How to brief your editor with a screenshot, a timestamp, and a red box

"The thing in the corner looks off" is feedback that often leads to rounds of clarification. To avoid this, show the editor exactly what you mean: take a screenshot of the exact frame, draw a red box around the problem, and paste it as a timestamped comment. Here's how to do it.

Screenshot the Exact Frame

Pause your video in the MarketScale proofing room at the exact frame where the issue appears and take a screenshot. On a Mac, use Command-Shift-4 to grab a selection. This gives the editor the precise visual they need, captured from your video. Ensure you screenshot your MarketScale video to match the source the editor is working from.

Draw a Red Box Around the Problem

Open the screenshot in Preview or any markup tool and draw a red box around the element that needs changing. Whether it's the lower third, logo placement, or a cut that feels wrong, the red box clearly indicates the specific area you're referring to. This removes any guesswork for the editor.

Paste as a Timestamped Comment

Paste the marked-up screenshot into a timestamped comment in the proofing room, aligning it with the timeline moment where the issue occurs. This provides the editor with all three critical pieces: when (the timestamp), where (the red box), and what it looks like (the screenshot). This precise instruction minimizes back-and-forth communication.

Try It This Week

On your next revision, instead of describing a visual problem in words, take a screenshot of the exact frame in your MarketScale video, draw a red box around the issue, and paste it as a timestamped comment in the proofing room. This ensures the editor addresses the correct issue on the first try, saving you a revision round.

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