Visuals are powerful and can engage an audience in ways text alone can't. In software user assistance, screenshots have been an easy go-to for visuals. But with that power comes great responsibility. In the face of localization, accessibility, and continuous deployment, screenshots may carry underestimated overhead that outweighs their contribution to the conversation with the user. Instead, consider other visuals — illustrations, infographics, simplified UI abstract representations — that may better support your message, contribute more to the conversation, and avoid some of the extra overhead. Originally given at Write the Docs Portland, 2018.

1. Steve Stegelin
Information Architect &Team Manager
GraphicContentWarning!
The Pros,Cons, andAlternatives toScreenshots
@Stegelin

2. Hey! I’m Steve
At Blackbaud 13 years, full of
technical communication, content
strategy, and innovation
Focus on craftingcontentexperiencesto
engageand assistusers of Blackbaud
solutionsat nonprofitorganizations
Side-gigas editorialcartoonistat localalt-
weeklyCharlestonCityPaper for 14+ years
Apparentdeadlineaddict (pleasehelp!)

3. “If you stick an illustration
of a farting dog below
nearly any random words,
they’ll get read with more
import than without farting
dog.”
- Bloom County’s Berkeley Breathed,
in the foreword to Academia Waltz
Flawed Dogs artwork © Berkeley Breathed

4. We’re wired to think visually.
• The brain takes 1/4 s to process visuals.
Source:Whyyourbrainlovesvisualcontent(www.columnfivemedia.com/why-your-brain-loves-visual-content-
loves-visual-content-infographic)
• When paired with a relevant image,
people retain 65% of content after 3
days, compared to 10% without.
Source:Ultimatelistofmarketingstatistics(www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics)
• People follow directions with
text and illustrations 323%
better than text-only.
Source:Effectsoftextillustrations:Areviewofresearch(link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF02765184)

5. Billy Bookcase assembly instructions © IKEA

7. Lorem ipsum dolor amet messenger bag four loko gastropub, readymade scenester direct trade chambray cray.
Chillwave wolf tumblr brooklyn man braid. Chartreuse normcore photo booth jianbing DIY la croix microdosing. Pitchfork
lyft hashtag, lomo edison bulb try-hard copper mug bicycle rights art party tattooed swag. Ennui polaroid YOLO
intelligentsia viral messenger bag art party banh mi iceland kale chips ugh hella la croix adaptogen gluten-free. Ethical
hexagon street art tumeric. Food truck aesthetic adaptogen raw denim biodiesel la croix. Vape gentrify pinterest kinfolk 3
wolf moon, la croix hoodie leggings ennui tattooed. PBR&B cred fingerstache swag, af pork belly bitters letterpress
narwhal tote bag succulents blog tousled asymmetrical biodiesel. Viral thundercats selvage, flexitarian enamel pin tacos
cornhole iPhone keffiyeh heirloom coloring book listicle forage. Echo park vape subway tile selvage portland keytar pour-
over neutra pinterest blue bottle biodiesel paleo. Food truck semiotics stumptown helvetica flannel occupy VHS pabst
single-origin coffee. Sriracha cliche paleo, vaporware distillery pour-over waistcoat sartorial cornhole chillwave air plant
williamsburg four dollar toast post-ironic. Butcher polaroid mumblecore iceland locavore godard lyft craft beer poutine
DIY quinoa. 3 wolf moon flexitarian semiotics banh mi tumeric selvage letterpress glossier dreamcatcher retro cliche trust
fund photo booth pickled synth. Selvage tacos iPhone brooklyn, cloud bread organic pug synth put a bird on it listicle.
Stumptown banh mi sriracha ugh paleo shoreditch, 90's man braid air plant glossier. Pug crucifix vaporware listicle
whatever irony. Sriracha offal williamsburg health goth hell of, taiyaki deep v try-hard brunch pickled snackwave
flexitarian post-ironic prism. Are you really reading this? Paleo bespoke whatever, four dollar toast DIY selvage post-
ironic chillwave occupy unicorn. Messenger bag yuccie blog biodiesel. Gluten-free fanny pack iPhone, street art palo
santo keytar hashtag mixtape shaman pour-over wolf. Palo santo sartorial mumblecore ramps 90's. Woke snackwave
yuccie hell of, pork belly single-origin coffee organic enamel pin tousled mumblecore franzen iPhone gluten-free irony.
Shaman slow-carb 8-bit, deep v la croix single-origin coffee pitchfork meditation.
Hipster ipsum (hipsum.co)

8. Amazing Fantasy #15 artwork by Steve Ditko © Marvel Entertainment

9. Kitchin’s General Atlas, describing the Whole Universe, Thomas Kitchin

10. <div class=“content”>
<p><img src=“screenshot.png” alt=“This is
super important for accessibility. It’s
not just for SEO. Describe the screenshot
for those who can’t see it, or make sure
the content around the screenshot provides
that clarity. It’s also a good opportunity
to determine how much the screenshot
itself really contributes to your
conversation or message.” /> </p>
</div>

11. Agile Development: Classic Story of the Pig and Chicken, Juan lacruz
Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23997879

21. Understanding Comics © Scott McCloud

26. Thank you