chess diagramming software :: diagtransfer

DiagTransfer screenshot

What every chess blogger is looking for, right? A free, easy-to-use piece of chess diagramming software that produces attractive diagrams. While I haven't made an exhaustive sweep of the field, based on cost, usability, and output, I recommend DiagTransfer, freeware for Windows 2000/Windows XP by Alain Blaisot.

Within minutes of downloading and installing the program, I was able to produce a good-looking diagram and save it as either .png or .jpg [both web-suitable formats]. While this was my primary reason for getting the program, I was also interested in its ability to "tranfer" diagrams "by setting the DiagTransfer window in semi-transparent mode and resizing a board on the diagram to be copied. At this point, you have only to trace the pieces—no need to remember piece locations!"

Features

• Diagram Editor
• Copy, create, add, insert, remove, correct, diagrams
• Save in FEN, EPD or DTR
• Import games or positions from PGN files
• Send mail with a FEN position as mail attachment.
• Send pictures in Chess Forums
• Save diagram as image [PNG and BMP or JPG formats]
• Reader
• Print [multi- or unique diagrams] with different options
• Add comments
• Diagram checking [chess rules]
• Edit position's data [castling possibilities, active color etc.]
• FEN Copy to paste it to a chess program or a ASCII editor
• RTF copy [to paste to a word processor]
• BMP copy [to paste in a word processor or paint program]
• Add colored squares and arrows
• Add crosses and circles
• Fairy chess diagrams
• A larger than 100kb help file

→ DiagTransfer

How We Produce Our Diagrams

Diagram 1

To produce diagrams similar to ours, you'll need to change the settings for the semi-transparent mode. To do this, click on File | Preferences … [you should see a screen similar to Diagram 1 above].

Make sure the "Pieces colour" is black, the "Window background color" is white, and the "Window transparency" is 100% opaque. Then, prior to File | Save as picture …, switch to semi-transparent mode. This way you can produce nice, flat black-and-white diagrams without the default marble-grey background.