the rest for MS Word / Notepad and PDF's) there's still room for improvement especially with how Snap 17 captures a website. I mean they mention improvements even for long websites but their own Snap 17 product site / media site I cannot capture effectively and I tried around 10x to no avail. 

The video editor is simplistic enough but you can get more mileage with other free apps. It is NOT an "advanced video editor". Snap 17 is not a 'full-fledged' video editor and only provides limited features. The image editor - arrows/arrowheads and 'Documentation > Text' is good but adding a 'text box background' won't hurt and will help the user do his endeavor faster. Frankly, I expected more from Snap 17 but it is commendable that there are more improvements here especially the "scrolling capture' end result (-- though still needs work). In previous versions, I don't use Snap's scrolling capture as I find it poorly conceived. End results I get I just delete. Now in Snap 17 you can salvage it. 


If the user requires more features, then Snap 17 may fall short for them. It really depends on "how" an individual uses his screen capture app. His preference will and always be king. Every user who has a resident screen capture app will look for his favourite feature in Snap 17 and this is where he will decide. 

Can I recommend Snap 17? This time I am “inclined” to recommend Snap 17 (around 90% now...) As mentioned, the improvements are commendable and if the user is not finicky about a screen capture app then it is a "go" for him. I can let it hang around my system just like 'ShareX Portable' and 'PicPick Portable'. 

All observations here will be sent to Ashampoo support as feedback including pertinent info, images, videos so even in a small way, we can help Ashampoo developers. This is our goal here -- to help our sponsor developers and not just ask and giveaway licenses. I will be waiting on the next version build of Snap 17 with eagerness. 

Cheers!