Best Mac Tools

Every now and again I stumble across software which redefines a task or process in a way which goes completely against the norm, or which simply introduces a new productivity improvement. FlySketch is one such application … although I’m not sure that the developer (Flying Meat) actually intended the outcome that I’m about to describe.

I spend a serious amount of time taking a screenshot, adding annotations, saving the image and sending the resultant image to others via email, IM or project management software. The workflow is as I have described, 4 distinct steps starting with the screenshot. Often, I spend time trying to fit my comments into the space available on the screenshot. Sometimes I have to start over with a new, larger screenshot, or make a second screenshot to get the full comments into place.

This is where FlySketch comes in. Invoking FlySketch places a resizable annotation overlay onto the screen. Using the available tools I can:

• highlight sections of the screen, add notes, arrows etc
• size the overlay to include my notes and provide sufficient context
• with a single click, take a snapshot of the screen with my overlaid annotation
• drag the snapshot out of the FlySketch window to the required delivery method (mail, IM etc)

I know, you’re thinking that this is still 4 steps! But I can asure you they are significantly faster than the “norm” and involve much less effort than before.

How it works
When called upon, FlySketch will show its main drawing window above all other windows in the system. Change the transparency of the canvas, and you can trace, draw over, highlight, and capture just about anything that shows up behind FlySketch.

Workflow
Open up FlySketch’s workflow folder to drop in aliases of applications or folders, and they show up in the workflow menu. Send your creations to your desktop, or Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Entourage, or even a custom script.

It’s easy
Try out FlySketch for a week, and I’m sure you’ll think of more ways to use it. For creating documentation on your new product or just goofing around with the freehand tool, FlySketch fills a need for just about everyone.

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