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Forums > Home› Neverwinter Discussion › The Moonstone Mask (PC)

Blank Screenshots?

kwsapphirekwsapphire Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 671 Arc User
edited October 2014 in The Moonstone Mask (PC)
Apologies if this has been answered before but I couldn't find the answer in search.

All of the screenshots in my screenshots folder are totally black. As in, 1440 x 810 black rectangles. I know print screen copies the image to the clipboard, but it's also obviously saving a file, indicating that the image should be captured without pasting it from the clipboard into paint/photoshop/etc. But it's just saving a black image.

Any suggestions? And thanks in advance!
qtPt2I
Post edited by kwsapphire on

Comments

  • angryspriteangrysprite Member Posts: 4,982 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I was in Demo_Record taking literally hundreds of screenshots for my comic book... and I also noticed that one entire series of captures came out completely black and it has more or less stumped me. Though I suspect it is that I tried to capture the screenshot during an interaction with an NPC (though the screenshot goes to clipboard okay, it saved as a black screen).

    My question to OP: Is this happening on every screenshot you do or only some? Or perhaps only those is particular areas (zones) or of particular things? This is one glitch I'm personally willing to help track down and find a way to reproduce so we can either fix it ourselves or beg the Devs to fix it (as long as we have a consistent repro they can hunt down).
  • dragoness10dragoness10 Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 780 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I've never had a problem with screenshots myself. I can press PRTSCN then direct paste into Windows Paint, or I look in my Screenshots Folder to retrieve images from there. If I want to get fancy I have Photoshop, or GIMP to process pictures with.

    The PRTSCN will show the party members, minimap, etc so can be less clear, but useful. Entering in the viewer mode for zoom erases this. (Not so easy as cannot use in combat, but great for still shots as long as you don't mind the NEVERWINTER logo on the pic.)

    The retrieve from Screenshots folder gives the clearest images, and with the GIMP or Photoshop it has multiple file types I can save or use it in.

    IF you are getting black/ blank images check which file type you're trying to view the screenshot as. Sometimes a .png won't show like a .jpeg will, or the .tng be readable by Windows Paint. ETC.

    The issue may be as simple as that?
    " I tried to figure out the enigma that was you, and then I realized mastering Wild Magic was easier." - Old Wizard in Waterdeep

    "Why is it dragons only use ketchup? I'd like a little wasabi please. Us silvers like a variety of condiments."

    "Don't call them foolish mortals. One, they don't learn from it. Two, It just ticks them off." - An Ancient Red Dragon
  • angryspriteangrysprite Member Posts: 4,982 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    dragoness10 wrote: »
    I've never had a problem with screenshots myself. I can press PRTSCN then direct paste into Windows Paint, or I look in my Screenshots Folder to retrieve images from there. If I want to get fancy I have Photoshop, or GIMP to process pictures with.

    The PRTSCN will show the party members, minimap, etc so can be less clear, but useful. Entering in the viewer mode for zoom erases this. (Not so easy as cannot use in combat, but great for still shots as long as you don't mind the NEVERWINTER logo on the pic.)

    The retrieve from Screenshots folder gives the clearest images, and with the GIMP or Photoshop it has multiple file types I can save or use it in.

    IF you are getting black/ blank images check which file type you're trying to view the screenshot as. Sometimes a .png won't show like a .jpeg will, or the .tng be readable by Windows Paint. ETC.

    The issue may be as simple as that?

    You haven't tried Demo_Record yet? Oooohhhh... you have no idea what you're missing! (Grab a user guide in my signature) ;)

    Filetype doesn't matter: JPG, GIF, TIFF even the most superior TGA - doesn't matter. Though I'm fortunate that it's only happened like a fluke for me, OP makes it sound like a permanent glitcharoo. It's likely something to do with Windows screen-drawing system, etc (possibly a Direct-X SNFU). It's not a filetype issue.
  • kwsapphirekwsapphire Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 671 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    angrysprite wrote: »
    My question to OP: Is this happening on every screenshot you do or only some? Or perhaps only those is particular areas (zones) or of particular things? This is one glitch I'm personally willing to help track down and find a way to reproduce so we can either fix it ourselves or beg the Devs to fix it (as long as we have a consistent repro they can hunt down).

    It's every screenshot, taken in multiple zones, never interacting with an NPC. :\
    qtPt2I
  • kwsapphirekwsapphire Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 671 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    dragoness10 wrote: »
    The PRTSCN will show the party members, minimap, etc so can be less clear, but useful. Entering in the viewer mode for zoom erases this. (Not so easy as cannot use in combat, but great for still shots as long as you don't mind the NEVERWINTER logo on the pic.)

    The retrieve from Screenshots folder gives the clearest images, and with the GIMP or Photoshop it has multiple file types I can save or use it in.

    IF you are getting black/ blank images check which file type you're trying to view the screenshot as. Sometimes a .png won't show like a .jpeg will, or the .tng be readable by Windows Paint. ETC.

    The issue may be as simple as that?

    I turn off my UI (I have that set to CTRL+U) and enter inspect mode, so I can both zoom in AND I don't have the NW logo. I'll have to see if that's my issue (that I turn off the UI), though I doubt it. I have both .jpg and .tga files in my directory, so I'll have to see if .png fixes the issue. (Not even sure how I took the .tga screenies, is this an option somewhere?)
    qtPt2I
  • angryspriteangrysprite Member Posts: 4,982 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    kwsapphire wrote: »
    It's every screenshot, taken in multiple zones, never interacting with an NPC. :\

    Ouch. Try changing to a different version of Direct-X. I'm willing to bet good money that's where your problem lays.
  • UnknownUnknown
    edited October 2014
    This content has been removed.
  • bioshrikebioshrike Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 4,729 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    OP: Check if your display options have 2 screens - it sounds like the game client may be looking to another output, even if that's not the one the game is actually running on.
    <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::)xxxxxxxx(:::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::>
    "Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" -Tony Stark
    Official NW_Legit_Community Forums
  • kwsapphirekwsapphire Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 671 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    bioshrike wrote: »
    OP: Check if your display options have 2 screens - it sounds like the game client may be looking to another output, even if that's not the one the game is actually running on.

    I do actually have two displays, but the game is in my primary monitor. However, my secondary monitor (laptop) is on the left, which there's a thing about the left-most monitor always being the "primary" as far as screensavers go. (i.e. if I use the "gallery" screensaver, it always shows on the left-most screen, even if that's not the primary.) This may totally explain what's happening, thank you! I'll try duplicating my display instead and see if that resolves the issue. Thanks so much!
    qtPt2I
  • ambisinisterrambisinisterr Member, Neverwinter Moderator Posts: 10,462 Community Moderator
    edited October 2014
    I've had this issue in the past. Unfortunately I forgot what the fix to it was but changing the Direct X Version is likely to fix it.

    If you want I'll help you troubleshoot it more in depth the next time our available times coincide.

    EDIT - Hmmm, yep. I also had two monitors at the time...or rather one huge TV and one monitor. Yeah let us know if that fixes it and I'll store that in my memory for future reference. :)
  • bioshrikebioshrike Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 4,729 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    kwsapphire wrote: »
    I do actually have two displays, but the game is in my primary monitor. However, my secondary monitor (laptop) is on the left, which there's a thing about the left-most monitor always being the "primary" as far as screensavers go. (i.e. if I use the "gallery" screensaver, it always shows on the left-most screen, even if that's not the primary.) This may totally explain what's happening, thank you! I'll try duplicating my display instead and see if that resolves the issue. Thanks so much!

    You can do that, or just switch which is the primary and see if that resolves the problem. Good luck!
    <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::)xxxxxxxx(:::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::>
    "Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" -Tony Stark
    Official NW_Legit_Community Forums
  • zshikarazshikara Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 796 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    I've found that it only automatically saves screenshots in the screenshot folder if I have the UI hidden (inspect mode), but seems to only copy it to the clipboard for me if I take a screenshot with print screen any other time. All shots usually end up fine, though I've noticed a couple that ended up as white rectangles.

    Steam F12 works fine for taking any screenshot. (yes, I got neverwinter through steam).
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
    ...
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  • bioshrikebioshrike Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 4,729 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    zshikara wrote: »
    I've found that it only automatically saves screenshots in the screenshot folder if I have the UI hidden (inspect mode), but seems to only copy it to the clipboard for me if I take a screenshot with print screen any other time. All shots usually end up fine, though I've noticed a couple that ended up as white rectangles.

    Steam F12 works fine for taking any screenshot. (yes, I got neverwinter through steam).

    The print screen key got disassociated from taking a screenshot in-game for one of my characters some time ago - I had to manually re-create the bind to get it working again... That could be what you're experiencing.
    <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::::)xxxo <::::::::::::)xxxxxxxx(:::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::> oxxx(::::::::::::::>
    "Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" -Tony Stark
    Official NW_Legit_Community Forums
  • dragoness10dragoness10 Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 780 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    RE: angrysprite

    I just prefer GIMP and Windows Paint. That's me.
    " I tried to figure out the enigma that was you, and then I realized mastering Wild Magic was easier." - Old Wizard in Waterdeep

    "Why is it dragons only use ketchup? I'd like a little wasabi please. Us silvers like a variety of condiments."

    "Don't call them foolish mortals. One, they don't learn from it. Two, It just ticks them off." - An Ancient Red Dragon
  • kwsapphirekwsapphire Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 671 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Unfortunately this issue doesn't seem to be related to dual displays. I tried duplicating my display (rather than extending them), and that didn't help. I also tried putting the game in the other monitor (on my laptop), and that didn't help. I also tried taking screen shots while in windowed mode, and in full screen mode. Same result: a bunch of black screenshots. I guess I need to either use clipping tool or paste the image into another piece of software.. that's unfortunate.
    qtPt2I
  • colonelwingcolonelwing Member Posts: 1,448 Arc User
    edited October 2014
    Try these solutions:

    http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=91427

    http://co-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=228081


    One is archived, the other one more up to date. Since both games share the same engine, perhaps one of the procedures, is able to fix your problem. (i think both cases have been solved, for the other users.)


    Best of luck.

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