Header Banner
gadgethacks.mark.png
Gadget Hacks Shop Apple Guides Android Guides iPhone Guides Mac Guides Pixel Guides Samsung Guides Tweaks & Hacks Privacy & Security Productivity Hacks Movies & TV Smartphone Gaming Music & Audio Travel Tips Videography Tips Chat Apps
Home
Android

Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds

Jul 8, 2016 12:50 AM
Sep 17, 2016 01:22 AM
Screenshots of four smartphone home screens displaying different wallpaper designs.

For the most part, when you take a screenshot, it's because you intend on sharing it with someone. And, of course, we all take pride in our smartphones, so we want to show them off as much as possible. But the downside here is that regular screenshots are pretty boring, so they don't do a great job of showing anything off, really.

Well thanks to a new app from developer Toastcode, the screenshots you share will finally start to do your phone justice. In a few simple taps, the app allows you to wrap the screenshot in a frame that looks exactly like your phone, and you can even add custom backgrounds and effects. It's a cosmetic tweak, but it makes your screenshots look far more presentable, so I'll show you how it works below.

Install Screener

To get started, the first thing you'll need to do is install the app, which is called Screener.

Screener app icon with options to uninstall or open.

Download Device Frames

When you first launch Screener, you'll be greeted by a set-up guide. Swipe over to the second screen here, then press the download button at the bottom of the screen to grab some device frames. If your device is running Marshmallow or higher, you'll also have to tap "OK" and "Allow" on a pair of popups to grant the app the permissions it needs.

Devices interface showcasing various smartphone options.
Permission request modal for granting access to a feature.
Permission request for accessing photos, media, and files on the device.
Devices interface showcasing various smartphone options.
Permission request modal for granting access to a feature.
Permission request for accessing photos, media, and files on the device.

From here, select your device manufacturer from the list, then tap your phone or tablet. You can repeat this same process to download more device frames, but when you're done here, press the floating action button in the bottom-right corner. After Screener downloads your device frames, you'll be take back to the set-up guide, so go ahead and flip through the last few pages and head to the main menu.

Select device options grid with smartphone silhouettes.
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Selection of device icons with a highlighted camera icon for photo upload.
Select device options grid with smartphone silhouettes.
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Selection of device icons with a highlighted camera icon for photo upload.

Create Custom Screenshots

At this point, you're ready to make your first custom screenshot. Whenever you're ready to spruce up a screenshot you've already captured, there are three different modes to choose from—Flat, 3D, and Minimal—but we'll go with "Flat" to demonstrate. So to start, choose your device from the list on the main menu.

Screen recording app interface showing categories like All, Internal, Message Frames, and Settings.
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Screen recording app interface showing categories like All, Internal, Message Frames, and Settings.
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds

Next, tap the + button in the middle of the screen, then use the following menu to browse and select any screenshot you've already captured. From here, you can add screen glare and drop shadow effects using the two buttons at the bottom of the screen, but when you're done with that, press the forward arrow to move on.

Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Smartphone displaying a geometric wallpaper with app icons at the bottom.
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Jazz Up Boring Screenshots with Phone Frames & Custom Backgrounds
Smartphone displaying a geometric wallpaper with app icons at the bottom.

At this point, you can add a background to your screenshot to take it to the next level. To do that, tap the first icon at the bottom of your screen, then select any background image in the file browser. Next, use the following screen to crop the background image, then press "Done."

Nexus 5X smartphone displaying a geometric wallpaper with navigation buttons below.
Colorful geometric abstract background with hexagonal shapes.
Nexus 5X smartphone displaying a geometric wallpaper with navigation buttons below.
Colorful geometric abstract background with hexagonal shapes.

Now that your custom screenshot is finished, tap the icon in the top-right corner of the screen, then choose either "Save," or "Share." If you opted to go with "Save," the screenshot can be found in the Screener folder on your SD card or internal storage, and the finished product truly does a great job of showing off your phone.

Smartphone displaying a geometric background pattern.
Smartphone with a geometric abstract wallpaper.
Smartphone displaying a geometric background pattern.
Smartphone with a geometric abstract wallpaper.

Cover image and screenshots by Dallas Thomas/Gadget Hacks

You already know how to use your phone. With our newsletter, we'll show you how to master it. Each week, we explore features, hidden tools, and advanced settings that give you more control over iOS and Android than most users even know exists.

Sign up for Gadget Hacks Weekly and start unlocking your phone's full potential.

Related Articles

Comments

No Comments Exist

Be the first, drop a comment!