# Taking screenshots of console games
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 8, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650 "2003-12-08T00:10:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Thylacinewas\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacinewas_taken)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650/1 "2003-12-08T00:10:36Z")
I’m taking some screenshots from my old Super NES games, using ATI TV tuner…and I’m wondering about the results. It looks like the pictures were taken from a TV set, and I’m wondering how to get “Direct feed” results…as in, the screenshots look the same as the games, pixel for pixel. Any ideas how, or explanations on why the TV tuner doesn’t get these results?
- Thylacine was taken’s boyfriend
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### Author:  [@typhoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typhoon)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650/2 "2003-12-08T00:17:39Z")
Well, you could use an emulator such as [ZSNES](http://www.zsnes.com/) instead of an actual SNES.
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### Author:  [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650/3 "2003-12-08T02:21:40Z")
Well, you’re converting the signal several times. Digital (in the SNES) is converted to analog (TV out) which is then converted to digital (ATI card capturing it) which is then converted to analog again (your monitor display). If you are using a digital monitor then one set of conversion is removed, but most of the damage has already been done.
The problem is converting the analog NTSC signal into digital format. Go [here](http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/vidres.htm) for a very detailed discussion about video “resolution”.
I am no expert on this, but traditional TV displays use “scan lines” to display the picture, cycling at 30 frames per second. To capture it digitally, you must break up each scan line into individual pixels.
> [@](#):
>
> When pictures are transmitted or stored digitally, each scan line has to be broken up into dots called pixels. Both the vertical and full width horizontal pixel counts are specified, representing a rectangular grid. A common computer video resolution is called VGA and is stated as 640 by 480 pixels. Here the aspect ratio does not have to be known or stated. For analog video (broadcasts, VHS tape, laser disks) we can think of the horizontal pixel count as the maximum amount of the finest details that can be put on a line and still be distinguished.
So, what about going from analog to digital?
> [@](#):
>
> Picture detail must be on the scan lines, not between… This rule is an example of a digital representation. For video that was processed digitally at any time in its life, each scan line is divided into evenly spaced pixels and picture details must also land squarely on these pixel positions to resolve the maximum detail. It is as if you imagine looking at something through a coarse silk screen or window screen and have to choose just one color for each hole, and then paint the scene on canvas one dot at a time corresponding to the holes. For computer generated video, as in some cartoons, details can be as small as one pixel consistently. But during televising of live subjects, if a white spot wanted to end up between scan lines, it would be represented as a white spot on the line above, a white spot on the line below, or faked as gray spots on both the line above and the line below, depending on the strategy used by the equipment. In the last case it took two scan lines to represent one detail so the total number of distinguishable details spanning a given distance in a column (and in a row for digital video) would be less.
This seems to me where the trouble lies. Then again, it could be a problem with the capturing software. I think that if you are looking to take a screenshot from your SNES and display it “full-size” on your monitor then you are always going to have the “It looks like it came from a TV” effect.
Some real experts will be along shortly to correct me! 🙂
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### Author:  [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650/4 "2003-12-08T04:24:58Z")
I have to also recomend an emulator. Zsnes is pretty good but so is [snes9x](http://www.snes9x.com/) and for screen capture and past the window setup might work better. If your unaware an emulator is a program that pretends to be a system, a snes in this case. what it does it looks at a file called a rom that is a copy of game. you will have to find the rom of the game you need the screenshots for though. as long as you own the game. sony vs connectix established a legal precedent that playing games you owned in an emulator was legal. however unless you have a ripper you might have trouble getting the games as offering them for download is still illegal, and the forum rules would prohibit me telling you directly were to download them.
thats all for now I need to restart kazaa lite. it just through off an error and, er, destabilized the system or somthing,
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### Author:  [@Thylacinewas\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacinewas_taken)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2003, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-screenshots-of-console-games/217650/5 "2003-12-08T07:09:27Z")
That’s an awfully shilly name, Netscape 6!😉
Thank-you all for your help.
-(the screen name)Thylacine was taken