5. User-configurable screen-capture delay with audible and/or visible countdown. This feature is sometimes required to set up and capture open menus, drop-downs, and so on. There should also be an option to include or not include the mouse pointer.

6. Automatic selection of common object elements, such as program window, menu bar, toolbar, icons, the Dock, etc. (Apple's built-in Command-Shift-4-Spacebar key combination does this, but the facility is otherwise very limited). Snap-to selection for parts of objects is also very desirable. Any product that offers only a manual drag-selection tool for parts of the screen doesn't make the cut.

7. Important functionality: A capture-preview window that appears before you save the file, so you can review it and make appropriate alterations.

8. The capability to add basic (and preferably subtle) edge effects, such as rules, blurring, ripples, tear-aways, white borders and so on.

9. The capability to make assisted selections within the preview to save as separate shots.